Krampus Unleashed, 2016.
Directed by Robert Conway.
Starring Amelia Brantley, Bryson Holl, Caroline Lassetter and Travis Amery.
SYNOPSIS:
In pursuit of a lost treasure, a group of fortune hunters mistakenly unearth an ancient demonic summoning stone that holds a terrible curse and awakens a timeless evil, the Krampus. After centuries of slumber, Krampus, the Christmas Devil, has awoken.
The relative success of Michael Doherty’s 2015 film Krampus brought the legend of this Christmas demon into the wider consciousness. It also inspired other filmmakers to cash in, exploring their own dark tales of the beast. One such film, released the same year and directed by Robert Conway, was the relatively disappointing Krampus: The Reckoning. This festive season Conway is back with his latest entry to yuletide monster lore, Krampus Unleashed; which is already available on demand now and on DVD from the 13th December.
The films gory opening is indicative of the type of horror that Krampus Unleashed is, as we see treasure hunters uncovering a cursed lump of coal and facing the terrifying consequences of awakening the beast. Fast-forward to the present day and we find a more regular story of a family visiting relatives for the Christmas holidays. It is only later when the younger kid Tommy (Bryson Holl) uncovers the same rock, that a chain of horrific events starts to unfold.
When we are introduced to the lead characters, the initial shades of family disharmony in other films such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation or even the beginning of Home Alone soon dissolve. This isn’t a family caper of festive scares or a tale of a family coming together despite their differences; actually it’s a serious gory horror. At times, it doesn’t even feel like a Christmas film at all, not at least because of its Arizona location.
Unlike his previous film Robert Conway has opted for a physical interpretation of Krampus rather than using CGI, which creates a more visceral reaction. The beast, played here by Travis Amery, has an otherworldly aesthetic which is down to some good creature effects (for its relative budget). It’s a shame then that the filmmaking lends itself to revealing the whole monster early rather than creating a slow and building unveiling. Once seen in full light it loses its ability to scare as much. It’s a decision that shifts the focus from fear of the monster, to goriness. Krampus violently dispatches its victims from the get-go with some very basic but competent on-screen effects.
If you enjoy visual horror then the film does have things going for it. Conway uses cinematography quite effectively and for its low budget it has a professional and effective feel. There are some creepy uses of shadows and darkness to scare throughout and some of its deaths are pretty violent.
However, this saves the Krampus Unleashed from its frankly thin plot and mostly uninteresting characters. This type of film doesn’t lend itself to grandiose story telling but to reach out beyond hardcore horror fans, it needs more depth. Its two most interesting characters (Those who think they are hunting Big Foot only to find what they are tracking is much worse) are definitely fun but in the end, inconsequential. The acting throughout is mixed, as you might expect.
The also film suffers from its dark tone. Part of the appeal of Krampus is the potential for comedy (as demonstrated in Michael Doherty’s version) not only from the family dynamics but from its unconventional nature and Christmas theme. It is a monster which lends itself more to the ridiculous and the bypassing of that comedy element in Krampus Unleashed feels like they missed a trick.
Overall this new film doesn’t cover any new ground. It is certainly an improvement on Director Robert Conway’s last outing but nothing surprising or new. Serious in nature and in violence but on the lower budget side, it will please indie horror fans with its good monster and serious gore. However, those looking for a more than a formulaic horror might want to wish they don’t find Krampus Unleashed in their stocking this Christmas.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Tom Nightingale
Originally published November 7, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
