News

Late to the Party: ‘Gremlins’ (1984)

Published

6 years ago

March 15, 2018

I know what you’re thinking…”Did this guy even have a childhood?” I was going to pick something scarier for my first crack at Late to the Party, but, dammit, I felt a sense of duty to finally check Joe Dante’s Gremlins off my list.

Gremlins is the type of gateway horror movie younger audiences might fondly remember as one of their first introductions to the genre. I was wondering if I wouldn’t be able to appreciate it as an adult. Then again, a good film doesn’t need nostalgia to hold up. I popped in the disc (Sorry, no VHS), and the menu screen appeared with Jerry Goldsmith’s zany carnival-style theme song playing in the background. I knew I was in for a wild ride.

Gremlins opens unexpectedly like a neo-noir detective film, complete with voice-over narration from a fedora clad man with an unbelievable tale to tell. Inventor Randall Peltzer discovers a strange little creature called a Mogwai in a mysterious back-alley shop, and buys it as a bizarre Christmas gift for his teenage son Billy. Randall warns Billy to follow three simple rules: Keep it out of the sunlight, keep it away from water, and never feed it after midnight. I couldn’t wait for them to break all three.

It was bewildering how incredibly nonchalant the whole family was that the father brought home an unidentified, Nobel Prize-winning species, and acted like it was a Pomeranian. But, hey, people were bringing home all kinds of weird creatures in the 80’s. It’s not long before things go awry, and the town is under siege by hundreds of evil gremlins. If only the mom called the authorities when she discovered a half dozen monster cocoons in her attic, instead of going back downstairs and baking Christmas cookies.

We meet some of the unsuspecting townspeople in the first act of the film. Most characters have poetic payoffs, like the miserable, old crone Mrs. Deagle, who receives a hilarious comeuppance (more on that later). However, some character arcs get thrown to the wayside. Billy’s young, arrogant supervisor Gerald Hopkins is competing for the affection of Billy’s crush Kate. Gerald oddly disappears part way through the film, but it’s not a major detriment to the overall plot. Kate is also thankfully not turned into a damsel in distress. Despite some missed character opportunities, Gremlins doesn’t bother getting bogged down in too many subplots when the pace picks up.

The film is presented like a B-movie creature-feature elevated by fantastic execution. Charming matte paintings are utilized for the aerial shots of the small town, while most of the sets appear to be classic Hollywood backlots. The practical effects have many clever details that will still blow people’s minds, even today.

The crew pulled out all the stops with slimy cocoons, pulsating furballs, and, of course, the incredible animatronics. Even as a grown-ass adult, I found Gizmo absolutely adorable. The gremlins lurking in various nooks and crannies were often accompanied by retro glowing green or red lights and rolling mist. Stripe’s gruesome death sequence resembles the final scene in The Evil Dead (1981) in the best possible way. All these little touches bring the film to life with incredible flair.

The level of mayhem in Gremlins is glorious. One would expect the film to be smaller in scale due to budget restrictions, but they went all out. The gremlins tear-assing through the picturesque town showcases their mischievous personalities, and the creativity of the film crew. Not only were they destroying the town, they were having fun doing it.

Dante lets us take a couple moments to soak in the chaos the gremlins are causing in a local bar and theater. The camera pans around to show them swinging from ceiling fans, playing cards, slamming drinks, and all other sorts of crazy shenanigans. One of the best scenes is when they show up on Mrs. Deagle’s doorstep dressed in caroling garb, and launch the crotchety, old bat out her second story window via stair lift chair. I was rolling with laughter.

Gremlins is a perfect mix of lighthearted 80’s adventure, with a dash of slapstick gore. This film could have easily been a cheesy disaster if it was executed poorly. It instead became a classic with something for everyone. Modern audiences often try to decide if a film like Halloween (1978) is still terrifying by today’s standards. Gremlins, on the other hand, was never meant to be terrifying. It was meant to be a fun adventure, with excellent practical effects. In that regard, it absolutely holds up.

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.