6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max gets disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Meanwhile, this lack of festive spirit unleashes the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers. All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family's home and forcing them to fight for one another if they hope to survive.
Starring: Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Stefania LaVie Owen, Krista StadlerHorror | 100% |
Holiday | 9% |
Dark humor | 9% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
The only stereo audio is the audio commentary; no stereo audio is found on the 4K disc that plays with the film
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
In 2007, writer/director Michael Dougherty set out to redefine Halloween horror with “Trick ‘r Treat,” a clever anthology effort that emphasized eeriness over pounding terror. For his follow-up, the helmer looks to shake up another holiday with “Krampus,” a Christmas-set chiller providing scares for the season of giving. Again avoiding cheap thrills, Dougherty creates an entertaining monster mash with the picture, which blends yuletide sensitivities involving dysfunctional families and the wrath of ghoulish creatures. Strangely, the production doesn’t aim to create a roller coaster ride of oddity, preferring to step carefully with its genre offerings, leaving the endeavor feeling slack at crucial moments, but it’s still satisfying overall.
Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray included in this release.
Previously released on Blu-ray in 2016, "Krampus" returns to disc with a 4K presentation from Shout Factory. The "Director's Cut" (102:20) is only
available on this release, offering an intensely detailed examination of frame information, which for this movie involves a lot of decorative additions and
various monsters. Skin surfaces are exact, and costuming registers with softer fabrics, including a variety of sweaters. Household particulars are also
textured, and exteriors retain ideal distances, with deep snowscapes and roof activity. Colors make an ideal fit for 4K, with the use of Christmas hues
immediately noticeable, offering rich reds and greens. Home activity is warmer, while outdoor events carry a slightly bluish tint to blizzard exploration.
Skintones are natural. Compelling highlights emerge with the feature's steady use of candlelight and fire, remaining tastefully bright. Blacks are deep,
working with the endeavor's limited lighting. Source is in excellent condition.
The 7.1 Dolby TrueHD mix is supremely active throughout the listening event, with heavy emphasis on surround atmospherics. Snowstorm visits are loud and heavy, and domestic events provide household bustle. Directional activity and separation is surprising at times, offering an active understanding of monster movement and interior threats. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and clean, capturing subtle emotionality and louder arguments. Scoring sounds full and wide, with defined instrumentation, and soundtrack selections are appealingly louder, setting the holiday mood with Christmas classics. Low-end is powerful, rumbling along with bad weather and creature attacks.
UHD
There are great ideas sprinkled around "Krampus," including an animated sequence that details grandmother Omi's (Krista Stadler) first encounter with the Christmas creature. Dougherty doesn't sustain berserk encounters, but his heart is in the right place, constructing an atmospheric chiller that explores myth, monsters, and family antagonisms. "Krampus" doesn't overwhelm like it could, but it does hit a few genre sweet spots with real imagination.
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