Director Michael Dougherty has brought the Alpine legend of Krampus to the screen. A sort of anti-Santa Claus who punishes rather than rewards, the horned creature and his evil minions* make a lot of troubles.

    The story starts out as a standard dysfunctional* family comedy, as we’re introduced to workaholic* husband Tom (Adam Scott), stressed-out mother Sarah (Toni Collette), teenage daughter Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen) and young son Max (Emjay Anthony), whose disappointment with the holiday provides the chance for Krampus to make his appearance.

    The family are soon joined for an extended visit by Uncle Howard (David Koechner), his wife Linda (Allison Tolman), their tomboyish daughters (Lola Owen, Queenie Samuel) and son (Maverick Flack) and hard-drinking Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell).

    Also on hand is Max’s Austrian grandmother Omi (Krista Stadler), whose worried manners seem to foretell* the terrors to come.

    A blizzard* leaves the extended family stuck in their home without electricity. Grandma Omi advises, “Keep the fire hot,” while Beth braves the bad weather to visit her boyfriend and fails to return.

    Beth’s disappearance is only the tip of the iceberg of troubles. The group is soon besieged* by monstrous living versions of familiar holiday icons, including gingerbread cookies, snowmen, teddy bears, cherubs* and a jack-in-the-box. Demonic elves* finally make an appearance, but the titular figure remains largely unseen until the end.

    The visuals are outstanding, with the wintry landscape convincing enough to make you shiver even in a well-heated theater. And although there is some use of CGI, the majority of the effects are practical, with many of the creatures superbly realized through puppetry, costumes and makeup. They’re really creepy*, and the actors’ obvious physical exertions while interacting with them add to the tension level.

    The film is rated PG-13.

    (SD-Agencies)