Top Ten Movies of 2015

It's been a phenomenal year for movies and I've only managed to see 61 overall. There have been highs and lows and, on the whole, I've had a lot of thrills, laughs and even shed a few tears.

I always like to end a year on a high note so, seeing as I've posted my worst movies of the year, I thought I'd get on to what I thought were the best films of 2015. 

Before I get down to my list, I thought I'd share a few special mentions.

Most underrated film of 2015

The Good Dinosaur

With a lack of marketing from Disney and Pixar and rumours of production problems, I was more than hesitant going in to 'The Good Dinosaur'. It turns out my hesitation was misplaced as it was a fantastic little film. Whatever the main problems were in production, it didn't affect the final product too much at all. It has some issues but nothing worth grumbling about as the animation is among the best I've ever seen and it is a truly heartwarming story. Only Pixar could pull off a human being the only character that doesn't speak English. Centred around the idea that the meteor that killed the dinosaurs missed earth altogether, you'll laugh and cry at this touching prehistoric tale. 

Biggest surprise of 2015

Krampus

'Krampus' was a late entry to the year, being that it was a Christmas film, and took me by surprise. This Christmas horror/comedy had chills and dark imagery alongside jokes and Christmas. It manages to effectively give us both aspects without diluting either and is a good time for both horror and comedy fans alike. Krampus is the seasonal demon that you don't want coming down your chimney and the unwitting family that accidentally summoned him have to fight to last the night.

Now let's get down to the list!

10. The Martian

'The Martian' wasn't without its flaws but, overall, it was a strong and personal film by Ridley Scott. Despite the grandeur of space travel, it was actually a small character driven piece featuring a charismatic and engaging performance from Matt Damon simply fighting to stay alive. It discussed a lot of interesting ideas and themes and managed to be really entertaining as well. Even though the last act slightly let the film down, I still admired what it was doing and doesn't change my opinion too much. Check it out, even just for the cool science. Move over Bill Nye, Matt Damon is the science guy now. 

9. The Gift

Secrets, secrets and even more secrets... 'The Gift' is a well thought out and well paced film. It gives us enough information at the beginning to hook our curiosity so that it can start with a slow build up. Just when the film feels like it might be lagging, there is an event that ups the ante and keeps you guessing. It ends when it should end and leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions which is great. It's a clever and psychological film that goes the extra mile for the audience. It could have taken the easy road and become a bland and predictable thriller but it does its best to elevate itself from what has become a bit of a stale genre. It's the essence of what a psychological thriller should be. It's not a white knuckle ride but it gets under your fingernails and stays there. It entertains you, it creeps you out and makes you think. 

8. No Escape

Coming in at number 8 is 'No Escape'. If a thriller can literally keep you on the edge of your seat then it has done its job well. Owen Wilson gives an unexpected performance as a father keeping his family together in a horrific tragedy that strikes them when they are on holiday. It feels old school in its delivery with twists and turns and almost Hitchcockian with the layers of tension and danger it creates. Its ridiculous but it's just on the verge of being believable and that is what makes 'No Escape' so much fun. I've never heard so many gasps in a cinema and it is a testament to the film that you genuinely care about the outcome for the unsuspecting family. 

7. John Wick

A real return to form for Keanu Reeves, 'John Wick' is the action film of the year and took me by surprise when I saw it. The film itself is a bit cheesy at times but in a playful way that actually seems to work in the film. There are lines of humorous dialogue and scenes that are totally ridiculous but are absolutely believable in the world that the film creates. It's great fun and is a white knuckle ride that doesn't let up. It creates a unique world that you can immerse yourself in and has some high voltage fight sequences that put Liam Neeson to shame. 

6. The Good Dinosaur

It should come as no surprise that 'The Good Dinosaur' is among my selected films as I thought it was the most underrated film of 2015. It's touching, brilliantly made and fun for the whole family. What more could you want?

5. The Salvation

'The Salvation' is nothing new but, in it's own way, feels both modern and classic. It's full of realism and dark themes but it still knows what type of film it is. It plays to the strengths of the western and takes some interesting and creative choices within the confines of that genre. It boasts a great cast with some breathtaking cinematography. 

It is as hard hitting as it is violent. You feel every punch and gunshot as if you were standing mere feet away and that really brings it home for an audience. If you're a western fan then you won't find anything new here but it's a well executed western that's tough and mean and definitely isn't to be missed.

4. Ex Machina

‘Ex Machina’ is an intelligent, entertaining and thought-provoking journey that allows the audience to see things from a different perspective. It poses some profound questions and ideas such as the meaning and creation of life, the line between man and machine and where our species as a whole is headed. I feel like this is the film Stanley Kubrick would have made if he had lived to make 'A.I.' which Spielberg made in 2001 in tribute to him.

There was a surprising amount of tension in the film that I was not expecting. There are layers upon layers of deceptions and emotional conflicts that the characters, and the audience have to try and manoeuvre through to get to the truth. Each character in the film has their own agenda and they develop as the plot does.

Combining some clever twists and turns with intelligent ideas and an intriguing plot makes ‘Ex Machina’ an extremely enjoyable watch that will, ultimately, leave you with a lot to think about. 

3. Southpaw

Crunching in at number 3 comes the animalistic 'Southpaw'.

'Southpaw' is a hard film to get through at points. It seems to go from bad to worse and then from worse to rock bottom... then at rock bottom there's six feet of shit. 

You care for the characters which makes all the difference in a film like this. You can relate to a lot of the struggles that each of the characters are going through and the climax of the film is like a large exhale of stress and emotions. The story itself is relatively predictable but, as cliché as it sounds, it's about the journey, not the destination. You are invested in the characters and are going through their hardships with them. There are some heartbreaking scenes that will really hit you where you live and tug at those heart strings. 

If you are looking for an all out fighting film then 'Southpaw' may disappoint. Granted, the boxing and the training that you see on screen is some of the most realistic that I've ever seen but this isn't 'Rocky'. It's a film about an extremely unstable man who is dealing with grief in the only way he knows how, by fighting. 

Jake Gyllenhaal may steal the show with his physical transformation as an actor before the film, but it is his transformation as a character that is the most impressive to watch. 

2. A Most Violent Year

With a Godfather-esque tone and pace, director J.C. Chandor creates a stylish, tense, challenging and engaging film about one mans fight to stay noble in an amoral world. It is a slow burner with outstanding writing, cinematography, acting and direction. The film features a powerhouse performance from Oscar Isaac that is nuanced, powerful and charismatic. Without such a stellar cast, I think the film could have easily collapsed in on itself. The acting calibre is strong enough to engage you in the lengthy dialogue scenes and pulls you into the drama of the story, making 'A Most Violent Year' a character piece that will stay with you long after you've seen it. 

1. Inside Out

My absolute number one film of the year has to be 'Inside Out'. It is an extremely intelligent film that is perfect for adults and children alike. You can relate to the film on so many levels. There is the perfect balance between humour and emotion and it really allows you to reflect on your own emotions and experiences. 

It tends to just go without saying but, as always, the animation is simply breathtaking. Every single detail is carefully constructed and everything in the world that the film creates is natural and authentic. You are totally and utterly absorbed by the story and the characters that you don't even notice the animation. Which is the true test of an animated film. 

Overall, 'Inside Out' is an instant classic and I can't recommend it enough. It breaks down some tough ideas and concepts that make it easier to swallow and absorb. It's extremely clever, brilliantly written and will make you laugh a lot. You may even shed a tear. 

If you don't relate to this film on at least one level or another then I think you may have to get tested... Just incase you're a serial killer. 

That brings 2015 to an end! 

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and any others you may have throughout the year. Did you agree with my list?

Here's to a great year of films in 2016!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

"There's been an awakening. Have you felt it? 

The Dark side, and the Light."

Well, it's definitely better than the prequels...

I don't think there's a single person in the world that doesn't know that the new Star Wars film was released this weekend. Whether you're a fan or not, it's been everywhere.
It has officially broken the record for biggest opening weekend ever, taking a colossal $528,000,000 worldwide brings it just over the 'Jurassic World' record of $525,000,000. It's not hard to believe when you hear the hype surrounding it.
I wasn't particularly wanting to battle to go on opening weekend but, as it turned out, it wasn't actually that hard to get tickets seeing as it was showing every 15 minutes.

The trailers didn't give much away, which is a rarity in this day and age, and people were relatively hush hush about giving away spoilers for the film. I settled down and opened my mind for a trip down nostalgia lane and an adventure worth the hype and anticipation. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't help but feel slightly underwhelmed. 

In comparison to the prequels, there's no competition. It has a lot of humour and wit which is what is blatantly missing from the prequels. With likable and relatable characters, they manage to do in 20 minutes what the prequels failed to do in 3 movies.
I enjoyed the tone that they were going for, the slightly mysterious edge with an upbeat feel overall. You can tell that J.J. Abrams had a lot of fun making this film and it shows in a lot of the scenes. 

It has a lot going for it but definitely has a lot of unavoidable flaws that create a disappointingly safe sequel.

From the opening, I was swept away in a wave of nostalgia and memories as we are thrown back into the familiar world that Lucas created so many years ago. For all it is familiar, it's different but it's up to date and that's a good thing. As the plot develops and we sink into the story and the new characters, this is when my rose tinted 3D glasses started cracking and I became less and less hopeful with where the film was headed.

For me, this was the perfect opportunity to reinvent the Star Wars franchise and take it in a fresh direction. We've had the original trilogy, the disastrous prequels and now we could have a new story with new characters in a new Star Wars universe. However, it boils down to a recycled plot that we've seen before with a lot of fan service. 
For me, it relies too heavily on the original trilogy and the nostalgia factor for a lot of fans. I would have rather seen a few subtle nods to the original but with a whole new story. It ends up being 50% throwbacks and 50% remix of 'A New Hope'. I'm hoping that this is purely just because it is the first chapter in the new story and there's more to come but, as a stand alone film, it feels like an extremely safe and underwhelming first step into the new Star Wars franchise. 

I was hoping to see a smaller scale story to open the series, with some more intrigue, mythology and story. The plot seems stitched together to accommodate various elements rather than a natural and organic flow that drags you into the world and the characters. I was constantly taken out of the plot because of the fan service and throwbacks to the original trilogy. I couldn't enjoy the story because I was constantly reminded that I was watching a Star Wars movie. I feel this is a trend that has appeared in most remakes/reboots of late. 'Terminator Genysis' suffered from the same problem. It's like studios are afraid of new movies and stories so revert to remaking an old favourite, which is fair enough, we all enjoy these movies so why not have a modern retelling? The only problem is that it ends up just feeling like a greatest hits, we spend too much time looking back on the original films rather than grabbing them by the balls and making something brand new and exciting.

The performances, on the whole were good. I thought Oscar Isaac as Po was great and obviously Harrison Ford returning to his role as Han Solo was fantastic. Adam Driver brought a more human performance to the villain Kylo Ren and I'll be curious to see where the character goes in the next instalments. 

I thought Daisy Ridley as Rey struggled. There was a lot of overacting and a lack of likability in her performance. Her chemistry with Finn and BB-8 felt forced which slightly put me off her as the main character. Although, it was nice to see an interesting female lead for a change. This may just be teething problems with a new cast member in, what is set to be, a huge set of movies.

It's clear that BB-8 is Disney's addition as the biggest toy this Christmas and they certainly know how to market their characters. He's the cute and silly sidekick that is the new and improved R2-D2 for a modern audience. Despite the blatant fact that he's mostly in the movie to sell toys to kids, I was so impressed that he was created practically where possible and only enhanced with CGI. It brings him alive as a character and reminds us of why we loved R2-D2 in the original trilogy. 

This leads me to my largest gripe with the film. I thought that the practical effects were phenomenal. You forgot that you were looking at practical effects because they blended in so naturally to the scenery and world that is created. This, unfortunately, makes a lot of the CGI look dated and fake. How they could have such great practical effects and then create characters purely from CGI is a mystery to me. The characters were not impossible to make practically so, when you have set a strong president with practical effects, why not create them with make-up and in-camera effects? The CGI stands out and looks like CGI, it will date the movie terribly in years to come.

The cinematography in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' is simply stunning. From the Rebel cavalry coming to the rescue or the lightsaber fight in the snow, it all looks like a painting. Daniel Mindel, who photographed 'Enemy of the State' and J.J. Abrams 'Star Trek', manages to capture the essence of the original Star Wars films while bringing a modern twist to it.

What I loved seeing was the fact that there was a buzz in the cinema and online. 
Everyone's talking about the film and that's a wonderful thing for cinema. The fact that there is still a demand to see these films in the cinema, where they should be seen, and not just on a laptop is fantastic.

Overall, I think that most will look back retrospectively and see that it isn't as good as we've been lead to believe. It is an enjoyable movie that looks incredible but has a lot of issues that I just couldn't shake when watching the film. I'm not so worried about how the film ended and where the characters are going because I think that only time will tell where the next films take us and how it'll all tie in.

It's a blockbuster event movie that will please fans and newbies alike but I don't think the hype is totally valid... but it's nice seeing some atmosphere back in the cinema!

Worst Movies of 2015

Well, it's that time of year again. 2015 has been an awesome year for movies and I've managed to see 60 so far with only a few weeks left of December. 

Unfortunately, for all the good films that are released, there are always going to be bad films to balance out the year.

It's time for me to reflect on the year. I've made up my picks for the worst films of the year but, before that, I've chosen two special mentions. 

Most overrated film of 2015

Jurassic World

Ultimately, 'Jurassic World' is generic. It's a relatively good time as far as blockbusters go but I wouldn't look too deep. It has some laughs and there are enough dinosaurs to keep you occupied but as far as being on the same level as 'Jurassic Park', it isn't even in the same league. There's not much of an attempt to do anything spectacular with the film to make it different or unique. Instead, there's a big dinosaur that is set loose in the park with an excessive amount of CGI. This was a fantastic opportunity to breath life into a dead franchise and return it to the glory of the original film, to capture some of that magic with technology they didn't have in 1993. They could have taken it in so many different directions with the park being opened up but instead they go the easy route of just having a big, DNA spliced, CGI dinosaur to wreck havoc.

I found it ironic that the film itself is centred around the parks issue of bringing in more customers by creating this super-mega-ultra dinosaur. Everything has to be bigger and better and it backfires on them. This seems to be the case with 'Jurassic World' because after the first three movies, instead of coming up with something original and innovative, they just opt for a bigger dinosaur than the last in a desperate attempt to bring in cinema goers. Unfortunately, it broke the box office records so there will no doubt be another 4 or 5 of these to look forward to.

Biggest let down of 2015

Crimson Peak

'Crimson Peak' was definitely the biggest let down of the year. I was so looking forward to Del Toro's new masterpiece but it wasn't nearly as great as I was hoping it was going to be. Despite being a beautiful film to look at, it's undeniably a let down. It had all the potential to be a great film but squanders it on an over-complicated, benign and dull plot. Guillermo Del Toro gave us 'Pan's Labyrinth' and I was hoping this was going to top that masterpiece but it seems I was expecting too much.

It is a confusing and convoluted story that boasts a unique plot twist that turns out to be a massive disappointment. For the entirety of the film we are wanting to discover what the answer to the mystery is but, at the crucial moment, we don't really care that much. It is a pretty boring and unoriginal "twist" that made my stomach sink. I kept waiting for something more but more never comes. It gets more and more ridiculous by the end and I was totally out of the film by the big finale. 

'Crimson Peak' isn't a horror film, I'd say it was more of a gothic romance tale, despite the misleading marketing of the film. I was searching for the deeper meaning and trying to dissect it in a different way because I wanted so much to enjoy this film but, conclusively, it's not scary, it's a bit predictable and feels a little pointless.

Let's get down to the list. These are my own personal choices for the worst of 2015 and I'm pretty sure there will be a few that will be in dispute but that's all part of the fun!

Here we go.

10. Focus

For a film called 'Focus', ironically, that was exactly what the film lacked. It was a film that had a serious amount of potential but ultimately didn't deliver. It felt more like a vehicle for Will Smith rather than a smart, sexy movie about a con artist couple. It was confused, convoluted and not nearly as intelligent as it thought it was. If you could make it through the dreadful romance plot then you would make it to an ending that claimed to have fooled you but, in reality, just irritated you.

9. Kill Your Friends

'Kill Your Friends' was unoriginal, tiresome, terribly executed and, in all honesty, badly acted. This film is simply a combination of different films that have been repackaged in an attempt to make us forget that we have already seen it. It poorly imitates them and fails to come up with something original. It'll leave a bad aftertaste in your mouth and make you wish you'd just watched 'American Psycho' instead.

8. Insidious: Chapter 3

Overall, 'Insidious: Chapter 3' is a piece of horror trash that will make you jump but pretty much nothing else. The best ideas in the film are either totally ruined by cheap scares or not explored enough to be of any value. There are endless plot holes and problems that you could pick apart for days but, in the end, it's not even worth the effort... 

'Insidious: Chapter 3' is a film that has been designed for money making. It's a 15 rated horror flick to bring teenagers into the cinema so that they can rake in the money on tickets and popcorn. It was an insulting film for any horror fan and is one of the reasons why the genre has so little respect.

7. Poltergeist

This badly thrown together remake with predictable jump scares was made purely to cash in on a 30 year old movie's good reputation.

It's a horror film that's not scary and that's pretty much what it boils down to.
As a remake, it doesn't do anything new and just recycles all the out of date cliches in a cheap money grab. I felt robbed at the end of this movie which is not the best way to feel coming out of the cinema...

6. Terminator Genisys

I am a die hard fan of the James Cameron films so 'Terminator Genisys' inevitably had a lot to live up to. Despite being associated with the terminator franchise, I think if you look at it as a stand alone film it still doesn't stack up too well.

It managed to take everything that you loved about the original two films, totally erase them from the timeline and then replace them with a boring, CGI ridden mess that is unoriginal, pointless and unintelligent. Playing like Schwarzenegger's greatest hits, it was a sad reminder of how great the original films were and how far we've strayed from them. Re-living scenes that you've seen in a better film is no way to enjoy a movie, I'd rather just watch the original classic and be done with all these remakes. 

5. It Follows

This is a strange film that has ended up on my list because it seems that it has appeared on a lot of top ten lists instead. For me, 'It Follows' was a horror with no horror, it's a sexually transmitted ghost that will follow you wherever you are. It was obviously a throwback to the horror movies of the 80's but fails to actually deliver on any of the levels that the 80's horrors do. The plot leaves hints and unanswered questions but, at the end of the day, you don't end up being that interested in finding out the answers. What's the point in all the mystery if we're not even slightly interested in solving it? 

Maybe this is one that's flown straight over my head but if you have to look that deep to find the good in a horror film then surely that can't be a positive?

4. Spectre 

Sexist, dull, convoluted, out of date and a bit boring. 'Spectre' is the 24th instalment in the Bond series and quite possibly one of the worst in my opinion. The whole film feels like a cheap rip off of James Bond. Bad writing, horrendous characters, dull performances and lazy filmmaking makes 'Spectre' unoriginal, lifeless and pretty tiresome.

I could have forgiven all of the flaws of the flaccid and tired 'Spectre' if it was, at the very least, a bit of fun. However, it's the fact that it takes itself so seriously that makes it even harder to swallow. It is so full of its own self importance that it forgets that it has to be backed up with a quality film. I think it's time for the Bond series to take a breather and re-assess its place in modern cinema and examine how it can move with the times. 

3. Unfriended

Where do you start with a film like 'Unfriended'... It is a film set entirely on the laptop of an infuriating teenage girl who is Skyping her even more irritating friends when a mysterious user decides to kill them all one by one. The premise alone should have been an indicator to the quality of this film. It was so focused on whether or not it could tell the story in this way rather than if it should. 

When you strip away the annoying gimmick of having it all set on a laptop screen, it had shallow and irritating characters, a stale and clichéd plot, terrible tension, zero horror and is predictable right up to the end. It is a shameful addition to the horror genre and I genuinely don't ever want to have to sit through it again. Ever.

2. Jupiter Ascending

A huge and nonsensical film that is confused, convoluted, hollow and contrived. Some movies are so bad that they are good... However this film is just so bad that it's terrible. You've got crazy performances like Eddie Redmayne playing a pantomime villain alongside bland and forgettable performances from Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. The plot is so overly complicated in a wild attempt at grandeur that it becomes ridiculous.  It's an overblown CGI-fest that looks as fake as the enthusiasm from the actors in the film. All the money in the world couldn't save this train wreck and there was a lot of it... $176,000,000...

1. Knock Knock 

Coming in at number one is 'Knock Knock'. There are no redeeming qualities for this movie. A home invasion "horror" that makes no sense, has a horrific performance from respected actor Keanu Reeves and makes a mockery of every audience member in the cinema. It's like a B-movie disaster without any of the fun or any of the horror. It plays like a bad student film and is so ludicrous that I'm shocked it was allowed to be released. I really have no idea what they were going for with this film, it has no motivation or any idea where it's going. It's not funny, so it can't be a black comedy... It's not scary or tense, so it can't be a thriller or a horror... So what is it? 

It was monotonous to watch and made me think of all the things I'd rather be doing with my life than watching this fiasco. Abysmal writing, appalling acting and horrendous filmmaking makes 'Knock Knock' my pick for worst film of the year.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my picks for worst films of the year, did you agree with my list? 

Or was I way off?

Either way, it's been an interesting year for films so stay tuned for my top ten films of 2015!

Krampus (2015)

"His name is Krampus. 

He and his helpers did not come to give, but to take."

Comedy? Good. 

Christmas? Gooood. 

Horror? Gooooood!

After a young boy accidentally summons a Christmas demon, he and his family must survive the holiday as Krampus comes to claim them all.

I love a good Christmas horror film. There's something about the two contrasting ideas that make for some twisted entertainment, whether it's 'Black Christmas', 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' or 'Gremlins', they're always amusing. It's like combining two of your favourite soft drinks when you were little to see what they tasted like. You don't know why but it's fun, it's a bit risky and it's silly. Safe to say we all need a bit of that in adult life.

'Krampus' manages to effectively combine Christmas with black comedy in a really enjoyable little film. Almost reminiscent of 'Gremlins', it makes you laugh while being pretty darn creepy at the same time. 

Going by the trailer, I was expecting a very confused mish mash of horror and comedy so I wasn't really expecting much going in to 'Krampus'. It's not often I'm pleasantly surprised by a film but that was certainly the case with this twisted seasonal tale. 

The film kicks off with a satirical glance at what Christmas has become and really sets the humorous and slightly twisted tone for the rest of the film. 

The film features a strong cast with the likes of Adam Scott, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell and young aspiring actor Emjay Anthony in the leading role. 

After losing his faith in Christmas and throwing away his list to Santa, young Max accidentally summons Krampus, who is Santa's evil shadow. Krampus punishes you for not having any Christmas Spirit and brings along his sack full of evil tricks. 

What impressed me most about 'Krampus' was the strength of both the horror and the comedy. Usually with horror/comedies the actual horror aspect of the genre is lost in favour of the comedy, however, 'Krampus' proves you can do both with some stunning set pieces and scenes that will send a shiver up your spine. The imagery and the cinematography is so cinematic and true to the horror genre that it puts a lot of straight up horror films to shame. It just adds a whole lot of credibility to the film. It stands up on its own and isn't just a cheap spoof. 

Alongside the horror, the humour is crude, sharp and sometimes in bad taste which is great. I thought there were some very funny scenes and jokes that brought a lighter tone to a film that could have so easily taken itself too seriously. I was relieved that it knew what it was and, instead of trying to be something it's not, embraced the silliness and the comedy of the situations.

The whole film feels like a 90's movie and that is no bad thing. There are classic elements incorporated in the film but also a lot of modern flavours that give the film its own personality.

A lot of this was down to the use of practical effects over the extensive use of CGI. I was silently applauding the films bravery in this day in age to opt for in-camera effects and characters. CGI was only used when absolutely necessary and it pays off immensely. It feels more realistic and gritty which compliments both the horror and the comedy. 

You don't see Krampus all that often for the duration of the movie which was a smart move on the filmmakers part. The best horror is what you don't see rather than what you do so, even when you do see Krampus in full regalia, you don't see everything. Your imagination fills in the blanks and it leaves you with a satisfying ending to a very enjoyable film.

I wasn't surprised to hear that director Michael Dougherty also directed 'Trick 'r Treat', a film quite similar in style and tone to "Krampus' but based on Halloween. The clever and effective blend of comedy and horror seems to be a talent of Michael Dougherty and makes me excited to see what he can come up with next.

Overall, 'Krampus' knew exactly what it was and delivers on a lot of levels. It ticks all the boxes that a horror/comedy should. As you would wrap up a Christmas gift, 'Krampus' ends with a bow on top and leaves us with a neatly packaged horror/comedy that is in instant favourite. It's funny, creepy, twisted and a lot of Christmas fun.

After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Unless you've lost your Christmas spirit... In that case you're in for a world of seasonal pain from Santa's crazy evil twin Krampus.