Krampus

Krampus

Starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell

Directed by Michael Dougherty

The Story:
Young Max (Emjay Anthony) is disillusioned with the holidays.  He remembers when his family all gathered together in the spirit of love and kindness, but those days are long gone.  Now it's all about fighting each other for the newest trinket, bickering amongst each other and belittling one another.  His parents Tom (Adam Scott) and Sarah (Toni Collette) have fallen out of love, and he can't stand his redneck, gun-toting relatives Howard (David Koechner), Linda (Allison Tolman), and their children.  The only other family member Max really leans to is his loving grandmother Omi (Krista STadler), who becomes oddly solemn during the holidays.

After a bad fight at dinner, Max completely gives up on Santa and destroys his letter, which brings about the evil Krampus - a hoofed entity who is the shadow of St. Nicholas, who comes to punish and to take from people who have lost the true meaning of Christmas.

As Krampus and his demented followers torment Max and his family, he must find that Christmas spirit he thought long lost, or lose his family forever.

At the hands of gingerbread men.

The Synopsis:
Michael Dougherty is one of today's most sought-after directors, after producing the acclaimed 2009 horror anthology "Trick R Treat."  He takes his love of holidays to Christmas with this brilliant blend of horror and comedy with "Krampus," based off an old German Alpine folklore about a hoofed creature who accompanies St. Nicholas who punishes the bad children while St. Nicolas rewards the good.  

Dougherty treats the story of Krampus with the utmost respect, and stays fairly accurate to the old tales as told by the wise loving grandmother Omi (who was brilliantly acted by Austrian-born actress Krista Stadler).  She tells the story of Krampus in a brilliant and haunting animation style reminiscent of a Tim Burton story, which effectively pulls you into the carnage and destruction that awaits the hapless family.

That's not to say the movie is all horror.  You've got some of the best comedic talents here with Adam Scott ("Parks and Rec"), Toni Collette ("United States of Tara"), David Koechler ("Anchorman"), and Conchata Ferrell ("Two and a Half Men) - who steals every scene she's in with clever one-liners and her trademark sarcastic tone.  Throw in a bunch of demented gingerbread men and you've got the makings of a laugh-out-loud comedy - if it weren't so serious.

This is what Dougherty does to pinpoint perfection.  He lulls you into a false sense of security as you find yourself gut-busting laughing, and then inexplicably drives the knife into your heart as you see a family succumbing to the evils of a demented centuries old evil and his killer minions. 

I mean, just LOOK at this thing!

I know if I woke up and saw this thing staring at me, I wouldn't be chuckling.

Still, as I said, this is a horror comedy that blends the two genres seamlessly, and to call it simply horror or simply comedy wouldn't do the film justice.  It's a terrific, terrifying, titillating tale of tumultuous terror to thrill the throngs thoughally. 

Plus, killer gingerbread men.

More evil than just empty calories.

The Summary:
Michael Dougherty once again delivers a tremendous tour-de-force original horror movie with enough laughs to spare.

The Score: A