You’d better not pout, you’d better not cry, or the ‘Krampus’ will kill you

No longer shall Christmas demon Krampus play second fiddle to Kris Kringle. The ancient legend known for punishing the naughty while sparing the nice is finally getting a feature film. A very special Christmas horror movie, titled “Krampus.�

The antithesis to Santa, the Krampus is the deliverer of pain and suffering to families and little children who shun the yuletide cheer of Christmas. With Germanic roots, the Krampus legend goes back generations and is even celebrated to this day with parades and Krampus runs in Bavaria.

The cloven-foot beast is usually described as carrying a bundle of birch switches, a chain or even a whip for punishing insolent children. And behind, he lugs the Krampus sack or basket for the purpose of stuffing the truly bad kids inside. Their fate is usually left up to the storyteller, but they often do not meet a pleasant end.

And now “Krampus� will reappear in Michael Dougherty’s horror film, starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette. The story is simple: A family who has lost their Christmas cheer is visited not by Santa, but by his shadow, the Krampus.

Here’s hoping “Krampus� will live up to the long legacy of truly bloody horror holiday Christmas fare, including “Silent Night, Deadly Night,� “Gremlins� and “Jack Frost�. “Krampus� will premiere on Dec. 4.

Twitter: @MdellW