Before I get into the review, here are my ratings for the movie.
The story gets 0.25 out of 2: The Direction a 0.5: The Pacing receives a 0: While the Acting gets 0.75: And my Enjoyment level earns a 0.25 out of 2: Mother Krampus, therefore, rates a 1.25 out of 10.
I love Christmas and Horror films, so you'd think I'd be in heaven when the two genres mix, wouldn't you(?) Unfortunately, there are only a few agreeable Christmas Horror flicks out there. Mother Krampus is definitely not one of them.
Everything in this film is atrocious.
The strange issue with this film is that all the elements have a glimmer of expectancy. With the story, it's the premise. Twenty-five years previous, in the town of Belgravia, there were twelve child murders. Back to the present day and the murders have begun again. However, the murderess is deceased. So what's happing to the kids?
Numerous writers and directors have used this concept before. Having watched quite a few of these, I was happy to note the writer, Scott Jeffrey, opted to go for the vengeful spirit approach. Unfortunately, Jeffrey's writing style is clumsy, and he does like staying within stereotype guidelines with his character creation. When he does stray out of the lines, he serves up some splendid stupidity. I particularly loved the husband and father, Wildon. After an invite to Christmas Dinner, he turns up with his new girlfriend. This is the same women for whom he's just abandoned his family.
Of course, you know what's going to happen. And after the relationship fireworks, comes Mother Krampus. Within this sequence, you'll enjoy the delightfully idiotic scene where Wildon professes his love to his wife, while the flesh falls from his face. Would you believe it, he never loved nor cared for the new woman(?). By this point, the production team must have decided to go down the pub as the sound is atrocious. You cannot clearly hear what the couple is expressing unless you pump up the volume. I'll forewarn you, it's not worth annoying your neighbours for.
Vexingly, these elements ruin the scene, while the director, James Klass, tries to include some atmosphere by using lighting techniques. Sadly, the lights are too garish for the ambience he's trying to create. But, at least, he's trying. And, the special effects team have also finally pulled their fingers out. Wildon's scared and ripped face is more than reasonable, for a budget horror. But nothing can rescue the scene.
Mother Krampus is full of these sorts of errors and problems. Another favourite cringe-worthy scene is when daddy Alfie advises his daughter, Vanessa, there's only one way to fight the vengeful wraith. So while he wields an axe, very badly, Vanessa is armed with the ultimate weapon... a twig wrapped in fairy lights. The idea is so ludicrous it surpasses laughability. Next, we take a further step into the absurd as Klass hits the viewer with an iconic composition. Vanessa and her daughter Amy stand side-by-side, tooled-up with Chrimbo-lighted sticks, while daddy Alfie takes up the rear with the axe in a reverse V formation. It's not a terrible shot, but it's totally ridiculous.
Luckily, Alfie has the perfect kill shot set up for him. However, instead of cleaving Mother K's skull in two, he decided to throttle her with the axe handle. Man, is this guy is useless(?)
Though Klass does try, in places, to make the film more interesting for the audience, he chiefly fails. There's a lot of excessive camera shake and bad camera angles. Even the above iconic V shot could have been better. The framing needed to be more central. The upper half of the shot has little content, which leaves the cast members occupying the bottom half. Add to that, a great deal of camera wobble. As for the tempo, this is nearly impossible to comprehend. It's haphazard and varies from steady to tedious. Klass appears to pay no attention to it and lets the scene set the tempo. He needed to decide on the atmosphere he wanted in the scene; then set the pace to help create that mood.
The most talented actors and actresses in this film are, at best, average. And, I believe that's down to Klass' direction. Regrettably, their skills and talents are hindered further by the rest of the cast, who can rapidly bring a scene low. The worst of the bunch is Tara MacGowran who portrays Mother Krampus, A.K.A. Frau Perchta, A.K.A. Molly. This woman is unscary. Her outfit looks like a bad, couldn't-be-bothered, Halloween costume. And what the production team has done to her voice is appalling. It's so deep you cannot understand most of what she says. If you've got a soundbar, you may want to readjust the subwoofer. As you can guess, I recommend you stay away from this unscary Christmas blood-bath.
Come, jump in my sleigh and fly on over to my Absolute Horror and HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles lists to see where the risible wraith landed in my rankings. You'll also find a considerably worthier film to watch this festive season.
Take Care & Stay Well & Merry Christmas
The story gets 0.25 out of 2: The Direction a 0.5: The Pacing receives a 0: While the Acting gets 0.75: And my Enjoyment level earns a 0.25 out of 2: Mother Krampus, therefore, rates a 1.25 out of 10.
I love Christmas and Horror films, so you'd think I'd be in heaven when the two genres mix, wouldn't you(?) Unfortunately, there are only a few agreeable Christmas Horror flicks out there. Mother Krampus is definitely not one of them.
Everything in this film is atrocious.
The strange issue with this film is that all the elements have a glimmer of expectancy. With the story, it's the premise. Twenty-five years previous, in the town of Belgravia, there were twelve child murders. Back to the present day and the murders have begun again. However, the murderess is deceased. So what's happing to the kids?
Numerous writers and directors have used this concept before. Having watched quite a few of these, I was happy to note the writer, Scott Jeffrey, opted to go for the vengeful spirit approach. Unfortunately, Jeffrey's writing style is clumsy, and he does like staying within stereotype guidelines with his character creation. When he does stray out of the lines, he serves up some splendid stupidity. I particularly loved the husband and father, Wildon. After an invite to Christmas Dinner, he turns up with his new girlfriend. This is the same women for whom he's just abandoned his family.
Of course, you know what's going to happen. And after the relationship fireworks, comes Mother Krampus. Within this sequence, you'll enjoy the delightfully idiotic scene where Wildon professes his love to his wife, while the flesh falls from his face. Would you believe it, he never loved nor cared for the new woman(?). By this point, the production team must have decided to go down the pub as the sound is atrocious. You cannot clearly hear what the couple is expressing unless you pump up the volume. I'll forewarn you, it's not worth annoying your neighbours for.
Vexingly, these elements ruin the scene, while the director, James Klass, tries to include some atmosphere by using lighting techniques. Sadly, the lights are too garish for the ambience he's trying to create. But, at least, he's trying. And, the special effects team have also finally pulled their fingers out. Wildon's scared and ripped face is more than reasonable, for a budget horror. But nothing can rescue the scene.
Mother Krampus is full of these sorts of errors and problems. Another favourite cringe-worthy scene is when daddy Alfie advises his daughter, Vanessa, there's only one way to fight the vengeful wraith. So while he wields an axe, very badly, Vanessa is armed with the ultimate weapon... a twig wrapped in fairy lights. The idea is so ludicrous it surpasses laughability. Next, we take a further step into the absurd as Klass hits the viewer with an iconic composition. Vanessa and her daughter Amy stand side-by-side, tooled-up with Chrimbo-lighted sticks, while daddy Alfie takes up the rear with the axe in a reverse V formation. It's not a terrible shot, but it's totally ridiculous.
Luckily, Alfie has the perfect kill shot set up for him. However, instead of cleaving Mother K's skull in two, he decided to throttle her with the axe handle. Man, is this guy is useless(?)
Though Klass does try, in places, to make the film more interesting for the audience, he chiefly fails. There's a lot of excessive camera shake and bad camera angles. Even the above iconic V shot could have been better. The framing needed to be more central. The upper half of the shot has little content, which leaves the cast members occupying the bottom half. Add to that, a great deal of camera wobble. As for the tempo, this is nearly impossible to comprehend. It's haphazard and varies from steady to tedious. Klass appears to pay no attention to it and lets the scene set the tempo. He needed to decide on the atmosphere he wanted in the scene; then set the pace to help create that mood.
The most talented actors and actresses in this film are, at best, average. And, I believe that's down to Klass' direction. Regrettably, their skills and talents are hindered further by the rest of the cast, who can rapidly bring a scene low. The worst of the bunch is Tara MacGowran who portrays Mother Krampus, A.K.A. Frau Perchta, A.K.A. Molly. This woman is unscary. Her outfit looks like a bad, couldn't-be-bothered, Halloween costume. And what the production team has done to her voice is appalling. It's so deep you cannot understand most of what she says. If you've got a soundbar, you may want to readjust the subwoofer. As you can guess, I recommend you stay away from this unscary Christmas blood-bath.
Come, jump in my sleigh and fly on over to my Absolute Horror and HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles lists to see where the risible wraith landed in my rankings. You'll also find a considerably worthier film to watch this festive season.
Take Care & Stay Well & Merry Christmas