Adam Scott and Toni Collette Explain What in the World Krampus Is

Unless you’re German, Austrian, or just have some sort of vested interest in demonic Christmas goats, chances are you’d never heard of Krampus until recently. Chances are you have seen the ads for Krampus, though, the new family-friendly horror movie about the titular beast that torments a family during a Yuletide blizzard.

And you’re probably still wondering what in the world Krampus is, so we asked the cast and director to give us a little Krampus 101: “It’s actually where Santa Claus came from,” explains Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), who plays the father of the clan hosting one very unfortunate holiday get-together. “Krampus is an ancient Eastern European creature who comes around at Christmastime, who comes around and takes all the kids who have not been good throughout the year, puts them into his wooden backpack, and beats them with sticks.” (Merry Christmas, kids!)

“I feel like the holiday has been so sugar-coated,” says writer-director Doughtery, who also made the Halloween cult classic Trick ‘r Treat (2007). “And so over-exploited and commercialized that we need something to swing the pendulum in the other direction. And Krampus is the figure to do that.”

And hey, if we’re going to reward our children when they’re good, why not threaten their souls to hell via a murderous goat-man when they’re bad?

Krampus opens Dec. 4. Watch the trailer: