%
Rating
Synopsis
Rand Peltzer (Hoyt Axton), a struggling inventor, visits a Chinatown antique shop looking for a Christmas gift for his son. Back in their hometown, Kingston Falls, his son Billy (Zach Galligan) is a bank teller looking for more in life. Upon returning home, Rand gives Zach his gift: a small, fuzzy creature called a Mogwai, which they nickname Gizmo. Rand explains three rules: keep Gizmo away from bright lights, don’t get him wet, and don’t feed him after midnight. Unfortunately, while Billy shows him to his friend Pete (Corey Feldman), Gizmo gets wet, creating multiple Mogwai. Led by the mohawked Spike, the Mogwai trick Billy into feeding them after midnight, which turns them into Gremlins. Soon, the Gremlins invade the town and wreak havoc, with Billy and his girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates) trying to survive. Will they save their town, or will the Gremlins continue their reign of terror?
Review
Gremlins is considered a classic that has endured over 40 years, and with good reason. The film has memorable characters, impressive effects, and a delightful mix of horror and comedy that helps it stand out. Given Joe Dante’s tendency to mix horrific imagery with a sense of humor, he was the perfect choice to direct. The mixture of wholesome, Norman Rockwell-inspired holiday cheer and B-movie monster mayhem is a perfect clash of contrasting elements. It’s as if Dante and Chris Columbus took It’s a Wonderful Life and blended it with a Roger Corman picture. Also, Dante’s direction shines through with colored lighting, harsh shadows, and dynamic angles to enhance the mood. The legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith’s iconic score adds to this mood, which has a playful yet mischievous rhythm. These elements combine to deliver an outstanding film that overcomes its meager budget.
Zach Galligan does a great job as Billy, giving him a boyish charm that makes him instantly likable and endearing. He shares fantastic chemistry with Phoebe Cates, who delivers a surprisingly chilling monologue that’s so morbid that it’s almost funny. In addition to Hoyt Axton, the cast has some of the best character actors in the business. These include Dick Miller, Keye Luke, Scott Brady, Edward Andrews, Harry Carey Jr., Jackie Joseph, Kenneth Tobey, and William Schallert. Miller and Joseph stand out as the eccentric Futtermans, with Miller’s hard-assed attitude contrasting Joseph’s happy-go-lucky persona. Glyn Turman and Judge Reinhold have memorable moments, and Polly Holliday makes a great foil as the wicked Mrs. Deagle. No matter how minor, everyone in the cast has shining moments that help flesh out the movie’s world. There are even cameos from Chuck Jones, Steven Spielberg, and Robbie the Robot!
Chris Walas and his team did fantastic work bringing the Gremlins to life through classic puppets and animatronics. Considering their meager budget, the puppets still look good today and easily outdo today’s cartoonish-looking CGI. A talented voice cast, including Howie Mandel, Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, and Michael Winslow, brought them to life. Admittedly, there are moments where you can see the strings and pulleys operating the puppets, but it’s very brief. Still, the team managed to pull off some ambitious shots, such as the bar and movie theater scenes. There’s even some stop-motion animation, which looks somewhat shaky but adds to the charm. At an hour and 46 minutes, the movie moves briskly and offers plenty of laughs and scares. Overall, Gremlins is an unconventional Christmas classic that starts cute and wholesome, turns dark and twisted, and wraps back around. Remember, if something seems off, there might be Gremlins nearby!
Buy Gremlins from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iieZBE.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
