Krampus

Christmas home invasion creature feature black comedy with an excellent snowy backdrop. Dougherty fuses German folklore and American genre traditions into a sufficiently entertaining mix in which children are devoured and the titular devil doesn't grow tiresome thanks to a late entry. Formal finesse, good actors and unobtrusive film references are sometimes enough to satisfy, especially at Christmas. 70 % (12/16/2022)

The story of the movie "Krampus: Get Lost" is perhaps a bit simple, but it is packed with quite an action-packed spectacle that can entertain you. It's something that won't scare you much, but it can captivate you as great fun. If you want to go to the movies for something that won't bore you, I think this is exactly the film you could watch. Plus, it also has that Christmas family spirit. (04/07/2016)

The movie left much to be desired. Within the first few minutes, a sense of irritation crept over me, only to be replaced by sheer boredom once the mindless herd was gone. It became clear that there was no one to root for, as each family member seemed either unlikable or left me indifferent. Any attempt at comedy felt like a feeble imitation of Griswold's Christmas, stripped of all its humor by the three(!!!) screenwriters. Horror was notably absent. In the end, it amounted to little more than a background for mundane household chores. / Lesson learned: Ben Affleck's knack for facial expressions could make him an excellent Krampus. (12/23/2023)

The Czech devil has an exceptional position on a global scale. He is more of a confused companion for gamblers, or an executor of justice where secular justice is a mockery of morality. Krampus is a different sort. At first glance, fear emanates from him and he exudes the threat of brutal violence and mystical cruelty. The movie, which entices with the use of the name "Krampus," announces that it will be a form of entertainment for a specifically horror-oriented audience. But actions speak louder than words and this is also reflected in the quite mixed reviews. Let's be honest, how many horror comedies have you seen that weren't crippled in one way or another, or had both legs amputated? No matter what Dougherty does, he is unable to generate scares, at least not in a way that today's hardened fans of horror would fear. It's a bit better when it comes to the humor. Dougherty has learned a lot from Terry Gilliam and his devilish gingerbread cookies are successful, he has a sense of irony and occasionally comes up with a decent joke. He also relies on a likable cast of actors, led by the talented Toni Collette. Unfortunately, he is not creative enough to develop his ideas into a truly functional and visually appealing form. He relies on frantic, chaotic editing, and annoyingly stereotyped characters within the family, and he is not daring enough to turn family values upside down and mock Christmas. When I remember how Ari Aster utilized Toni Collette in Hereditary, I have the feeling that Dougherty is wasting the acting potential of his ensemble, as well as the atmosphere and ideas. The film is unfinished and rarely truly atmospheric. My review ranges between 2 and 3 stars, and considering the weak reviews he received from horror fans, this time I will support Dougherty and give the film a weak three-star rating. Overall impression: 50%. (12/20/2019)

If Krampus was even more comedic, and I don't care if in the black-humorous style of the skirmish in the attic or the Griswold Christmas break style in which it began, I'd like it even more. Even so, from my point of view, it is a very pleasant surprise, which is able to entertain and tantalize, but it could do without those few annoying, more serious minutes promoting family values. I was probably most pleased by the special effects - with the exception of bloodthirsty gingerbread, not too much digital magic is happening here, but rather good old-fashioned puppets and animatronics. And it all looks great! (02/18/2018)