Krampus

While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. When dysfunctional family squabbling causes young Max (Emjay Anthony) to lose his festive spirit, it unleashes the wrath of the fearsome demon. As Krampus lays siege to the Engel home, mom (Toni Collette), pop (Adam Scott), sister (Stefania LaVie Owen) and brother must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

Initial release: December 10, 2015 (Brazil)

Director: Michael Dougherty

Box office: 61.5 million USD

Budget: 15 million USD

Language: English

On December 22, a suburban family gets together to celebrate the holidays—Tom (Adam Scott) and Sarah (Toni Collette), their children Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen) and Max (Emjay Anthony); Sarah's sister Linda (Allison Tolman), Linda's husband Howard (David Koechner), their children Stevie (Lolo Owen), Jordan (Queenie Samuel), Howie Jr. (Maverick Flack), and their baby daughter; Sarah and Linda's aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell); and Tom's Austrian mother "Omi" (Krista Stadler).

Max wants to continue the family's Christmas traditions, but tensions between various members of the family keep everyone from having a good time and the family lose their Christmas Spirit, especially Max, who rips up his letter to Santa and throws it to the wind. Shortly afterwards, a severe blizzard appears and cuts out power in the entire town. Beth, worried about her boyfriend, decides to go visit him in the storm. Upon reaching his house, she spots a strange being which then chases her. She hides under a stalled delivery truck, where she is attacked by an unseen monster.

After a period of apparently being alone with no power, Tom and Howard go out searching for Beth by going to her boyfriend's house and find it in devastation, with the chimney split open as well as large, goat-like hoof prints on the floor. They are also attacked by a creature hiding beneath the snow. Fearing what they do not yet understand, the family boards up the doors and windows, promising Sarah they will look for Beth when morning comes. Howard promises to stay up to keep watch during the night, but he falls asleep. As the fire in the fireplace dies, a hook is lured down the chimney, which drags Howie Jr. up and away.

Omi reveals to the family what is happening; they are being tormented by Krampus, an ancient demonic spirit that punishes those who are bad at Christmas, referring to him as the "shadow of Saint Nicholas". Omi admits that when she was young, her family's poverty caused her to lose her love of the holidays, which summoned Krampus and resulted in her parents and town being dragged into hell. She alone was spared by the demon, who left behind a bauble with his name inscribed and her life as a reminder of what happens when one loses their Christmas spirit.

In the attic, a mysterious bunch of presents that had earlier been delivered suddenly begins shaking. The family runs to the attic and witnesses der Klown, a demonic jack-in-the-box monster, devouring Jordan. The others are attacked by a group of monstrous toys and three evil gingerbread men, Lumpy, Dumpy, and Clumpy, but fend them off and regroup downstairs. They are soon again attacked by Krampus's wicked elves, who abduct Dorothy, Howard, and the baby before leaving. The remaining family decide to make a run for a snow plow in the street. Omi stays behind to confront Krampus and buy time for the others. Krampus opens his bag of toys and she is attacked. As the rest of the group runs for the plow, Tom, Sarah and Linda are seemingly eaten by the snow creature and the elves take Stevie, leaving only Max. Krampus then appears before Max and gives him a bauble with his name on it, wrapped in a piece of his shredded Santa letter, before leaving.

Max confronts and pleads with Krampus to give his family back and take him instead. Krampus seems to consider his request before picking Max up and holding him over a pit into the underworld, into which he has thrown Stevie. Max apologizes to the demon for losing his Christmas spirit but Krampus drops the screaming Max into the pit.

Max suddenly awakens in his bed on Christmas morning. He looks out his window and sees that the neighborhood has returned to normal, and finds his family downstairs opening presents. Believing that the entire experience had been a dream he opens a present and discovers the Krampus bauble. The family falls silent, as the memory of what had happened suddenly comes back. The camera pulls back to reveal that their house is being watched by Krampus through the snow globe on a shelf in Krampus' lair, along with many others, while his helpers jumpscare the audience and end the film.

Cast

Adam Scott as Tom Engel

Toni Collette as Sarah Engel

Emjay Anthony as Max Engel

David Koechner as Howard

Allison Tolman as Linda

Conchata Ferrell as Aunt Dorothy

Stefania LaVie Owen as Beth Engel

Krista Stadler as Omi

Lolo Owen as Stevie

Queenie Samuel as Jordan

Maverick Flack as Howie Jr.

Mark Atkin as Ketkrókur 

Sage Hunefeld as Baby Chrissy

Leith Towers as Derek

Curtis Vowell as DHL Man

Luke Hawker as Krampus (in-suit performer)

Brett Beattie as Der Klown (Jack-in-the-box)

Voices

Gideon Emery as Krampus

Seth Green as Gingerbread Man Lumpy

Breehn Burns as Gingerbread Man Dumpy

Justin Roiland as Gingerbread Man Clumpy

Production

The film is written and directed by Michael Dougherty, known for the 2007 cult hit Trick 'r Treat. It is co-written by Todd Casey and Zach Shields, and produced by Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, and Alex Garcia of Legendary Pictures. On November 21, 2014, Allison Tolman and Emjay Anthony joined the cast. On March 3, 2015, Adam Scott, David Koechner, and Toni Collette joined the cast. Principal photography began on March 12, 2015. Creature effects were made by Weta Workshop.

Critical response

Krampus been given merged to help positive reviews. With Rotten Acidic tomatoes, this picture incorporates a status connected with 65%, dependant on ninety six opinions, with the normal status connected with 5. 9/10. This home page's vital agreement flows, "Krampus is usually gory beneficial enjoyment intended for lovers connected with non-traditional holiday break horror that has a fondness intended for Java Dante's B-movie classics, whether or not doesn't necessarily include rather this savage mouthful it is principle needs. inch With Metacritic, this picture incorporates a ranking connected with 49 outside of 100, dependant on 7 critics, revealing "mixed to help normal reviews". Audience polled by means of CinemaScore afforded this picture the normal class connected with "B-" when using A+ to help P oker degree.