Tags
1980's, Dark Comedy, Frances Lee McCain, Gremlins, Horror, Hoyt Axton, Joe Dante, Phoebe Cates, Polly Holliday, Zach Galligan
Film Title
Gremlins
Director
Joe Dante
Starring
- Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer
- Phoebe Cates as Kate Beringer
- Hoyt Axton as Rand Peltzer
- Frances Lee McCain as Lynn Peltzer
- Polly Holliday as Mrs. Deagle
A comic horror set at Christmas, Gremlins makes for deliriously entertaining and twisted viewing after all these years. Time has not diminished both the dark humour and shocks of this Yuletide movie that has a deliciously morbid way of subverting things. This movie is perfect for Christmas viewing with an edge and has lost none of the strange charm it had upon release.
Billy Peltzer is a young man working at a bank in his hometown of Kingston Falls. It’s a largely uneventful, suburban town that is about to become anything but peaceful as Christmas approaches. His inventor and travelling salesman father Rand returns from a trip bearing an unusual gift; a fluffy creature known as a Mogwai. Billy is entranced by this present that he names Gizmo and is very grateful, yet his father warns him that he must obey three rules to do with the new pet. He shouldn’t expose it to bright light, he mustn’t get it into contact with water and most important, don’t feed it after midnight. Billy is understandably thrilled with Gizmo and spends a lot of time with the guy. But through accidental carelessness, Billy violates the rules and after getting Gizmo wet, he spawns creatures that resemble him. At first these creatures appear to be just like the furry Gizmo, but they trick Billy into feeding them after midnight which has dire consequences. The creatures go from cute and cuddly into scaly, greedy beasts known as Gremlins, whose only goal is full on chaos. Once more of the creatures have spawned, they lay siege to the town with murderous glee and maniacal destruction in mind. With the Gremlins running wild and terrorizing the sleepy town, it’s up to Billy and his girlfriend Kate(whose quick thinking comes in handy) to stop the maniacal creatures once and for all.
Joe Dante behind everything with his excellent direction of the shocking but wholly engrossing material. One can tell he is relishing the destruction of suburbia with unusual and twisted ways being employed by the title creatures. Dante has his tongue firmly in cheek for this outing and I’d all the better for it. Shots of black humour colour so much of Gremlins that you can’t imagine the movie without it there. Irony and juxtaposition play a significant role in making Gremlins so wildly watchable and full of mayhem. For instance, the fact that such nasty little critters spawn from one of the cutest things put on screen is deliciously arch. And the various filmic references( Snow White makes an appearance as the Gremlins take a break from their carnage to sing along with it) are very much in keeping with Dante’s pop culture nods that regularly appear in his movies. Plus, while the town of Kingston Falls looks lovely, some of the residents are far from pleasant. Billy’s neighbour is a xenophobic man, but worst of the bunch is the penny-pinching old bag Mrs. Deagle. These two people are ones that are targeted first by the Gremlins, in a sort of grim poetic justice. I mean who can forget what happens to Mrs. Deagle? It’s a movie I’ve seen a million times and yet I never tire of it. A lot of that is down to the tightrope being walked between tongue in cheek humour and outright shocking carnage being depicted. Not many movies can get both camps right, but Gremlins is a success on blending these two disparate things into a sinister yet hard to resist ride. A great example of both the humour and horror is the scene in the kitchen, where Billy’s mother demolishes a bunch of hungry Gremlins. Now until this point, we’ve seen Billy’s mother as mainly just a supportive homemaker. But when the attack starts, she goes to town on the beasts with ferocity that is hilarious and alarming. And it can’t be stated enough how memorable and iconic the move and especially Gizmo and the crazy Gremlins have become in film history. The effects used for Gizmo and the Gremlins is still excellent, ensuring that all of them have a semblance of personality in the grand scope of things. Jerry Goldsmith’s score is an extremely lively and creepy one, that gets across the maniacal mischief of the Gremlins and the shocking spectacle of a picturesque town under seasonal attack.
Zach Galligan makes for a likable hero as he is a regular guy who is trying to undo what he accidentally set in motion. He is relatable and the very ordinariness of him is a gift that Galligan uses to his advantage. Phoebe Cates is similarly excellent as his girlfriend, possessing a certain girl next door charm and smarts that is endearing. Both actors are ones that make you immediately like them, because they seem like regular people who you want to succeed in stopping the eponymous creatures from even more destruction than they’ve already caused. Hoyt Axton is delightfully sly and oblivious as the inventor father whose gadgets are not quite the best, while Frances Lee McCain comes into her own as the avenging mother who protects her house fiercely. Polly Holliday is nastiness incarnate as the horrible neighbour who ends up at the mercy of the Gremlins in a very satisfying sequence that is as shocking as it is grimly amusing.
Devilishly sinister and darkly hilarious in parts, Gremlins is Christmas movie making with a difference that is sure to entertain audiences the world over. If it’s one outrageous ride into scares and chuckles you need, Gremlins is the required cure. After watching and reviewing Gremlins, I think this is the time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.
beetleypete said:
Good call mate. Who doesn’t adore Gizmo?
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
If I could get Gizmo as a pet, I would. Though I would be careful to adhere to the rules of not making it spawn Gremlins.
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fragglerocking said:
Ah I’d forgotten about this most excellent movie. Brilliant review V-man and now I want to watch it again!
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vinnieh said:
Happy to remind you, Fraggle. It’s a truly excellent movie that offers an alternative to the often overload of Christmas schmaltz.
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raistlin0903 said:
Bright lights! Bright lights! A terrific movie my friend. This film was back in the theatres last sunday near where we lived. I had wanted to go and see it but unfortunately wasn’t able to. It’s a wonderful film, that has always been fun to watch. Another great review Vinnieh, perfect for the holiday season 😀
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vinnieh said:
Oh I’d do anything to see it in cinemas. My mother saw it upon first release and remembers how many parents were shocked by the horror depicted. My mum still loved it though, which is probably why I love it too.
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sonofabeach96 said:
Ah, one of my favorite movies, Christmas or otherwise. And, you know, Phoebe Cates, sooooo….. 😃😃
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vinnieh said:
It’s a really inventive movie that has fun confounding expectations. And Cates is a real stunner.
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dbmoviesblog said:
Great review. This is the Christmas movie for me. You are right, it is so easy to associate and sympathise with Billy Peltzer, and this concept of a cute pet turning into a monster is really great. A very entertaining movie.
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vinnieh said:
I always felt for Billy as he seems like an average nice guy. It’s a very cool concept it must be said. And devilishly dark too.
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Wolfman's Cult Film Club said:
Perfect christmas film Vinnieh. Actually feel like watching it right now. So much fun and so amazingly nostalgic. Happy christmas and all the best for 2018
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vinnieh said:
Merry Christmas to you. If you watch it again, I hope it’s just as enjoyable as you remember it being. To me, it’s a riot of entertainment every time I see it.
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Buffy Devane said:
Splendid review, Vinnieh… and perfectly timed! (Indeed, I wish I had time to watch it again this evening… not that I’ve not watched it many times…)
Also in this great film were the then-ubiquitous character actor Dick Miller (the aforementioned xenophobic neighbour), and the sheriff’s deputy was played by a young(ish) Jonathan Banks — later to find much fame as “Mike” in Breaking Bad.
Have a great Christmas!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment. I knew that the deputy looked familiar. Appreciate that trivia. And a Merry Christmas to you.
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ninvoid99 said:
This film is such a joy to watch. I loved those Gremlins. They have a strange fondness for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves while just wanting to cause a whole lot of shit. The best part is how they killed that old bitch.
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vinnieh said:
Yes, they maybe nasty critters, but they look like they are having a ball destroying the town.
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vinnieh said:
And Happy Christmas dude. May it be fun and full of greatness.
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Carrie said:
Just watched this one last night, great movie! 🙂
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vinnieh said:
It’s excellent entertainment. Merry Christmas to you.
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Mario said:
You know what, I don’t think I’ve seen this film. I’m well aware of the story, and often refer to Gremlins when things go wrong in the Control Room, but I can’t remember ever watching it. Nice review though, hope you had a lovely Christmas.
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vinnieh said:
My Christmas is so far very good, surrounded by my family.
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Mario said:
Great to hear!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for your wonderful and kind thoughts, Mario.
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Mario said:
My pleasure Vinnie. Incidentally, I don’t get notifications when you comment on my comments. I only get one when you ‘like’ my comment, which is very odd.
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vinnieh said:
I am aware of that and have contacted the forums to see what’s going on.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I just rewatched this for the gazillionth time the other night. I wish I still had my stuffed Gizmo.
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vinnieh said:
You had a stuffed Gizmo? That’s so cool. You gotta love the furry thing.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I loved my Gizmo!😊
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vinnieh said:
Everyone loves Gizmo!
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Mr. Bobinsky said:
Argh this movie ruined my childhood. I couldn’t sleep calmly for weeks after seeing it!
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vinnieh said:
I too can remember being somewhat scared watching it for the first time as a kid.
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keepsmealive said:
Man I’m old enough to remember seeing this in theater. What a flashback.
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vinnieh said:
A flashback is always good. I’d love to have been around when this movie came out in cinemas.
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keepsmealive said:
Haha but then you’d be an old crank like me! Enjoy your youth! 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I’m enjoying my youth a lot. And you’re far from an old crank.
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keepsmealive said:
Some days I wonder! 🙂
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The Vern said:
I remember Burger King having a Series of Books and Records that went with the movie during its theatrical release. It is a great movie that is indeed timeless. Have you seen Gremlins 2, if not you should
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vinnieh said:
I love when they do that. Yes, I have seen the sequel many years ago.
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