krampus

 

Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Dougherty
Written by	Todd Casey Michael Dougherty Zach Shields
Based on	Krampus from Austro-Bavarian folklore
Produced by	Thomas Tull Jon Jashni Alex Garcia Michael Dougherty
Starring	Adam Scott Toni Collette David Koechner Allison Tolman Conchata Ferrell Emjay Anthony Stefania LaVie Owen Krista Stadler
Cinematography	Jules O'Loughlin
Edited by	John Axelrad
Music by	Douglas Pipes
Production companies	Legendary Pictures Zam Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	November 30, 2015 (Los Angeles premiere) December 4, 2015 (United States)
Running time	98 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$15 million[2]
Box office	$61.5 million[2]

Krampus is a 2015 American Christmas comedy horror film based on the eponymous character from Austro-Bavarian folklore, written and directed by Michael Dougherty, and co-written by Todd Casey and Zach Shields. The film stars Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony, Stefania LaVie Owen, and Krista Stadler. In the film, a dysfunctional family squabbling causes a young boy to lose his festive spirit. Doing so unleashes the wrath of Krampus, a fearsome, horned demonic beast in ancient European folklore who punishes naughty children at Christmastime. As Krampus lays siege to the neighborhood, the family must band together to save one another from a monstrous fate.

The concept for Krampus began in 2011, when Dougherty was planning to make a Christmas-themed horror film, with him and Shields writing the screenplay. Production on the film began in 2014, with Dougherty directing and writing a new screenplay with Shields and Casey. Casting call began from November 2014 to March 2015. Principal photography on the film began on March 12, 2015 and wrapped in May 2015. Creature effects were made by Weta Workshop.

Krampus was released in the United States on December 4, 2015 by Universal Pictures. It received mixed-to-positive reviews with many critics praising Scott and Collette's performances, the horror elements, and humor while its tone, pacing, and final twist ending received criticism. The film grossed over $61 million against a $15 million budget.^[3][4]