All Through the House
A slasher in a Father Christmas mask, made by people who clearly love the eighties originals and want you to…
Festive Factor 31 out of 100: A different kind of Christmas.The story
About Mother Krampus
Vanessa Bradley, freshly left by her partner, takes her young daughter Amy home to her father Alfie's English village for Christmas. Years before, the villagers blamed a local woman, Molly Fletcher, for the deaths of twelve children and hanged her in the woods, and she died cursing them in the name of Frau Perchta, the Alpine witch of the twelve days of Christmas. Now a hooded figure is taking a child a night and killing the adults who were there, and Vanessa's family has more to do with it than anyone admits. A micro-budget British folk-horror slasher, released at home as 12 Deaths of Christmas; despite the American title, there is no Krampus in it.
The CineClaus verdict
Released here as 12 Deaths of Christmas, this is a micro-budget British folk-horror slasher, and despite the American title there is no Krampus in it. The legend it uses instead, an Alpine witch who takes a child on each of the twelve days, gives it a proper Christmas spine, and a few kills turn the fairy lights and the roast into something nasty.
The acting is uneven and the finale goes round in circles, but the slow first hour has real dread. For horror fans with a strong stomach only.
The family desk
Can the kids watch?
Our take: adults only: child killings, gutting and cannibalism are shown on screen, so this is not one for children or younger teenagers.
Content advice & accessibility
- Our age guidance
- Editorial, separate from the official 18 certificate, and never looser than it.
