The Christmas Chronicles 2's introduces the folklore elf Belsnickel (Julian Dennison), but the film's explanation of his character varies a little differently from the real-life myth. The second installment of the festive franchise started by Netflix's wildly successful 2018 original movie The Chrismas Chronicles follows Kate, now a young teen, on another adventure to help Santa and Mrs. Claus save Christmas from ex-elf Belsnickel. But who is this villainous new character and how does he factor in to the film?
The real-life folklore tale of Belsnickel, or "St. Nick in furs," spans centuries. It is most prevalent in the Pennsylvania Dutch community, with origins in southwestern Germany and some regions of France. The Belsnickel is Santa's curmudgeonly relative, a man clad in tattered, dirty furs and a deer antler crown. Other variations portray him as a beastly visitor with horns and a long tongue. According to legend, every few days or weeks before Christmas, he visited children to gauge whether they were naughty or nice. While he menaced and might beat disobedient children with a tree branch, he gifted well-behaved children nuts and candy. Belsnickel served as a reminder to naughty children that there was still time to change their ways before Santa arrived.
Belsnickel is played by Julian Dennison in The Christmas Chronicles 2 and his appearance differs from his real-life counterpart in several respects, as well as changing the lore behind him. Instead of a man, he's a former elf, cursed to be a human teenager after he broke the Elves' Code of conduct. The Elves' Code says that if any elf is selfish, jealous, and untruthful, among other attributes, he will be punished for his transgressions. Belsnickel in the film does not wear furs, nor does he carry a stick or bag full of candy. In true angsty teen fashion, he dons a backward cap, black leather vest, and hoodie. He also lives in a high-tech lair in the South Pole, where he plots revenge against Santa.
In folklore, Belsnickel's job is straightforward: he has to scare bad children into behaving and reward good children. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, Belsnickel uses Kate and Jack, her possible future stepbrother, as bait to infiltrate Santa's village, which is only one in a handful of times Belsnickel terrorizes children. Belsnickel's motivation to shut down Santa's Village, effectively ending Christmas, stems from his past. As a young elf, he saw how humans treated other elves and grew to hate them. Santa and Mrs. Claus were the first humans who earned his trust and raised him. They taught him how to craft potions and technologically advanced gear, which he uses against them throughout the movie.
As Christmas spirit spread worldwide, Santa's focus shifted away from Belsnickel and the elf grew jealous. Because he felt abandoned and betrayed by his caregivers, Belsnickel began to act out. After vandalizing Santa's sleigh, which was the final straw in his extensive list of crimes, Belsnickel became the one thing he despises most, a child. Eventually, whereas Belsnickel redeems himself and reverts back to being his lovable elfin self, Belsnickel the myth has no such character arc. The Christmas Chronicles 2's Belsnickel is an interesting and divergent take on his source material. If another sequel is made, it will be interesting to see if other folklore creatures make an appearance in The Christmas Chronicles universe.