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Krampus vs. Krampus: A Christmas Horror Story

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It’s that time of year…again. I’m not a huge fan of the holiday season. I have worked way too many holidays in retail to enjoy it anymore. Color me jaded. For those of you like me, you can numb the jolly old pain with some Yule-tide horror movies.  There are two in particular that I’m talking about today: Krampus (2015) and A Christmas Horror Story (2015).

Krampus (the mythical monster, not the movie) has been growing in popularity over the years.

There are Krampus festivals, clothing, and now movies where there really wasn’t any a few years ago. Krampus is the anti-Santa. He’s the devil on Santa’s shoulder, there to punish the wicked and carry them off in a basket, be beaten or disappear altogether. Makes getting coal seem a little better, doesn’t it?

Being a fan of the creepy, kooky, mysterious and sometimes even the ooky, I had to check these movies out myself. Comparing the two side by side, one works and one…well, doesn’t. Krampus (directed by Michael Dougherty) is about a family getting together for the holidays.

This family is unhappy and dysfunctional, so there’s a lot of arguing and bad feelings among them. Max (Emjay  Anthony) is so distraught that he tears up his letter to Santa and it blows into the sky, thereby unleashing the Kringle-demon into his neighborhood. Up until this point this movie is pretty good.

The dialogue is alright, the characters are unlikable, but I think they are supposed to be, and the effects are pretty cool. The place where this movie lost me is the way Krampus works. As I said before, he is there to punish the wicked, but the first person he takes is Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen) Max’s sister.

Besides a baby, she’s one of the most kind and innocent in the bunch. The family gets picked off one-by-one, leading to an ending that may hold an option for a sequel but leaves the audience feeling ripped off.  While the actual figure of Krampus leads to a beautifully ominous silhouette, the behavior of the beast leaves me feeling like this was my lump of coal for Christmas.

With quite the comedy star line-up of Adam Scott (Piranha 3D), Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense), and David Koechner (A Haunted House), you’d think this would be a knee-slapping good time. However, despite a few snickers here and there, the movie seemed empty with unlikeable characters and a villain that just didn’t fit the legend.

On the opposite coin is a hidden gem called A Christmas Horror Story (2015). An anthology of four Christmas stories “narrated” by William Shatner as Dangerous Dan.

These four very different stories bring you a haunted holiday from the four corners of the paranormal. I was stupid excited for this one. The stories range from a haunted school, a changeling, Krampus and zombie elves. While I hate to gloss over three of the stories (and they were amazing, each and every one with a twist ending), I really want to focus on the representation of Krampus.

While Krampus from its namesake movie is scary and shadow-y, it’s almost woodland creature-like. Let us not forget, it just punishes everyone, including babies. Krampus from A Christmas Horror Story is tall, big and white as snow.

It’s face is more recognizable as a representation of evil and he only takes the guilty. To summon Krampus, one must be filled with the opposite of Christmas spirit, an anger or lust for revenge. It’s a very clever way to represent Krampus. The fight scenes are gorgeous and Krampus carries his signature weapon, a hooked chain. The weapon alone is enough to make you soil your holiday britches.

krampus-christmas-horror-compare

 

 

All in all, I think that A Christmas Horror Story takes home the gold medal of holiday horror, and I’m including Santa’s Slay with Bill Goldberg. It has gorgeous effects, great acting, awesome writing and an insanely intimidating Christmas Devil. Therefore, in the case of Krampus v. Krampus, I rule in favor of A Christmas Horror Story. You are free to go.

Before you go, if you’re a holiday horror fan, check out why your elf on the shelf should be replaced.

Creepy Holidays everyone!

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“Mickey Vs. Winnie”: Iconic Childhood Characters Collide in A Terrifying Versus Slasher

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iHorror is diving deep into film production with a chilling new project that’s sure to redefine your childhood memories. We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Mickey vs. Winnie,’ a groundbreaking horror slasher directed by Glenn Douglas Packard. This isn’t just any horror slasher; it’s a visceral showdown between twisted versions of childhood favorites Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh. ‘Mickey vs. Winnie’ brings together the now-public-domain characters from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ books and Mickey Mouse from the 1920s ‘Steamboat Willie’ cartoon in a VS battle like never before seen.

Mickey VS Winnie
Mickey VS Winnie Poster

Set in the 1920s, the plot kicks off with a disturbing narrative about two convicts who escape into a cursed forest, only to be swallowed by its dark essence. Fast forward a hundred years, and the story picks up with a group of thrill-seeking friends whose nature getaway goes horribly wrong. They accidentally venture into the same cursed woods, finding themselves face-to-face with the now monstrous versions of Mickey and Winnie. What follows is a night filled with terror, as these beloved characters mutate into horrifying adversaries, unleashing a frenzy of violence and bloodshed.

Glenn Douglas Packard, an Emmy-nominated choreographer turned filmmaker known for his work on “Pitchfork,” brings a unique creative vision to this film. Packard describes “Mickey vs. Winnie” as a tribute to horror fans’ love for iconic crossovers, which often remain just a fantasy due to licensing restrictions. “Our film celebrates the thrill of combining legendary characters in unexpected ways, serving up a nightmarish yet exhilarating cinematic experience,” says Packard.

Produced by Packard and his creative partner Rachel Carter under the Untouchables Entertainment banner, and our very own Anthony Pernicka, founder of iHorror, “Mickey vs. Winnie” promises to deliver an entirely new take on these iconic figures. “Forget what you know about Mickey and Winnie,” Pernicka enthuses. “Our film portrays these characters not as mere masked figures but as transformed, live-action horrors that merge innocence with malevolence. The intense scenes crafted for this movie will change how you see these characters forever.”

Currently underway in Michigan, the production of “Mickey vs. Winnie” is a testament to pushing boundaries, which horror loves to do. As iHorror ventures into producing our own films, we’re excited to share this thrilling, terrifying journey with you, our loyal audience. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to transform the familiar into the frightful in ways you’ve never imagined.

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Mike Flanagan Comes Aboard To Assist in Completion of ‘Shelby Oaks’

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shelby oaks

If you have been following Chris Stuckmann on YouTube you are aware of the struggles he has had getting his horror movie Shelby Oaks finished. But there’s good news about the project today. Director Mike Flanagan (Ouija: Origin Of Evil, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting) is backing the film as a co-executive producer which might bring it much closer to being released. Flanagan is a part of the collective Intrepid Pictures which also includes Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka.

Shelby Oaks
Shelby Oaks

Stuckmann is a YouTube movie critic who’s been on the platform for over a decade. He came under some scrutiny for announcing on his channel two years ago that he would no longer be reviewing films negatively. However contrary to that statement, he did a non-review essay of the panned Madame Web recently saying, that studios strong-arm directors to make films just for the sake of keeping failing franchises alive. It seemed like a critique disguised as a discussion video.

But Stuckmann has his own movie to worry about. In one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, he managed to raise over $1 million for his debut feature film Shelby Oaks which now sits in post-production. 

Hopefully, with Flanagan and Intrepid’s help, the road to Shelby Oak’s completion is reaching its end. 

“It’s been inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams over the past few years, and the tenacity and DIY spirit he displayed while bringing Shelby Oaks to life reminded me so much of my own journey over a decade ago,” Flanagan told Deadline. “It’s been an honor to walk a few steps with him on his path, and to offer support for Chris’ vision for his ambitious, unique movie. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”

Stuckmann says Intrepid Pictures has inspired him for years and, “it’s a dream come true to work with Mike and Trevor on my first feature.”

Producer Aaron B. Koontz of Paper Street Pictures has been working with Stuckmann since the beginning is also excited about the collaboration.

“For a film that had such a hard time getting going, it’s remarkable the doors that then opened to us,” said Koontz. “The success of our Kickstarter followed by the on-going leadership and guidance from Mike, Trevor, and Melinda is beyond anything I could have hoped for.”

Deadline describes the plot of Shelby Oaks as follows:

“A combination of documentary, found footage, and traditional film footage styles, Shelby Oaks centers on Mia’s (Camille Sullivan) frantic search for her sister, Riley, (Sarah Durn) who ominously disappeared in the last tape of her “Paranormal Paranoids” investigative series. As Mia’s obsession grows, she begins to suspect that the imaginary demon from Riley’s childhood may have been real.”

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New ‘MaXXXine’ Image is Pure 80s Costume Core

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A24 has unveiled a captivating new image of Mia Goth in her role as the titular character in “MaXXXine”. This release comes approximately a year and a half after the previous installment in Ti West’s expansive horror saga, which covers more than seven decades.

MaXXXine Official Trailer

His latest continues the story arc of freckle-faced aspiring starlet Maxine Minx from the first film X which took place in Texas in 1979. With stars in her eyes and blood on her hands, Maxine moves into a new decade and a new city, Hollywood, in pursuit of an acting career, “But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

The photo below is the latest snapshot released from the film and shows Maxine in full Thunderdome drag amid a crowd of teased hair and rebellious 80s fashion.

MaXXXine is set to open in theaters on July 5.

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