by Finn Basketfield
With Christmas just around the corner, we all begin to indulge in those same holiday traditions: hanging up the tree, Christmas songs and, best of all, Christmas films. Christmas classics include Home Alone and It’s a Wonderful Life, or, my personal favourites, Die Hard and Elf. Whatever it be, everyone has a film that they curl up to, with the fire on, at this time of year. However, there is one Christmas film that may have slipped people’s radar – the 2015 horror/comedy Krampus.
Michael Dougherty, director of the upcoming Godzilla 2 (2019), also directed and wrote the lesser known Krampus. Starring Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), Toni Collette (Muriel’s Wedding) and David Koechner (Anchorman), there will be some fun in this film along with the dark.
Krampus tells the story of a young boy whose extended family come to stay for the holidays, and ruin a happy time of year for him. He turns his back on Christmas and his family and by doing so unleashes the wrath of Krampus, the demonic version of Santa.
It is a film that isn’t afraid to switch between genres, from the threat whenever Krampus is nearby, to the comedic moments of knife wielding gingerbread men. At its finer moments, Krampus is a perfect mixture of comedy and horror that leaves you unable to decide whether to laugh or gasp.
With some surprisingly touching moments, Krampus does keep in the holiday spirit by emphasising family relationships at this time of year, but they are comically offset by the background of horror. You should watch this film, if only for the chance to shake up the idea of a good Christmas flick.
Already being referred to as a cult classic, despite only being released two years ago, it deserves more recognition than it originally received. Whilst it will never be in the same bracket as the earlier mentioned Christmas classics, it is well worth a watch if just for the underlying message of being grateful for what, and who, you have at Christmas.
