Monday, 28 December 2020

VOD: Krampus (dir: Michael Dougherty, 2015)

"Lord almighty - it looks like Martha Stewart threw up in here!" 

Having covered Halloween so successfully with Trick 'r Treat, Michael Dougherty's attempt to put the horror into Christmas is nowhere near as stylish or inventive but is still enjoyable nevertheless.  In the style of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, the grosser side of the family descends on a fracturing homestead for the holidays, and the young son's discarding of his letter to Santa causes the arrival of Krampus, the mythical anti-Santa, who inflicts terror upon the entire household (and indeed neighbourhood).  As everything from presents to Christmas lights become agents of malevolence, the nastiness seems more appropriate and natural at Halloween than at Christmas, but the cast give it their all and there is some fun to be had here.

No comments: