History Film / Krampus

* AmbiguousEnding: In the film's final scene, we see [[spoiler: Max waking up on Christmas morning, the bulk of the movie apparently AllJustADream and none of the other characters having any apparent memory of their torment by the Krampus. However, one of the presents Max receives is the Krampus' bell from earlier in the film, and he [[OrWasItADream realizes that it wasn't a dream]]. As the rest of his family see the bell, their faces drop, as if they, too, are suddenly remembering what has happened. Finally, we pull back to a view of the Engels' house inside a snow globe in the Krampus' lair, which is full of similar snow globes. Was the Krampus simply trying to ScareEmStraight, and is using the globe as a kind of crystal ball to keep an eye on them and make sure they learn their lesson? Or did he indeed drag them off to an IronicHell where they have to spend Christmas together forever, while simultaneously granting [[JackassGenie the cruelest possible interpretation]] of Max's final wish for "things to be like they used to"?]]

* GenreThrowback: To 80s [[Creator/AmblinEntertainment Amblin]] movies such as ''Film/{{Poltergeist}}'' and ''Film/{{Gremlins}}''.

* HellIsThatNoise: The sounds made by Der Klown are this incarnate.

* ToyotaTripwire: Max slams one of the elves with the door of the snowplough as he and Stevie escape.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In most of the original stories, [[DarkIsNotEvil terrifying as he is]], Krampus is simply doing his duty - dealing with naughty children. [[DependingOnTheWriter Depending on the version]], his partnership with Santa is either their own friendship or TeethClenchedTeamwork, with ''Santa'' having enslaved Krampus. This version of the character is a sadistic, cruel and demonic figure, with no acknowledged connections to Santa.

* DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler: The film sets out its stall early on by having the teenage girl get killed first out of everyone, and eventually all of the kids die, including the baby. Granted, we don't actually see ''any'' of the main characters die, it's only implied. Best case scenario, they're alive and well despite being captured. The ending possibly subverts this. [[GainaxEnding Possibly]].]]

** And finally, [[spoiler: just when it looks like it was AllJustADream, it's revealed that everything really did happen, and the family is trapped inside one of Krampus' snow globes. [[GainaxEnding Possibly]].]]

* MindScrew: The ending can be interpreted in several different ways... none of which are really pleasant.

** [[spoiler: Played with Omi's parents, who were AbusiveParents towards her when she was young, but it's [[JerkassWoobie because they lost faith in the magic of Christmas due to the hardships they faced]]. Omi at least felt they did not completely deserve to be taken by Krampus.]]

* AdultFear: This film really plays with a parents fear of something terrible happening to their child and not being able to do anything about it, with [[spoiler: Tom, Sarah, Linda, and Howard helpless to stop their children from being taken away by Krampus and his minions.]]

* AnAssKickingChristmas: Unlike most horror movies, the victims in this one ''fight back''.

* AssholeVictim: Krampus intends to make this out of Max's family due to them disrespecting the Christmas spirit. However as things go from bad to worse some of the more unpleasant members of the Engel family (Howard and Linda) at least prove to have a few redeeming qualities after all.
** [[spoiler: Played with Omi's parents, were AbusiveParents towards her when she was young, but it's [[JerkassWoobie because they lost faith in the magic of Christmas dues to the hardships they faced]]. Omi at least felt they did not completely deserve to be taken by Krampus.]]

* BadassFamily: Either it's physical strength or strength of the will, all the Adults are shown to be capable of combating all the Horror Krampus has in store this season. [[spoiler: Before they eventually get battered enough that defeat is the only option...]]
* BadSanta: The mall Santa that the family takes a photo with is seen in the picture clearly checking out Beth's ass. Note that this may or may not be the same drunken, ShellShockedVeteran mall Santa from the comic tie-in.

* BearTrap: Howard theorizes that the thing that grabbed him in the snow was a hidden bear trap. [[spoiler: This is actually just to avoid panicking everyone.]]

** Subverted [[spoiler: in that you can see a second mouth in Krampus' mouth and WordOfGod states that Krampus is [[FaceStealer wearing an old man's face]].]]

* BigEater: Howie Jr. isn't interested in much else. During the argument at dinner, he focused only on his food and didn't notice the fight. [[TooDumbToLive A gingerbread cookie is suspiciously dangling from a chain in the fireplace and his first instinct is to go over and take a bite out of it.]]

* BilingualDialogue: There's a lot of this, as Omi speaks almost entirely in German, but her family understands her fine, and she understands their English just as well.

* CassandraTruth: Howard is the only one unphased when [[spoiler:Omi relates her own experience with Krampus.]]

* ChildHater: Aunt Dorothy, who says that she has never been able to stand kids, even when she was one. Her idea of keeping the kids occupied is to show them how to make peppermint schnapps, and let them have some. However, when the chips are down she does show some protective instincts towards the children.

* CreativeClosingCredits: The credits for the cast are shown as images in an advent calendar with creepy imagery. The remainder of the credits scroll alongside both awkward Christmas family photos, and old artwork depicting Krampus,

* DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler: The film sets out its stall early on by having the teenage girl get killed off first out of everyone, and eventually all of the kids die, including the baby. Granted, we don't actually see ''any'' of the main characters die, it's only implied. Best case scenario, they're alive and well despite being captured. The ending possibly subverts this. [[GainaxEnding Possibly]].]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: Cause a relative to lose their faith in Christmas? Everyone involved aside from that relative gets dragged into the underworld by the Krampus, even the baby and the dog. This can be especially unfair in the case of [[spoiler: Omi's family. Omi lost her faith in Christmas as a child because her family was poor and suffering the damages of a terrible war, which neither she nor her parents could control. Even then, Omi's parents were still taken by the Krampus anyway.]] One can only hope that [[spoiler: the end means that [[GildedCage Krampus is just keeping an eye on them]] [[HappinessIsMandatory to make sure they never lose their Christmas spirit again.]]]]

* EatenAlive: [[spoiler: Jordan is swallowed whole by [[ScaryJackInTheBox Der Klown]]. It can also be assumed that Beth is as well, assuming the Jack-in-the-Boxes are one and the same. It may or may not have happened to the dog Rosie as well.]]

* EyeScream: The demonic bear Teddy gets stabbed in the eye wtih an icicle.

** Then, [[spoiler: it appears that Max's plea to TakeMeInstead has won Krampus over, only for him and his elves to start laughing, [[KickTheDog revealing they were just messing with him]].]]

* InfernalRetaliation: Happens when [[spoiler:Howard lights the three psychopathic gingerbread men on fire. They still try to attack him, one of them almost killing him with a sharpened candycane before Rosie noms it down]].

* KickTheDog: A literal one happens when Der Klown kills the dog Rosie off-screen.
** Krampus himself does this quite a bit

*** Before he sends Max to the underworld, he pretends to give into his terms, and then makes an EvilLaugh as he tosses Max in the pit.

* RealityEnsues: During the climax, the family attempts to escape in a snowplow... that has been abandoned with the lights on and the keys in the ignition for three days in a blizzard. When they try to start the engine, the battery is, of course, stone dead.

* TheSpeechless: Howie Jr. doesn't speak, though a reason isn't given why.

* SomethingWeForgot: Howard and Linda are in the Engels' house for several minutes before Tommy points out that they appear to a child short, and they realise they have left their baby daughter in the truck.

* TheDiaperChange: Happens offscreen after Howard brings his daughter in and hands her off to his wife complaining she pooped.

* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Howard possesses one and [[spoiler: Aunt Dorothy takes out the teddy bear and the cherub with it.]]

** The tie-in comic presents a similar happy ending, without the ambiguity. This makes it likely that Dougherty intended the more positive interpretation.

* OrWasItADream: [[spoiler: Subverted. Max wakes up, and, upon seeing none of his family seem to remember the incident, thinks it must've been a nightmare. Then, he receives the Krampus bell as a Christmas gift, and then slowly, the family seems to start remembering, shattering any ambiguity.]]

* AllJustADream: [[spoiler: Subverted. Max wakes up, and, upon seeing none of his family seem to remember the incident, thinks it must've been a nightmare. Then, he receives the Krampus bell as a Christmas gift, and then slowly, the family seems to start remembering, shattering any ambiguity.]]

* AssholeVictim: Krampus intends to make this out of Max's family due to them disrespecting the Christmas spirit. However as things go from bad to worse some of the more unpleasant members of the Engel family (Howard, Linda and Aunty Dorothy) at least prove to have a few redeeming qualities after all.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[spoiler:Max realizes this as Krampus gives him the bauble and it becomes clear that he's the reason Krampus came.]]

* CompanionCube: Howard is devastated over the destruction of his Hummer, Lucinda.

* DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler: The film sets out its stall early on by having the pretty, relatively sympathetic teenage girl get killed off first out of everyone, and eventually all of the kids die, including the baby. Granted, we don't actually see ''any'' of the main characters die, it's only implied. Best case scenario, they're alive and well despite being captured. The ending possibly subverts this. [[GainaxEnding Possibly]].]]
* DisproportionateRetribution: Cause a relative to lose their faith in Christmas? Everyone involved aside from that relative gets dragged into the underworld by the Krampus. This can be especially unfair in the case of [[spoiler: Omi's family. Omi lost her faith in Christmas as a child because her family was poor and suffering the damages of a terrible war, which neither she nor her parents could control. Even then, Omi's parents were still taken by the Krampus anyway.]] One can only hope that [[spoiler: the end means that [[GildedCage Krampus is just keeping an eye on them]] [[HappinessIsMandatory to make sure they never lose their Christmas spirit again.]]]]

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Both Omi and Tom do this. After all is said and done, Max's final act against Krampus is to be asked to be taken to the Underworld in exchange for his family. Though that case is an AvertedTrope.]]

* AssholeVictim: Krampus intends to make this out of Max's family due to them disrespecting the Christmas spirit. Averted when the Engel family prove to have redeeming qualities after all later on in the film including [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Stevie, Jordan, Howard and Aunty Dorothy]].
** [[spoiler:Downplayed for Omi's JerkassWoobie parents, as they were AbusiveParents towards her when she was young, but it's because they lost faith in the magic of Christmas dues to the hardships they faced and Omi felt they do not completely deserved to be taken by Krampus.]]

* OverlyLongTongue: Krampus has one, seen disturbingly unfurling from his Santa mask to lick Max when he grabbed in the snow.

* GunNut: Howard and Linda both bring guns along to Christmas dinner. This turns out to be a very wise move on their part.

* HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday: The story takes place on Christmas, considering Krampus is associated with that holiday it makes sense.

* InfernalRetaliation: Happens when [[spoiler:Howard lights the three psychopathic gingerbread men on fire.]]

** Krampus does this quite a bit

*** It's revealed in the flashbacks he stole Omi's family from her after they lost faith in Christmas during WWII

* TheKrampus: The main antagonist of the film is Krampus.

* TooDumbToLive: Howie Jr. getting pulled into the fireplace, who obviously did not think seeing a large hook dangling from a dark chimney might be a '''bad''' thing.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Cause a relative to lose their faith in Christmas? Everyone involved aside from that relative gets dragged into the underworld by the Krampus. This can be especially unfair in the case of [[spoiler: Omi's family. Omi lost her faith in Christmas as a child because her family was poor and suffering the damages of a terrible war, which neither she nor her parents could control. Even then, Omi's parents were still taken by the Krampus anyway.]] One can only hope that [[spoiler: the end means that Krampus is just keeping an eye on them to make sure they never lose their Christmas spirit again.]]

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