Watch Krampus

Krampus is a 2015 horror-comedy film directed by Michael Dougherty, that revolves around the holiday tradition of Krampus - the counterpart of St. Nicholas, who punishes naughty children. The story takes place in a suburban town in the United States, where the Engel family is about to host their annual Christmas festivities. The family is headed by Tom (Adam Scott) and Sarah (Toni Collette), who are trying to keep up the holiday spirit despite their strained relationship. Their two children, Max and Beth, are also feeling dejected due to their parents' constant arguing and the commercialisation of Christmas.

During Christmas Eve dinner (which has some hilarious moments), Max's festive spirit is crushed after an altercation with his cousins, leading to him tearing up his letter to Santa Claus and throwing it out the window. This act of despair summons Krampus, who brings the town under his dark power, and starts terrorizing the Engel family.

Krampus, who is depicted as a demonic creature, is accompanied by his other minions - toys that have come to life, gingerbread men, murderous jack-in-the-boxes, and twisted elves. The family is trapped inside their house, and they must fight to survive the night while attempting to save each other.

The movie is structured like a horror-comedy anthology, with each segment featuring a different monster or creature of the Krampus tradition. The film's comedy elements are reminiscent of classic holiday films like Home Alone and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Adam Scott, who is known for his comedic roles, delivers a great performance as the sarcastic and cynical protagonist, Tom. Toni Collette also puts on an impressive performance as the concerned mother, Sarah, who is trying to keep her family together.

Krampus subverts the typical Christmas narrative by introducing an unconventional villain who punishes those who have lost sight of the true meaning of the holiday. The film also touches on themes of familial tension and neglect, which add a tragic dimension to the story.

The film's jump scares are effective, and the creature designs are impressive. The setting of a quaint suburban neighbourhood covered in snow, with the constant sound of carolers singing holiday songs, creates an ironic contrast to the horror elements.

Krampus also has a layer of thematic complexity. The central idea of a festive tradition being exploited by consumerism is a clear criticism of modern-day society. The characters are shown to have lost touch with the holiday's true meaning, leading to their downfall. The film's climax presents a bleak and unpredictable ending, which shirks the conventional happy ending of holiday movies.

In conclusion, Krampus is an entertaining horror-comedy film that offers a fresh take on Christmas traditions. It delivers on its comedy and horror elements and offers an insightful critique of modern-day consumerism. With a great cast, impressive creature designs, and masterful direction, Krampus is sure to be a holiday classic for horror fans.

Krampus is a 2015 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 49.