Every Christmas, a bunch of treacly movies get released, ostensibly to get people in the spirit but actually to make money. That's why Michael Dougherty's "Krampus" is so fun. In addition to trashing the overly sugary Christmas movies, it also pokes fun at consumerism. The opening scene shows a bunch of people pouring into a supermarket to grab the latest whatever. Black Friday has to be one of the more ironic days of the year: on Thanksgiving people give thanks for what they have, and the very next day they scramble all over each other for the newest products.
But then the main part of the story begins. It's a typical family gathering where people end up angry at each other (another look at the Christmas season's fake niceness). And then, the boy denounces Christmas, releasing the title character. Krampus is the horrific character, but his elves are more like pranksters (and the animated toys bring to mind "Gremlins"). I suspect that this is one movie that they had fun filming.
I had heard of Krampus before watching this. I recall that an episode of "Grimm" featured him as the main antagonist (or Wesen, as the show calls them). Austria and the surrounding areas have a Krampuslauf (Krampus run) around Christmas. No doubt they want to remind tykes to be good or else.
Basically, this is a movie that you're bound to enjoy. I think that every Christmas party should show this movie, along with "Gremlins" and "The Ref" (about a cat burglar who kidnaps an obnoxious suburban couple; like this movie, it features a family get-together that goes sour). Have a merry, scary Christmas!
But then the main part of the story begins. It's a typical family gathering where people end up angry at each other (another look at the Christmas season's fake niceness). And then, the boy denounces Christmas, releasing the title character. Krampus is the horrific character, but his elves are more like pranksters (and the animated toys bring to mind "Gremlins"). I suspect that this is one movie that they had fun filming.
I had heard of Krampus before watching this. I recall that an episode of "Grimm" featured him as the main antagonist (or Wesen, as the show calls them). Austria and the surrounding areas have a Krampuslauf (Krampus run) around Christmas. No doubt they want to remind tykes to be good or else.
Basically, this is a movie that you're bound to enjoy. I think that every Christmas party should show this movie, along with "Gremlins" and "The Ref" (about a cat burglar who kidnaps an obnoxious suburban couple; like this movie, it features a family get-together that goes sour). Have a merry, scary Christmas!