← Back to Reviews
in
This is a review that I had been considering saving for the top 100 list like I mentioned recently, but just decided to post it anyway as it's no surprise that I love it. It was on my previous list after all. Though as a result the style may not be quite the same.
Plot – While searching for a Christmas gift for his son Billy, Randall Peltzer stumbles across a mysterious antique store of oddities in Chinatown. There he finds a unique creature called a mogwai. Despite his desperation to purchase it, the store's owner, Mr Wing, refuses to sell the creature as it is too much responsibility. Mr Wing's grandson does however sell it to him, but with three rules. 1) Never expose it to bright light, especially sunlight. 2) Never get it wet. And 3) Never feed it after midnight. Billy is delighted with his new pet whom he names Gizmo, but when an accident occurs an incredible event takes place; the mogwai starts to replicate. And before long there are an army of new gremlins on the loose, and these mogwai are very different from the loveable little Gizmo.
Gremlins is a film that sets itself up with all the classic elements of Christmas films of years gone-by, and then gleefully sets about ripping them to shreds! Set in a Capra-esque little town that appears to be a carbon copy of It's a Wonderful Life's Bedford Falls, there is snow on the ground and lights strung up all around. The initial cuteness of the Mogwai and the goofy inventions of the father certainly seem to have us heading down the road of light-hearted family fare. And then all of a sudden at around the hour mark, bang! The gremlins are unleashed and it all goes to hell! The film completely changes into something almost resembling a horror flick, complete with a series of gory deaths. From then on it becomes less about the charming fantasy of it all, and becomes a blacker than black comedy. The humour is terrifically dark and wicked, with a good deal of satire to be found. And you may even find a genuine scare or two for yourself.
The gremlins themselves are of course the stars here; so much so that they, and Gizmo in particular would become pop culture icons and remain so to this day. They are wonderful little creations, brought to life thanks to an excellent design from Chris Walas and some awesome puppetry. I just absolutely adore little Gizmo. Every little thing he does; every expression, every sound, every movement just brings a little smile to my face whenever he pops up on screen. I probably look pretty goofy actually, just constantly having a daft grin plastered on my face. His eyes and face are just so emotive. On the flipside, Stripe and his band of evil followers are also a great design but at the completely different end of the spectrum; they are nasty, disgusting little creatures! Though they're so devilishly playful that it's impossible not to enjoy their antics.
Joe Dante is a director I have a great deal of admiration for. I place him in a similar echelon to John Carpenter; neither man is likely to ever appear on the shortlist for a Best Director Oscar, but man they knew how to make immensely fun movies. Dante is a man responsible for a number of fantastical, offbeat little gems. Gremlins however has to still maintain its spot as his absolute stand-out effort. His direction, particularly when the gremlins come out to play is so jam-packed with energy and devilish fun. As always with the cinematic output of Joe Dante, his great passion for film is on display for all to see with numerous homages and references sprinkled throughout to classic films of the past, particularly those of the sci-fi and horror nature. The film references everything from Forbidden Planet to E.T., and in two memorable scenes Flashdance and Snow White. Indeed it's so jam-packed with allusions and visual jokes, that it's the type of film that no matter how often you watch it, you may be likely to spot something you had never seen before.
The gremlins may have a tendency to show up their human counterparts but there are still some nice performances to be found, especially from the supporting cast; Dick Miller in particular stands out. What the film is very successful at achieving is fleshing out the characters and making us care for them, even if its achieved merely by assigning them a single characteristic. Billy's dad is a very endearing goofball with his ludicrous and constantly failing inventions; while his mum makes a terrific switch from classic housewife to a bit of a badass when the gremlins arrive on the scene. It's a similar case with some the town's residents; highlights being the horrible Mrs Deagle and her running feud with Billy's dog, and Murray Futterman; the ultimate xenophobe with a distrust in anything foreign. Oh and Phoebe Cates certainly deserves a mention on the strength of one scene alone. Her infamous recounting of a childhood tale that explains why she hates Christmas is absolutely hilarious in its dark tragedy.
While many people may deem it as the decade where cinema collapsed under the weight of the high-concept blockbuster, I personally love the 80s as far as movies are concerned. One of the large reasons for this was the huge abundance of sci-fi/fantasy films the decade featured that mixed adventure and laughs. Films like Innerspace, Flight of th Navigator, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future, Goonies, Big, Batteries not Included, Princess Bride, ET, Ghostbusters, War Games, Dreamscape etc. This is one of the absolute best. One of my favourites from that, or indeed any decade. The film's only negative? That every single time I watch it, it makes me want my own little mogwai, and it breaks my heart that it can never happen.
Conclusion – Gremlins is a true childhood favourite of mine. And while some films from that time no longer entertain me like they once did, I continue to find Gremlins to be an absolute delight. Its glorious mix of mischievous horror and smart comedy mean that this still holds a strong place in my heart. Just wonderful.
|
|
Year of release
1984
1984
Directed by
Joe Dante
Joe Dante
Written by
Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus
Starring
Zach Galligan
Phoebe Cates
Hoyt Axton
Frances Lee McCain
Corey Feldman
Zach Galligan
Phoebe Cates
Hoyt Axton
Frances Lee McCain
Corey Feldman
Gremlins
Plot – While searching for a Christmas gift for his son Billy, Randall Peltzer stumbles across a mysterious antique store of oddities in Chinatown. There he finds a unique creature called a mogwai. Despite his desperation to purchase it, the store's owner, Mr Wing, refuses to sell the creature as it is too much responsibility. Mr Wing's grandson does however sell it to him, but with three rules. 1) Never expose it to bright light, especially sunlight. 2) Never get it wet. And 3) Never feed it after midnight. Billy is delighted with his new pet whom he names Gizmo, but when an accident occurs an incredible event takes place; the mogwai starts to replicate. And before long there are an army of new gremlins on the loose, and these mogwai are very different from the loveable little Gizmo.
Gremlins is a film that sets itself up with all the classic elements of Christmas films of years gone-by, and then gleefully sets about ripping them to shreds! Set in a Capra-esque little town that appears to be a carbon copy of It's a Wonderful Life's Bedford Falls, there is snow on the ground and lights strung up all around. The initial cuteness of the Mogwai and the goofy inventions of the father certainly seem to have us heading down the road of light-hearted family fare. And then all of a sudden at around the hour mark, bang! The gremlins are unleashed and it all goes to hell! The film completely changes into something almost resembling a horror flick, complete with a series of gory deaths. From then on it becomes less about the charming fantasy of it all, and becomes a blacker than black comedy. The humour is terrifically dark and wicked, with a good deal of satire to be found. And you may even find a genuine scare or two for yourself.
The gremlins themselves are of course the stars here; so much so that they, and Gizmo in particular would become pop culture icons and remain so to this day. They are wonderful little creations, brought to life thanks to an excellent design from Chris Walas and some awesome puppetry. I just absolutely adore little Gizmo. Every little thing he does; every expression, every sound, every movement just brings a little smile to my face whenever he pops up on screen. I probably look pretty goofy actually, just constantly having a daft grin plastered on my face. His eyes and face are just so emotive. On the flipside, Stripe and his band of evil followers are also a great design but at the completely different end of the spectrum; they are nasty, disgusting little creatures! Though they're so devilishly playful that it's impossible not to enjoy their antics.
Film trivia – It's common to find links between some of your favourite movies. They may be linked by the studio that financed them, the director that created them or the writer that dreamt them up. What is rare though is to find two of your personal favourites where filmed on the same set. The set for the town of Kingston Falls is the same that gave life to Hill Valley in Back to the Future. And in both films the town's cinema suffers an unfortunate fate. It is blown up in Gremlins, and has its entrance smashed by Marty McFly and his DeLorean in Back to the Future.
The gremlins may have a tendency to show up their human counterparts but there are still some nice performances to be found, especially from the supporting cast; Dick Miller in particular stands out. What the film is very successful at achieving is fleshing out the characters and making us care for them, even if its achieved merely by assigning them a single characteristic. Billy's dad is a very endearing goofball with his ludicrous and constantly failing inventions; while his mum makes a terrific switch from classic housewife to a bit of a badass when the gremlins arrive on the scene. It's a similar case with some the town's residents; highlights being the horrible Mrs Deagle and her running feud with Billy's dog, and Murray Futterman; the ultimate xenophobe with a distrust in anything foreign. Oh and Phoebe Cates certainly deserves a mention on the strength of one scene alone. Her infamous recounting of a childhood tale that explains why she hates Christmas is absolutely hilarious in its dark tragedy.
While many people may deem it as the decade where cinema collapsed under the weight of the high-concept blockbuster, I personally love the 80s as far as movies are concerned. One of the large reasons for this was the huge abundance of sci-fi/fantasy films the decade featured that mixed adventure and laughs. Films like Innerspace, Flight of th Navigator, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future, Goonies, Big, Batteries not Included, Princess Bride, ET, Ghostbusters, War Games, Dreamscape etc. This is one of the absolute best. One of my favourites from that, or indeed any decade. The film's only negative? That every single time I watch it, it makes me want my own little mogwai, and it breaks my heart that it can never happen.
Conclusion – Gremlins is a true childhood favourite of mine. And while some films from that time no longer entertain me like they once did, I continue to find Gremlins to be an absolute delight. Its glorious mix of mischievous horror and smart comedy mean that this still holds a strong place in my heart. Just wonderful.