Is It Worth the Watch?

What happens when you mix a little bit of horror with a little bit of comedy with a little bit of Christmas spirit? If you’ve guessed anything other than Krampus, you might be… correct, but the 2015 film directed by Michael Dougherty is a perfect combination of all these. SPOILERS AHEAD!

To start off, it turns out that Krampus is an actual legend based in Germany! Apparently, it’s an old legend, dating back to the 12th century. I find that really interesting, and it’s cool how they branched Krampus out to a new audience. We learn something new everyday! 

The film starts off as an ordinary holiday movie: a family with deep-rooted problems are stuck together and forced to enjoy Christmas together. The family’s extended family comes over, to no one’s happiness. This movie has its fair share of stereotypical characters, such as the underappreciated mom, overworked dad, lovable grandmother and loud cousins that always give the main character, Max, a hard time. 

Even though these characters were stereotypical, they were pretty funny. The constant bickering between each other was dramatic yet enjoyable to watch. 

However, it quickly becomes apparent that something is off. When Beth, Max’s teenage sister, goes outside during a blizzard to check on her boyfriend, she spots a strange creature jumping from house to house, forcing Beth to hide when it notices her.

The dad and uncle go out looking for Beth and have a run in with this creature. It becomes obvious to the family that something is really off when one of the cousins, Howie, is wrapped up in chains and taken up the chimney by little gingerbread men. 

To be honest, that whole situation was incredibly funny; yeah, the family’s reaction is sad, but why the chimney? Did they just pull him all the way up onto the roof?

The grandmother, Omi, who usually speaks German, finally gives us a backstory on what’s going on. We figure out the name of this creature, Krampus. He takes rather than gives, and he’s the complete opposite of Santa. He comes when Christmas spirit is dead. I will admit his design is creepy, and it’s disturbing to imagine how he would look face to face. The only reason Omi survives is so Krampus can serve as a reminder of what happens when the Christmas spirit is lost, at least that’s what she says. 

While everyone is pondering what to do, Max’s two remaining cousins are baited inside the attic by a fake-Beth voice. The family follows them and sees a huge, caterpillar-like Jack-in-the-box eating them. I will admit, this design got me also. I love horror movies, but that thing was genuinely disturbing to look at. They’re then attacked by less scary, cartoony, small yet violent toys. The mother is almost hanged to death by one of the toys, but the aunt retaliates with an ax. One of the cousins, Stevie, is recovered, but that caterpillar thing sadly escapes.

While the family is downstairs, they are attacked by all the creatures again, this time killing most of them. But while they were about to shoot the Jack-in-the-box caterpillar, elves break the windows rushing in. As they’re tying the family up, a howl is heard from outside, prompting all the creatures to run back outside where they came from. The uncle hangs onto the Jack-in-the-box caterpillar to follow it after the elves take his baby.

After this, Krampus finally appears. Old-timey Christmas songs play as Krampus is introduced by loud heavy stomps. The family escapes while Omi refuses to leave. She sacrifices herself to buy time for the family, which isn’t worth it as each parent is dragged inside the snow.

The kids (now just Max and Stevie) are in a car, and Stevie suffers the same fate as the parents as the elves take her as well. Krampus comes face to face with Max and gives him Max’s crumpled up Christmas list for that year. Krampus lets him go, and then it finally clicks. He didn’t kill Max or Omi because they were the only ones in the family who still had hope for the Christmas spirit. I guess that makes sense.

I guess not every Christmas villain is the same. 

As Max begs for his family back in a ring full of elves and fire, we see Krampus’ face, and now he’s suddenly not so scary. I know it’s a mask but man, it’s a really dumb, non-scary mask. Max is crying and pleading to let Stevie go, but the elves all laugh and drop her into a bright, lava-like pit of seemingly endless fire. Krampus and the elves then push Max down this pit as well.

But here’s the kicker — the thing that explains everything. The precious ending. It turns out to be Max’s DREAM! He wakes up on Christmas to snow, Christmas lights outside, and his family alive and well. However, as he’s opening up Christmas presents he finds that one is a bell labeled “Krampus.” It’s implied that all these events actually happened, though, as the camera pans out with Max with his family in a snow globe, with Krampus’ long finger grazing it. There are thousands of these snow globes, meaning that there were thousands of people that had to question whether they were insane or not.

I know I basically gave the plot of the movie, but I still recommend that you watch it! But if you do decide to, try to find a version with no ads because it really breaks your immersion (horrifying, visually dark scenes interrupted by a colorful Mattress Firm sale that they have like every day). I’m not the biggest fan of sappy Christmas movies with the theme of family (I find them boring and saturated), but the horror elements carried this movie. If you love horror movies like I do, you’ll really enjoy this one. 

I already pointed this out, but the costume design, in my opinion, is phenomenal. Their costumes are genuinely freaky, and it’s apparent that the designers put a lot of effort into their jobs. The lighting isn’t too dark, but it’s not too light for a horror movie either. It’s pretty impressive how the writers managed to combine the horror, comedic and Christmas elements into something that isn’t too chaotic. 

Because of this, I give “Krampus” a 7/10! I love it when movies mix completely different genres. It feels more unique, and a lot of time was put into it.