Movie Review: ‘Krampus Origins’

Review by Caitlin Zeigler

Josephine (Katie Peabody) takes on a job as a history teacher at a Catholic orphanage after her husband goes off to fight in World War I. After she finds out her husband is killed in action, Josephine receives his belongings including a demonic book and an amulet. Josephine wanted to leave, but there were no trains available right before Christmas. She stays in her room with the amulet, but leaves the book behind. Meanwhile, Adelia (Anna Harr) and her best friend Henrietta (Amelia Haberman) are looking through an alchemy book that Lena (Shannyn Hall) gives them. Lena cleans the house, but always gets in trouble with the nuns for being a free thinker. Everything is fine until teacher’s pet Ida (Grace Lopez) gets ahold of the demonic book and decides to translate it. In doing so, Ida unintentionally releases the Krampus and everyone is in danger. The Krampus kills adults and takes children with him. It’s up to Josephine, Lena and Adelia along with a couple of others to help save the other children before it’s too late.

This film has terrible special effects and it feels a little weird to be made during World War I, but if you like cheesy films that are not even on the level of B-movies, then this film is perfect. It did figure out how to complete a film on a small budget, but it definitely should have skipped the special effects. The plot is not as bad as it could be, but watching this film is.