You better believe in the Christmas spirit…or he’ll be coming for you.
The comedy-horror is a film genre I very much enjoy. Krampus—a tale about a family rediscovering their loving Christmas spirit by going through absolute hell—is a silly, yet affectionate twist to the genre's norm. It’s campy fun resembling a Sam Raimi film—unfortunately, two major flaws hold Krampus back from being on Evil Dead 2’s entertainment level: it’s not in the slightest bit scary, and the ending feels cheap. While several creature designs are disturbing, their “jump scares” are far too silly to make anyone over fourteen so much as flinch. Then there's Krampus’ gingerbread minions, whose menacingly adorable antics and mediocre CGI feel out-of-place alongside the other creatures’s eerie physical designs. Even the title demonic Santa himself comes across as more artistically creative than frightening.
The lackluster scares are forgivable though, seeing as Krampus finds an equal way to entertain through comedy. The film’s cast reinforces such notion, with the more prominent actors being known for their comedic charm, such as David Koechner and Conchata Ferrell. Krampus is well-balanced between showing the good in the main family while also humorously, and somewhat dramatically, playing upon the bitterness and frustration created from ♫the most stress-inducing time of the year♫. Krampus essentially takes the dysfunctional Griswold family from Christmas Vacation and places them into a campy-horror flick.
The film additionally satirizes holiday consumerism with a delightful black comedy opening, complete with It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas blissfully playing to the ruthless scenario. SPOILERS BEGIN: I would have enjoyed Krampus a lot more had it not been for its disappointing, “it was all a nightmare” finale. Actually I lie, since technically the film reveals the events weren’t just a nightmare, yet the way the scene’s handled is still quite unsatisfying. If I’d been given the chance to direct Krampus’ climax, I’d have had Old Saint Nick show up, save Max and his family, and then kick Krampus’ ass in a battle so insanely ridiculous, it’d be completely awesome. SPOILERS END Regardless, Krampus remains goofy entertainment, though it leaves a lot to be desired.
