Gremlins (1984) – Dad brings home a special pet for his son on Christmas. But it comes with three absolute rules. When they’re not followed, a small town will face the consequences.
Directed by Joe Dante
Starring Hoyt Axton, Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates
Why I Liked It – The perfect blend of humor and horror
Rand Petzer (Axton) is an inventor whose inspiration is larger than his success. While touting his latest invention, Petzer comes across an adorable little creature called a Mogwai. When Petzer finally convinces the store to sell him the creature, he’s sure that he has the perfect Christmas gift for his son, Billy. There are two rules that must never be broken for owners of the Mogwai. Never let it get wet and never feed it after midnight. Plus, you never let direct sunlight shine on the creature. When all of those rules are broken, Billy, his girlfriend Kate, and their hometown are attacked by the resulting offspring, the Gremlins. Dangerous and violent, the Gremlins leave death and destruction in their wake.
Thee is so much to love about this movie. Fun concept, perfect cast, a cute furry life-form, and that balance between horror and comedy. The ingredient that makes it all come together is probably director Joe Dante. When I saw he listed the legendary Roger Corman as a primary influence, the style made perfect sense. Corman (for those who don’t know the name) was the king of the low-budget movie back in the 1960s and ‘70s. His movies had a style and, dare I say it, sophistication that was unknown before. Dante worked for Corman and, like many other top directors of his generation (Coppola, Scorsese, and Bogdanovich among others) learned from the master. Now imagine that style and craft with a decent-sized movie budget and Steven Spielberg as the executive producer. The result is “Gremlins”.
The opening is a pure, simple story. Dad is an inventor, mostly of good ideas badly executed. But he’s a lovable dreamer with a family that supports him. Billy is a good kid trying to get through his teen years with a father who’s a little odd. Lucky boy that he is, he has an extremely pretty girlfriend in Kate, who has dealt with some family issues of her own. Once the rules are broken, the horror aspect of the movie comes to the forefront. The gremlins are scary in a comic kind of way until they aren’t. Don’t let the Mogwai fool you; this isn’t a movie for small children. It’s perfect for those who are or still have some ten-year-old in their heart.
Zach Galligan is the perfect all-American boy next door. He feels like someone you could hang out with and have a good time. Phoebe Cates is the same, playing a sweet, supportive girlfriend who holds her own pretty much in the face of the gremlins. Hoyt Axton is always a skilled storyteller, and he handles the dad role with gentle dignity. I need to give a quick nod to Keye Luke, who plays his familiar role as the “inscrutable old Asian”. Honestly, everyone else does a nice job with some very basic, plug-and-play roles. A quick nod to radio legend “The Real” Don Steele, Corey Feldman, and Judge Reinhold.
The final product is just as much a joy to watch now as it was 42 years ago. Again, probably a bit scary at times for little kids, but a winner for the rest of the family.
You can stream “Gremlins” on Tubi, PlutoTV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, and Fandango At Home.
Rating – **** Recommended
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