Twas the night after LDOC and throughout Chapel Hill, all the students were cheering and drinking their fill. But for those who weren’t partying or preparing for finals, there was a new movie out that was sure to go viral.
Directed by Michael Dougherty, horror-comedy “Krampus” is a wild take on the traditional Christmas classic. Based on a figure in German legend with roots in Norse and Greek mythology, Krampus — derived from the German word krampen — is an anti-Santa Claus meant to scare children into behaving nicely. In folklore, he and jolly old St. Nick are counterparts, working together to reward good children with sweets on December 6 — St. Nicholas Day — and punish bad children with beatings later that night — Krampus Night.
While the idea of rewarding good behavior and punishing bad — preferably with a lump of coal instead of a wooden switch — isn’t anything new, it seems Krampus is re-gaining attention in Alpine Europe as a capitalized commodity with themed chocolates, decorations, greeting cards, events, drunken races, you name it!
This resurgence of Krampus familiarity combined with a US “cult-like following” might explain away some of the reasoning behind the newest holiday movie, but it doesn’t account for the consent of Hollywood execs.
With a baseline knowledge of the Krampus tradition, I decided to do a bit of background research into why a Hollywood producer would want to adapt this Christmas nightmare for the silver screen. To my surprise — and slight disgust — I realized Christmas-themed horror movies are a thing. No, seriously.
The Google search alone gave me over 50 movie results to choose from, not counting the straight-to-DVD sequels and horrible rip-offs. Horror News Network compiled a Top 20 list complete with raunchy posters and teaser trailers, none of which made me especially eager to watch them.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a Tim Burton classic and household name — at least in my family — can’t be labeled a classic “horror” holiday film, but it is still made the list. Also on the chart: “Black Christmas” (1974) about a bunch of sorority girls terrorized over Christmas break; “Jack Frost” (1997) about a serial killer who comes back to life as a snowman and continues killing; and — I kid you not — a 1998 movie about aliens taking over the world at Christmas tilted “Feeders 2: Slay Bells.”
While it seems odd and incredibly Scrooge-ish to make a Christmas movie about a terrorized family, it may be just the thing people need after spending too long with the in-laws debating the merits of gun control and trying to keep cousin Johnny from sticking little Susie’s pigtails in the electric socket.
This blogger is holding out for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but Krampus doesn’t seem nearly as horrifying a concept after a night of research
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