So was the whole thing all a dream right from the beginning? When Max wakes up and sees his family, they act like nothing ever happened, and then Max tells everyone he just had a bad dream---then Max opens that present and sees that Krampus ornament, then the camera pans out to a snowglobe type display, then the monsters leap out and the movie ends----I don't get it! Can someone explain?
shareI just did a video explaining what I think it means. Came to the same conclusions as others, check it out. Might be helpful!
https://youtu.be/P8QRiKByEp0
you definitely missed the point of the movie... The director himself has said that this was supposed to be like A Christmas Carol..... plus there is the comic book that the 2 writers and the director ALL wrote where it is a prequel and everyone in the comic comes back to life... (Plus the director explains in the commentary that The kid passed the Krampus test by refusing to be spared and that the Grandma did not pass this test so thats why her family was not returned
Besides how do you explain when the camera shows outside his window and you see other houses and the road? your video is absolute dogcrap bro.i cant believe you both missed the point of the movie AND ignored all the other stuff like directors commentary AND prequel comic...i hate that your video is confusing so many people.pretty stupid
I don't buy the ending about they being only watched by Krampus at the end.
For me they are trapped in the ball, everyone remembered what just happened when the kid show the ball.
The most clear signal are the repetition (echoing) of grandma's words at the end of the film:
"And as he had for thousands of years,
krampus came not to reward,
but to punish.
Not to give, but to take."
Krampus simply watching them would make sound very ridiculous the echoing of those words. Because...what exactly did he took?...NOTHING? what was his big achievement, nothing? It was stated that he came to take, not to forgive. RIGHT?
He even laughed at the kid, right? The family was his plunder, obviously.
These words are explaining what just happened, is crystal clear. And it's a common resource used to explain the ending in a lot of horror films, the association of words or images. (Examples: Dark Skies, Sixth Sense, Fallen (1998)....etc)
The were all taken by the Krampus. That's very obvious for me.
It was a bittersweet ending, good because they are together, but sad because they are trapped. The neighborhood looking fine could be only an illusion.
It was a nice ending, not so bad, not so "cliche" good, more like a Twilight Zone ending. Thumbs up.
why would krampus trap an innocent dog or baby... thats so freaking STUPID
shareSo here's my take about the ending:
At first, during the Max-Krampus confrontation scene, I already predicted that everything would be a dream the following day.
but then.. the snow globe happened and it changed my own interpretation of the ending. Here's why:
THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
The morning when Max woke up, the whole scene's vibe looks like it was all filtered (just like what shane1979 said). The one directors usually do when they wanted to make the audience realize that the scene is just a dream, or a flashback, or an imagination, etc.
HAPPY FAMILY.
Max thought that everything happened the other night were all just a bad dream. So he hugged both of her parents, even making her mother wonder what was that all about. If you notice, everyone is not with their usual self that day. They're so happy together, making jokes and stuff, way different than their first dinner together. (This could still lead to the happy ending theory though)
OPENING PRESENT.
Then Max opened his present, it was a Krampus bell. He then realized that the "bad dream" was real. The others saw it too and they made the guilty expression, like when everyone's hiding a secret to you but then you suddenly found out what that secret was. That's what their expressions were. Maybe they all knew that everything was not real except for Max.
VOICE OVER.
"I just wanted Christmas to be like it used to be." - That was Max' wish to Krampus and he got it. Then the other VOs reminded Max that everything happened that night are real - and he is still being punished.
"Krampus came not to reward but to punish. Not to give, but to take." - Krampus punished Max by taking his whole family, but he confronted him, telling that he was sorry and all he wanted was to have a Christmas just like it used to be. Krampus didn't give him a second chance, he took him instead along with his family. Maybe this line was a reminder to the audience about the ending, that it's not a happy one.
MAX' PLEA
Honestly, I didn't buy everything Max told to Krampus. It felt like it wasn't sincere enough. I was hoping that Max would tell him that he still believes in Christmas or anything that will lift his Christmas spirit up but all he said was he was sorry and I felt like he was just saying it because he wanted his family back.
So yeah, my interpretation would be the "B ending", the sinister one. and I did not read any interviews nor any comic books related to the movie. That would suck if a movie will be needing an interview or a comic to back-up its story because not everyone has the time to read just to clarify the ending especially if you're just a casual moviegoer, who by end of the film already chose the ending he wanted.
It would be nice to have a sequel though or a prequel, with that, they could close the opened ending on the first part.
(pardon my English).
I have not read the comic, but I was SO eager to see this movie when it came out and was unable to initially... so I was trying to find ANYTHING about it.. I came here. I spoiled all SORTS of things about it. I went to You Tube and found the videos (which will probably be the extras on the Blu Ray)... and all the making of, and how they made the costumes and creatures and the interviews... I was SO 'N2' this movie before I EVER saw it for WEEKS. So when I finally SAW it... I was all alone in a mid-afternoon showing. I absolutely loved it! And I found the ending as a 'happy' ending. Now, I can EASILY see how it could be a 'bad' ending too... and they ARE stuck. But my initial opinion hasn't wavered that they are being 'watched' and were spared. And how we initially saw just how bad Max is supposed to be... from the beginning of the movie hitting on another kid, causing a scene, etc.... he's not any exception either, but... (and this is a big but) it was HIS wish that was being 'carried out' by Krampus & his minions and HIS wish at the end that I felt brought them 'back'. And while I hate Max didn't have much more to say other than a simple apology... it WAS the most sincere he'd been in the WHOLE movie! And the actor did great job with it too... he wasn't just giving alligator tears. I don't think... :[ There is supposed to be an alternate ending on the Blu Ray... so maybe we'll what that is... hopefully not just ending at the FIRST blackout after he gets the bell with a voice over... we'll see.
3rd generation American from a long line of Gottscheers... it was Drandul, dude!
I want to think that Max was given a second chance because of the apology and Krampus redeemed the boy and gave him his wish BUT I can't really ignore the voice over saying that "Krampus came not to reward but to punish. Not to give, but to take." - those were the last words from the film.
Max' family was already dragged down the underworld, so maybe the only way to give Max his wish is to take him with his family and give him the "perfect Christmas" he wished for while still being punished. (Krampus gave him his wish because he apologized, but he still needs to be punished. Maybe that's the last line was all about.)
And also the all-too perfect Christmas morning ruined by a single gift from Krampus followed by the scene with the scary-looking Santa, might be hinting that it is another twist ending.
I don't think he was given a second chance. I think his and his families "punishment" is being forced to live out the perfect Christmas morning for all eternity.
I think that's why Krampus and the elves laughed at the kid's plea to take him instead of his sister and that he was sorry. They already knew what they were going to do with the whole family. They were getting the same treatment that all the other have gotten. Dragged to the underworld and put into snow globes.
Ok, then answer this... how does the audience think they are in a snow globe... and then ask, all the characters have just woken up, seen the neighborhood is back like it should be, are now around the tree to unwrap presents, see the Krampus bell, remember the previous 2 days... how would THEY even have any idea that THEY ARE inside a Snow globe? They have no idea because, they really aren't.
3rd generation American from a long line of Gottscheers... it was Drandul, dude!
Max was supposed to be left behind like the grandma was. Him being there is just like the others. If the snowglobe was supposed to be Krampus' monitor, he'd just have one. The grandma's family from her flashback as a kid is in a snowglobe too. They all obviously thought it was their own personal nightmare, but when they saw the Krampus-bell, they knew it was true.
I'd have has the movie end with Beth & Sarah taking it reindeer-style from Krampus, with a huge long line of monster-toys going off to the horizon waiting their turn as the rest of the family is rebuilt into monster-toys.
The only change I'd do to the movie is have cast someone 18 to play as Beth. Have her & her mother wear something tight & skimpy in that nippy weather, & have them kiss while topless to try & get Team Krampus to leave them alone.
Go to 'Krampus (2015) Ending Explained' on You Tube.
shareHere's why the Purgatory "Stuck in the Snow Globe" ending doesn't make sense for me
first of all, the grandma did nothing wrong and she respected krampus and her family and it would make no sense to punish her. why was she even taken? krampus spared her when she was little and she never forgot her lesson..... why would krampus attack her now? she did nothing wrong, if anything she should have been spared.
second, an innocent baby taken to purgatory? wtf are you guys for real? the baby in an innocent bystander, if anything this should be added as a goof in the goofs section because krampus should have left the bigger kid that believed in santa AND left the baby alive.
third, why the hell would krampus take a dog to purgatory? not only is the dog another innocent bystander but the dog sacrificed itself to save the family.... wtf... you people really think Krampus would "punish an innocent baby and dog?
lastly, why would they show the neighborhood through the window when the kid wakes up?
this is the biggest wtf for me, you guys keep saying they are trapped in the snow globe but you can see the other houses? wtf?
i have seen some of these questions raised and no one gives a good explanation...nobody.
also the original ending ended with the boy opening the present, there was no snow globe or now krampus workshop. that new ending was added in later
that makes it clear that the director didnt intend to end the movie with the snow globe at first, he changed his mind
you guys are dumb
also the original ending ended with the boy opening the present, there was no snow globe or now krampus workshop. that new ending was added in later
that makes it clear that the director didnt intend to end the movie with the snow globe at first, he changed his mind
the director already said this was meant to be like Its a wonderful Life so theres no point in doubting the director
people thinking the family is in hell are literally going against the director
Doesn't matter what the writer/director/actors/production crew intended - this board has decided they're all in a bottle like the Black Pearl because that's apparently a less cliché ending than "t'was all a dream"
Pssst guys, it's a daft Christmas comedy - schmaltzy clichéd *beep* is not just allowed in these types of films, it's embraced and glorified.
What do you mean "Doesn't matter what the director/crew INTENDED"? I watched it in the theater and had the feeling/idea they SURVIVED. I did not believe they were 'collected' but given another chance. Others of us here believe the same thing, Just not all of us, which is fine. And just because the 'alternate ending' ends as it goes out the window... does not mean, it was that much different. It was not a dream either the bell confirms that in both endings. And the fact they were about go pull out the front window on the alt ending, they could have easily ended it with the same jump scare and snow globe. And in my opinion I don't believe the story ends with them stuck in a snow globe, again I've been debating this for a year now... we were never given the idea the family even knew they were inside a snow globe. Never. Max looks out the window and see his whole neighborhood complete with at least 2 chimneys with fires inside giving smoke in the background. So how would they know they are in a snow globe? They're being watched. And I'd never left a movie in such high spirits before. But I can live in a glass half-empty negative attitude and think the worst and believe the opposite. Whatever works. And the silly debate continues...
3rd generation American from a long line of Gottscheers... it was Drandul, dude!
What do you mean "Doesn't matter what the director/crew INTENDED"?