Cast: Adam Scott, Toni Colette, David Koechner, Alison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony

Directed By: Michael Dougherty

While we still in the holiday season, which is the best and most magical and beautiful time of year, this film borrowed from an Austro-Bavarian folklore, explores a tale not many know about, which should give you the goosebumps like any horror film. ‘Krampus’ would fall in probably the best Christmas themed horror movie in history.

And now for the story. It’s nearing Christmas and workaholic Tom (Adam Scott), wife Sarah (Toni Collette), teenage daughter Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen), and her brother Max (Emjay Anthony) have just returned from a shopping spree. The family live with Tom’s Austrian mother Omi who speaks very little of English, but is a darling grandmother to the kids.

Max has just one wish. He wishes that Christmas would be again like yesteryear. A cozy, warm family celebration, full of joy and affection. But all that fun soon vanishes when Sarah’s sister Linda (Allison Tolman) shows up with her husband Howard (David Koechner) and their children.

When tomboys Jordan and Stevie steal’s Max’s letter to Santa and reading it out over dinner, in front of everyone, all hell breaks loose. Max is upset and the whole dinner party turns into a free for all. Later that night, he rips his letter to shreds, tosses it out the window, and angrily tells St. Nick where he can stick it.

What little Max didn’t know was he was summoning an ancient half goat, half demon horned beast, the arrival of Krampus, the demonic anti-Santa who punishes those who don't make the "nice" list who refuse to get into the Christmas spirit.

The entire family find themselves stuck in a winter wonderland of evil without hope of escape, putting everyone’s holiday on hold and bringing on one of the scariest Christmases. And who makes sense of everything? Only Grandma Omi.

As Krampus lays siege to the home, each one must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate. Watch the fun.

Rating: ****

n  Reviewed by Verus Ferreira