It’s never too early to get into the festive spirit, as a Christmas-themed horror movie has found recent success on Netflix. While it’s not the most obvious pairing, holiday-centric horrors, like Black Christmas and Gremlins, have been entertaining viewers with their genre-bending appeal for decades as they combine festive wonder with terrifying thrills.

Krampus is a particularly intriguing comedy horror inspired by the folklore figure of the same name, who is said to reward well-behaved children and punish the naughty in the lead-up to the holiday season. As a box office hit that was bursting with B-movie appeal, this Michael Dougherty-directed film has surprisingly gifted audiences with some holiday fear this July.

Krampus Is A Top 10 Hit On Netflix

This 2015 Christmas Horror Did Well At The Box Office

Recent streaming figures have revealed Krampus as a top 10 hit on the Netflix streaming charts, proving that it doesn’t need to be December for audiences to enjoy some festive frights. With an impressive cast including Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and David Koechner, this story of a dysfunctional family encountering a supernatural demon updates a European legend for modern audiences.

Krampus was released to mixed reviews back in 2015, but with box office takings of over $61 million against its $15 million budget, it was a financial hit. Coming from director Michael Dougherty, Krampus followed up his cult favorite anthology horror Trick ‘r Treat from 2007, which proved him as a filmmaker with a flair for seasonal horrors.

While Krampus started off as a typical domestic comedy, the way it infused genuine folk traditions from Germany and Austria made it a uniquely engaging watch. With Emjay Anthony giving a great performance as Max, the young boy who still believes in Santa, who accidentally unleashes the festive demon upon his family home, Krampus blended family drama with genuine scares.

Our Take On Krampus

A Solid Festive Horror

Krampus stands as an impressive addition to the growing canon of Yuletide genre movies and wasn’t afraid to delve into darker territory than many other comedy horrors. For those who like things on the scarier side, Krampus leaned far more into the horror aspect of things than the comedy, as the Engel family’s dream Christmas turned into a true nightmare.

The fact that Krampus works goes beyond the trappings of Christmas comedy horrors to explore a thoroughly intriguing folk legend goes a long way towards its ultimate success. For this reason, it’s not surprising that Netflix viewers are still tuning into the film in the midst of summer, as a great horror movie will remain scary all year long.

Sources: FlixPatrol, Box Office Mojo