Saturday, 09 October 2021 12:55

Krampus






KRAMPUS

US, 2014, 88 minutes, Colour.
Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Emjay Anthony, Krista Stadler, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell.
Directed by Michael Dougherty.

English-speaking children may not heard of Krampus – and, if they see the film, they may not want to hear about him!
This is a Christmas film with more than a touch of horror – and the director worked on Halloween with his film Trick ‘r Treat.

The elderly grandmother in the family comes from Germany, speaks German and knows the legend of Krampus, a spirit who is angry when humans lose the spirit of Christmas and wreaks most mischievous revenge on them.

The centre of the action of the film is a young lad, Max, played by Emjay Anthony, with Adam Scott and Toni Collette as his parents. He writes a letter to Santa, and is later mocked by his most unlikable cousins who turn up with their parents to celebrate Christmas as well. Also present is the cantankerous Aunt Dorothy.

Max’s sister goes in search of her boyfriend but discovers that the town has been blacked out and a house ruined. Her father and uncle then go out in search finding the same as well as the caravan destroyed. Various mischievous characters including a Klown, a Jack-in-the-Box?, gingerbread men all intervening and several of the characters disappearing.

When Max wakes up, it has all been a nightmare – but he finds in his hand an emblem, similar to that of his grandmother, a reminder of the presence of Krampus.

1. A Christmas story – with a difference? Family? The horror?

2. Town and homes, the Christmas atmosphere, the shops and the rushes, the customers and the rights, the ordinary people, unpleasant and greedy? And Santa Claus in the shops?

3. The title, German legends, monsters, the town, the toys and creatures, the attacks and the repercussions? The shadow of St Nicholas?

4. The weather, darkness, night, snow, the monsters and destruction?

5. The nightmare, Max and his sleeping, waking? The importance of the spirit of Christmas? Omi’s emblem, Max finding his at the end?

6. At home, the parents, busy, the Christmas situations? Omi, her stories, talking in German? Max understanding German? The visitors for Christmas, Howard and his wife, the obnoxious children, aunt Dorothy?

7. The children, their ages, the two girls, the boy, the baby, their behaviour, callous and obnoxious? Their mother trying to mediate? Howard and his arrogance, presumptions, talk about guns?

8. The daughter, going to see her boyfriend, going out into the storm, the ruined house, the monsters, pursuit, hiding under the truck?

9. The argument about the gun, Howard and dad coming out, the search, the snow, the ruined house, Howard and his being dragged down, his being saved, the caravan and its being destroyed?

10. Max, writing to Santa, the cousins mocking him, his tearing up his letter?

11. The children, the gross behaviour, the boy being drawn up the chimney?

12. The Clown, the Jack-in-the-Box?, the gingerbread man, and men, coming down the chimney? Taking the boy?

13. Omi, for explanations about Krampus, the spirit of Christmas and its being lost?

14. The power gone, the batteries, the house in darkness?

15. The disappearances, the effect on the parents? On Max?

16. Max, waking, the experience of the nightmare, Christmas hope and preserving the spirit of Christmas? And the future of Krampus?

More in this category: « Silence/ 2016 Midnight Clear, A »