{"id":82607,"date":"2015-12-04T09:55:27","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T09:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scifinow.co.uk\/?p=82607"},"modified":"2015-12-04T09:55:56","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T09:55:56","slug":"krampus-film-review-bringing-the-horror-to-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scifinow.co.uk\/reviews\/krampus-film-review-bringing-the-horror-to-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Krampus film review: bringing the horror to Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

If anyone\u2019s qualified to turn Christmas into a terrifying cautionary tale, it\u2019s Trick R Treat<\/em><\/strong>\u2019s Michael Dougherty, which is why our expectations for Krampus<\/em><\/strong> were very high. Having seen it, we\u2019re confident that, while it may not be for everyone, this could be the new addition to your annual seasonal viewing.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 23 December and young Max (Emjay Anthony) is already struggling to hold on to his Christmas cheer. When his cousins steal his letter to Santa, which details all the ways in which he wishes his family could come together like they used to, he tears it up and throws it out away, at which point the power goes out and a blizzard begins.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no signal, no heat, and no one to help when an ancient evil descends on their home. Can they keep the fire hot and keep each other safe, or will they pay the price for forgetting the true meaning of Christmas?<\/p>\n

Much as Trick R Treat<\/em> <\/strong>focused on the importance of following the rules of Halloween, Krampus<\/em><\/strong> is all about paying Christmas the proper respect. Dougherty opens his movie with a slow-motion sequence of superstore carnage, with adults fighting over toys and children crying on Santa\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n

Store-bought cookies, families fighting, working during the holidays\u2026There\u2019s a reason why Max\u2019s Austrian grandma Omi (Krista Stadler) looks so worried: every ancient rule has been broken.<\/p>\n

The film is at its wobbliest during this Home Alone<\/em><\/strong>-esque set-up, and although the excellent cast sell the Christmas-cookie-cutter characterisation (Toni Collette\u2019s Sarah feels a little too firmly set on \u201cbrittle control freak\u201d), it feels like we\u2019re on very familiar ground. However, when the dark and snow descend, the film quickly hits its stride. An early encounter with Krampus makes it very clear that the threat is real, and despite some pacing issues, the tension doesn\u2019t really let up.<\/p>\n

The question of the film\u2019s audience will obviously be raised, with a PG-13 rating but some really quite intense scares. The giddy monster horror of Gremlins seems to have been used as a template, with nightmarish (and beautifully designed) creatures and a body count. There are wackier elements, like the evil gingerbread men, but for the most part it takes its mission to scare its younger viewers very seriously.<\/p>\n

It helps that the cast is so strong. The four leads are perfectly chosen, finding the humour but taking the material totally seriously. Toni Collette and Adam Scott make for a strong emotional anchor, David Koechner is dependably excellent, and Fargo<\/em><\/strong>\u2019s Allison Tolman is on great form yet again.<\/p>\n

\"Cloven\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The film\u2019s total respect for Christmas tradition is mirrored in the seriousness with which it approaches the family drama. For every terrifying face-off with one of Krampus\u2019 minions, we have a scene in which this dysfunctional family begins to repair its bonds, which in turn makes their failure to keep each other safe all the more distressing.<\/p>\n

The film\u2019s shifting focus between Max and the adults does again beg the question of who the film\u2019s really for, but the answer is simple. Kids looking for a scary movie at Christmas will be terrified, and big kids who still love Gremlins<\/em><\/strong> will have a great time.<\/p>\n

Watching a screaming Collette, Tolman and Scott tangle with bizarre monstrosities based on Christmas toys in a poorly lit attic while Koechner faced off with gingerbread men armed with a nail gun in the kitchen, we gave thanks that such a dark, weird and hugely entertaining movie exists. It\u2019s a bit rickety, but if you\u2019re looking for something to offset the treacle, we highly recommend this wickedly fun gift.
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