RaiPlay, often underestimated compared to other streaming platforms, continues to surprise with a catalog full of interesting titles available for free. Among the most curious additions of this period stands out a film that has very little of Christmas in the traditional sense of the term, but which still manages to exploit the imagery of the holidays in an original and disturbing way.
It’s Krampus – Christmas isn’t always Christmas, a horror that has its roots in the pagan myth of Christmasthe film tells the story of Max, a boy deeply disappointed by the Christmas atmosphere due to the constant arguments and tensions within his family. Disillusioned and embittered, Max tears up the letter to Santa Claus, completely losing faith in the spirit of the holidays. This gesture, however, unleashes the wrath of Krampus, an ancient mythological creature half goat and half demon (a myth originating from the central area of Europe), whichand emerges from a violent snowstorm to punish the unbelievers. Together with his disturbing helpers, Krampus transforms Christmas symbols into instruments of terror, putting Max’s family in front of a night of pure nightmare.
Krampus is probably one of the most successful Christmas horror films of recent years precisely because it uses Christmas as a central element and not as a simple backdrop. Every narrative point, every creature and every visual detail is at the service of the party, however overturning its classic meaning. The result is a film that manages to be both evil and surprisingly “welcoming”, capable of blending the horror spirit with a paradoxically warm and familiar atmosphere.
Among the main themes of the film there is also the cultural and social gap, in particular that between different visions of family and values, a topic that has become increasingly relevant over the years. Krampus, however, is not interested in origins, differences or ideas: anyone who has lost the Christmas spirit is destined for punishment. The Engels family embodies this very failure, having allowed material possessions and cynicism to matter more than family ties.
Ultimately, Krampus-Christmas isn’t always Christmas has something to offer anyone, especially those who love horror and are looking for a film capable of playing with holiday clichés to dismantle and reinterpret them. Even if Christmas is now over, it remains one of the most interesting Christmas-themed horror titles to catch up on.
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