It’s that time of year again. The most wonderful time of the year, when jolly old Saint Nick brings all the nice little girls and boys presents… or, you know, when the demonic anti-Santa whisks all the naughty kids away to the underworld. Wait, what?

This year’s joyous new horror-comedy, “Krampus,” co-written by Todd Casey and Zach Shields and produced by Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Alex Garcia, will be released by Universal Pictures on December 4, starring Adam Scott, Allison Tolman, Toni Collette, David Koechner, and Emjay Anthony. The primary writer and director, Michael Dougherty, is known for his 2007 Halloween horror film, “Trick ‘r Treat.”

“Krampus” tells the story of Max (Emjay Anthony) and his dysfunctional family as they (struggle to) come together during the Christmas time. Little does he know, his bah-humbug attitude and the humorous conflict between family members unleashes the wrath of Krampus, the yuletide ghoul. Max’s broken family is then forced to shove their differences aside and stick together in order to survive.

The movie is based on the ancient pagan legend of Krampus, the son of Hel, goddess of the underworld. His name is derived by the German word krampen, which means “claw.” According to the folklore, Krampus sports lengthy fangs, rough fur, and protruding horns, and is considered Saint Nicholas’s corrupt counterpart. He visits on December 5 and beats misbehaving boys and girls, traditionally with a birch rod. The outrageously naughty kids get dropped into a wicker basket on his back and hauled down to his lair, never to be seen again.

Krampus Night, or ‘Krampusnacht,’ is still commonly celebrated in many European countries in the Alps region, such as Germany (where the tale originated), Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Hungary. According to the lore, Krampus trots around town, making loud noises and terrorizing children. St. Nicholas Day, or Nikolaustag, is the following day, December 6.

The upcoming film doesn’t follow the legend precisely, but it’s still expected to be the perfect balance of terrifying and darkly festive.