Krampus (2015)

For most of its history, the horned, anthropomorphic figure known as The Krampus was a seasonal folk icon that was pretty obscure outside of Austria and southern Bavaria. However, soon after the turn of the millennium, The Krampus became increasingly more popular as a folkloric curio and as a fixture in snarky internet culture. By 2013, he was well-known enough for filmmakers to use him as the antagonist in Christmas-themed horror movies. There were a whole slew of them made in the 2010's; this episode is focused upon Michael Dougherty's 2015 effort, which is arguably the most successful and visible example. Ryan is joined by Cheryl and Sylvan for a discussion about an "anti-Santa" who punishes those who forsake the Christmas spirit. Thematic topics include the political polarization unsubtly built into the film's subtext, the appeal of transgressing the "innocent" fixtures of one's childhood, and how Christmas horror movies exist to provide counterprogramming to the nostalgic and often saccharine tone of what film and television usually presents to audiences in December.