Based on the German fairy tale of a demonic Santa who comes to punish naughty children, “Krampus” is a horror comedy hitting theaters just in time for the holidays.

When young Max (Emjay Anthony) gives up on Christmas due to his dysfunctional family, his lack of belief in the holidays unleashes the titular demon who wreaks havoc on the broken family, forcing them to work together to stay alive.

Directed and co-written by Michael Dougherty, “Krampus” expresses Dougherty’s signature creature horror, as can be seen in his cult hit “Trick ‘r Treat”. The monster and supernatural parts of “Krampus” are certainly the high point of this film. Expertly weaving together CGI, costuming and puppetry, the creatures are effectively creepy and creatively presented. But unfortunately, the genre elements aren’t as impressively stitched together.

Starting off as something resembling a family holiday/comedy-drama, the interactions between the characters are sometimes humorous. However, the development of some characters, especially the protagonist Max, are pushed aside and was never finished throughout the film.

When the horror element kicks in, it is a welcome addition to the plot. “Krampus” has its moments, both creatively creepy and funny, but it never achieves an equal blend of the horror, comedy and family dramatics that make up the movie.