The holiday season is a great time to catch a movie at the theater. This time around, there are great choices like spy-thriller "Spectre," dystopian action/adventure "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2," and family-friendly "The Peanuts Movie." However, if these have already been seen then "Krampus" might be a good alternative. What is it about? In a nutshell, it's basically about a dysfunctional family that is tormented by evil Santa Claus—what more could one want?
Familiar Faces
Featuring Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt from "Parks and Recreation"), David Koechner (Champ Kind from "Anchorman"), and Conchata Ferell (Berta from "Two and a Half Men.") the sight of loved characters from purely comical backgrounds ending up in something far more nightmarish is equally interesting as it is worrisome as one genuinely fears for their safety.
Great Comedy
Labeled as a horror/comedy, it does what "The Visit," also a horror/comedy released earlier this year, could not: make the audience laugh. Expertly peppered with humor throughout, some laughs elicited from clever jokes and others from pure ridiculousness, it's in the same caliber as other great horror/comedies such as "Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil" and "Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead."
Genuine Horror
Working alongside the humor, the horror in "Krampus" is truly frightening. Director/Writer Michael Dogherty's ability to maintain a healthy balance between the two without allowing moviegoers to wander too far in either direction is clearly evident and admirable. A huge plus in this category is the thought that was put into the monsters of the film. By taking common Christmas-themed commodities such as teddy bears and jack-in-the-boxes, and making them into murderous abominations, it's especially effective as Christmas will never be viewed the same.
Beautiful Animation
Without giving away too much, there's a part in the film where a flashback is told through animation. Taking the entire theater and myself surprise, it was well animated and incredibly beautiful. Akin to "Coraline" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in terms of charm and physical appearance, it's one of the film's best scenes.
(Not from said animated flashback)
The Story
Admittedly, the story for "Krampus" seems very one dimensional and forgetful, but it isn't. Underneath the flashy exterior of the plot lays something more sincere, which ultimately ties back to what the Christmas holiday is all about, or should be about.
Of course, there is much more to the film than the general aspects aforementioned. More information can be found on the official facebook page, or on websites such as IMDB.
"Krampus" was released in theaters on December 4th, 2015.
