Young Max Engel (Emjay Anthony) is unhappy about how his family is on Christmas as well as being taunted that he believe's in Santa when some of his cousins finds his letter to him. So he rips up his letter and throws it outside in which this summons up a demon that haunts his neigborhood and raises hell for everyone.

A well done beginning of the story with slow motion running on parents running into a store to get gifts for their children in which there's fights over toys and dolls as this looked somwhat humoress.
Then things get rolling with more comedy put inot the story which makes you wonder with things so calm how could this be a horror flick but keep watching as you will find out.
We have the lead character Max Engel as he wrote a letter to Santa and is the only family member who believe's in the jolly old fellow. Suddenly, his cousins and other relatives arrive for the holiday season whom are very stuck up which gave me a feeling that they will bully this poor child.
Dinner is about to be served and the interactions with the family and relative's is almost done in a Home Alone type of fashion which was strongly done especially the relatives whom are very rude which draws some tension into the story. Plus we spot a couple of Max's bullying cousins found his letter to Santa and starts reading it out loud to everyone in which this was a realistic look at some mean kids as well as adding terrific dysfunction and tension to the story too in which you get a feeling that a fight is about to break out as to how these cousins get in his face.
Max tears up his letter and throws it out the window and then the shredded piece of paper flies into the clouds and we spot a storm of dark clouds looming over the home in which I was thinking oh yessss! Finally the horror comes into the story and boy does it ever!!!!
Terrific special effects on the town getting dark as well as Max's older sister going to her boyfriends home to see if he's okay and spots something creepy on a roof as well as on the run trying to get away from this figure in which things looked intensely suspenseful and full of great dynamic action when this happens. Then we don't know as to what has happened to her since she is missing in action for a while.
When she hasn't come back both Tom and Howard go looking for her and more horror excitement occurs when this happens with the two of them being attacked by a force beneath the snow which looked powerfully well done and decent special effects as well.
During the first half of the story Howard is a pompus ass and makes you want to hate him but then he shows a good hearted side of him when the terrors really get going by showing Tom some sympathy which looked highly impressive and a nice side to this character as well.
Then when most try to get some sleep a creepy but cute and funny moment occurs with a chubby kid discovering a gingerbread man coming down a chimney and then when this brat tries to eat it this figure goes in a rage and I laughed my ass off while watching all of this unravel along with good special effects too.
The most elder if the family Omi explains as to why the situations are occurring as this was strongly drawn into the story along with a flashback segment in which is done in animation as this looked bizarre but well done at the same time.
The best is yet to come when some family members sacrifice their lives to save the rest from Krampus as this looked emotional as well as suspenseful along with young Max pleading to this devil in order to bring his family back which looked totally adrenalised along with great effects on the ground breaking open and the gates of hell arising. While watching the whole scene unfold makes you think that there's a sad ending to this story but it teases you later on or does it? A cleverly done scenerio indeed.
Bottom line is that this was a great film and cleverly done too. Not for children that believes in Santa as it would scare the shit out of them wondering if Krampus will get them if they're naughty. It's funny at first and turns out terrifying later on. I feel that this flick can easily have a cult following in which it somewhat did. For people who love Christmas horror this one is for you!!!!

The acting is very good in which we have child actor Emjay Anthony (Max Engel) really brought it out in his role as an upset child who gets picked on by his relatives. He made his role come across as believeable especially when he's upset with something. Plus shows a great raging anger along with a harsh cry of frusteration near the quarter way of the story begging for mercy.
Adam Scott (Tom Engel) seemed to do well by playing the level headed family man showing a good natured attitude as well as coming across as someone whom is strong minded too. Definetely was a fine choice for this role.
Toni Collette (Sarah Engel) was a pwerful force of nature in her role as the mother in which she had a good sharp attitude as well as doing a nice job whenever she had to act stern towards someone else. Also shows great energy throughout the whole story as she was a worthy character actress.
David Koechner (Howard) was fabulous as the dorky relative in which he was great by acting arrogant and pigheaded. He made you want to smack him that he is built on hate. He studied this role perfectly well. Offers a nice versatality when he shows his sympathetic side when the terror strikes and does just as well while being this way.
Conchata Ferrell (Aunt Dorothy) was abnother great one as a pigheaded person too and was built on negativity in which she made this come to life big time and had the right looks and appeal throughout all of this. She stood out greatly in this which was a worthy supporting role without a doubt.
But the one who stood out the most is Krista Stadler (Omi ('Granny') Engel) in which she shows a nice calm and caring behavior as well as expressing her dark secrets to others as this was done in a high fashion along with really getting into her character when she explains a situation in a certain scene. A terrific character actress.

Douglas Pipes was incredible with his classical composing in this film as it sounds incredibly powerful piece by piece in the story with violin and trombone playing as well as the odd vocal harmonising in certain parts. Shows good humoress music for the comedy along with powerful sounds for the suspense and action used int he story.

Aunt Dorothy: Where's the nog? I need to get merry.

Howard: We should have gone to stay with my brother!
Linda: Your brother lives in a barn!
Howard: Jesus was born in a barn!

Aunt Dorothy: So what kind of godforsaken concoction are you whipping up now? You know how this fancy food clogs my pipes.
Sarah Engel: Well how about we go to your trailer for Christmas next year, hm? And after you spending weeks decorating and cooking and cleaning, I might just waddle in and start bitching and moaning about everything you worked so hard on!
Aunt Dorothy: Oh Sarah, you know I...
Sarah Engel: No, Aunt Dorothy, please! For your sake, just... stay the hell out of my kitchen!

Max: Are we going to be okay?
[Omi talks in German]
Max: What?
Aunt Dorothy: She said we're fucked!

Omi: Please, listen...
Aunt Dorothy: English. I knew it.