Krampus
Director: Michael Dougherty
Stars: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Emjay Anthony
Duration: 98 mins
Class: 15
KRS Film Releasing Ltd

Those grinches out there who, for whatever reason, loathe the Christmas season, should do themselves a favour and check out Krampus, a Christmas-themed horror film whose dark, sinister – and oftentimes very funny – tones will prove to be the perfect antidote to the slushy sentimentality often associated with films dealing with the season to be jolly.

The creature at the heart of the movie is inspired by the mythical Krampus, a creature born of Bavarian folklore centuries ago. Krampus is often depicted as horned beast who captures disobedient children for Christmas.

He is often described as Santa’s shadow – while Santa rewards children who have been nice, Krampus punishes the naughty ones and even steals their souls...

In typical Hollywood fashion, Krampus transfers the creature from Europe to American suburbia where Krampus targets his latest victims, the Engels – your typical family in the throes of the final preparations for Christmas. Max Engel (Emjay Anthony), is drafting the final words on his letter to Santa, as his mother, Sarah (Toni Collette), frets over the impending visit of her sister Linda and family. His father, Tom (Adam Scott), insists on working through the holidays, while his sister, Beth (Stefania Lavie Owen), is more concerned with spending time with her boyfriend than at home.

Max seeks comfort in his beloved Grandma Omi (Krista Stadler) with whom he is very close. But all hell breaks loose with the arrival of Linda (Allison Tolman), her overbearing husband Howard (David Koechner) and their loud and obnoxious kids (Lolo Owen, Queenie Samuel and Maverick Flack).

A run-in between the cousins has Max throwing a fit, renouncing his belief in Santa… unbeknownst to him this action triggers the arrival of Krampus who ignites a night of terror for the family.

A fun, funny and scary enough offering

It’s an inspired story based on the myth from writer director/producer Michael Dougherty who has created a fun, funny and scary enough offering. The film’s ensemble features an inventive array of creepy creatures, including sinister snowmen and chilling cherubs, gingerbread men on the warpath, a fierce and fanged teddy bear and a manic clown all of which come to life (the latter pretty much a given in the horror genre, but this one is particularly frightening), while the titular Krampus is ethereal and suitably menacing, unseen for a good long while but his presence is felt throughout as he concocts violent mayhem from the shadows until he truly manifests himself.

Although, overall, Krampus’s mood falls on the right side of the darkly comic, it could have afforded a bit more bite and I wished the film’s subversive tone went a little deeper. The script makes its intentions clear in its obvious digs at American suburbia and the over-commercialisation of the season with its opening scene depicting chaos at a supermarket as shoppers fight – literally – over Christmas discounts. However, as the story unfolds it focuses more on the comedy element rather than its underlying satirical bent. To its credit, it does, however, end on a darker note than I expected.

The characters are a little too run-of-the-mill and variations of the tropes we have seen before –the earnest young protagonist, his squabbling parents, stand-offish sister and relatives from hell, the dotty aunt etc. A little depth would have been welcome.

That said, it is clear that Dougherty’s primary purpose was to entertain, and this the film certainly does. Apart from the well-judged, jump-out-of-your-seat moments – of which there are plenty, many of them rather eerie if not downright gruesome – Dougherty throws in some lovely scenes.

Omi’s recollection of her first encounter with Krampus not only serves as exposition, but is a great example of filmic storytelling. Notwithstanding the fact that the characters are a little one-dimensional, the cast tackle their roles with commitment and enter into the spirit of proceedings with absolute relish, from veterans Scott, Colette, Koechner and Tolman to the younger cast members; Anthony particularly adding layers to his performance which the script did not give him.

Austrian actress Stadler adds gravitas and mystery to the character of Omi.

Cillian Murphy in In the Heart of the Sea.

Also showing this week

In The Heart Of The Sea, Classification 12: In 1820, crewmen (Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy) aboard the New England vessel Essex face a harrowing battle for survival when a whale of mammoth size and strength attacks their ship.

Daddy’s Home, Classification 12: Brad Taggart (Will Ferrell) is a kind-hearted radio executive who wants to be the best possible stepfather to his wife’s (Linda Cardellini) two children. When her ex-husband Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) breezes back into town, Brad’s feeling of insecurity quickly develops into an inferiority complex.