A.C.’s Review: If
you loved GREMLINS from 1984 this movie is for you. If you hated GREMLINS you
would want to give this movie a wide berth. I write this because the tone of
KRAMPUS is lifted straight out of GREMLINS with its bizarre mix of horror and
comedy set at Christmas time.
It
seems there is an ancient German legend of sort of an Anti-Saint Nick. He’s
described in the movie as the shadow of Santa Clause. When he shows up at
Christmas time it’s not to reward but to punish…punish those who have lost
their Christmas spirit.
And
that is what has happened to a young boy named Max whose Christmas is ruined by
visiting relatives who are just about every negative stereotype you can come up
with for relatives you don’t want to spend the holidays with- from the boorish
husband of his Aunt and their children to a Great Aunt whose sole purpose is to
bitch and complain while nursing her alcoholism. Fed up he tears up his note to
Santa and throws it out the window where it is blown into the sky.
Somehow
this alerts Krampus and soon the neighborhood is shrouded in a blizzard and the
electricity fails. Not long after that Krampus and his demented minions of dark
elves, evil toys and gleefully sinister gingerbread mean (yeah, that’s right
gingerbread men) are tormenting the family before capturing them one by one. I
will stop there with the details so as not to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the
movie.
This
was simply a delightful experience in that it does what a movie is supposed to
do…entertain and keep you in suspense as to what will happen next. Not only
that but its got an amazing cast- Adam Scott, Conchetta Farrel and the gorgeous
Toni Collette have some of the lead roles…and the actress playing the old
grandmother who knows the legend of Krampus steals her scenes.
The
set design of a desolate and isolated neighborhood was phenomenal.
I
know to some people it will suffer from this complaint…either not enough horror
or not enough comedy. I think it probably found as best of a balance as
possible. It’s a don’t miss this holiday season.
Best
Scene: While I greatly enjoyed the slow motion “Black Friday” type stampede at
the mall as the credits open the movie, without a doubt I think the best scene
is the very last scene as you see what happens to the family at the end of the
movie…two words best sum it up…. Christmas Hell.
A.C.’s Rating: Full Price
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