Gremlins Review

 

        This would be the third time that I have seen Gremlins. Released in 1984, the literal same time as Ghostbusters¸ Gremlins is an interesting holiday film that mixes the holidays with touches of horror and comedy. One would think it would be a family film, considering what I have reviewed prior to this one for the month. In fact, it was this film and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom that created a new rating. We know it today as “PG-13”. SPOILERS will appear in the review. 

1. Story

        In the beginning of the film, the Dad played by Hoyt Axton, is narrating how exactly he got the creature called the Mogwai. I thought for a moment he was a grown-up main character, but he reveals he is the father. He buys a Mogwai at a Chinatown antique shop. Albeit, behind the owner Mr. Wing’s back. The seller is a young boy who tells the Dad three rules to avoid: Don’t expose it to light, don’t let it touch water, and don’t feed it after midnight. 

        The film then begins, it has a cheery tone to it. We follow the main character Billy played by Zach Galligan, walking to his job as a bank teller. He brings his pet dog with him. Unbeknownst to him is that the old lady Mrs. Deagle scolds him after his dog ruined a Christmas decoration. She is so cruel that she threatens to take away the dog and send it to get euthanized. Deagle gives off a Wicked Witch of the West vibes from The Wizard of Oz. Don’t worry though, she gets her comeuppance. 

        We learn that Rand is an inventor and his entire family uses his inventions, even though they malfunction. He gives Billy the Mogwai and he is surprised that it’s like a new pet. The Dad names the creature Gizmo and it’s cute. Throughout the film, Billy shows a neighborhood kid what the Mogwai is, but accidentally spills water. From there, we learn that water makes the creature spawn more creatures that are mean. Soon, the mean mogwai turn into gremlins and wreak havoc across the town. 

2. The Gremlins

        The title characters steal the entire film. I like how they are evil but are simply crazy creatures. I feel that they suppose to represent us that let their animalistic tendencies get control. The scene where the gremlins are in the bar, they all each have personality. It would be one thing where they are just like monsters. They mimic humans such as a few playing cards and one acting like a woman exercising from the 80s. 

        The whole creatures are a combination of puppetry and animatronics. It gives a very authentic look that would be ruined if it was done using computers. What’s interesting is that after Gizmo sees what he spawned, he feels bad. I think we can get interpret that he experienced this happening. Especially when it starts over. 

        One tidbit that I found out was that it was an inspiration for the old toy Furbees. I remember how they looked like small flightless birds that talked gibberish. I saw some semblance just thinking about it. To be fair, The Child in The Mandalorian looks like Gizmo.

3. What Makes It Good

        Another thing that this film does so well is mixing with genres. This is actually a sub-genre called holiday horrors. Gremlins is one of those Christmas films that works since with the tenacity of the creatures acts like an anarchic holiday film. Another example is 2015’s Krampus and Black Christmas from 1974. The film isn’t exclusively a horror film since it has bits of comedy. Such as when Mrs. Deagle being launched out of her house by her stair master is such a satisfying death scene. 

        So why have horror films take place during the holidays, especially in Christmas? What can be inferred is that it can be interpreted as a bit of irony. Or a lesson to be learned during the holidays. That happens when Mr. Wing chastises Billy’s family for creating more mogwai and saying that the western civilization corrupts nature. The film isn’t entirely preachy but it fits with the overall comeuppance angle the sub-genre is aligned with. 

4. Legacy

        The film is a gem of the 80s. It’s one of director Joe Dante’s best, really only this film in his filmography. It did spawn a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch which is a completely different film in terms of the first one. In some lists, it’s considered one of the best sequels, due in large part of poking fun at the first Gremlins and just being self-aware. 

        Unfortunately, it’s getting an animated series, 40 years after the fact. I don’t know how I feel about that. More so on another film to establish a trilogy of films. To be honest, I feel that it’s really just desperation from the Warner Bros. to make an easy profit. It could be good, but I believe that in the event of the film not being good, it could invite viewers to see the first and second film. So there’s that. 

5. Overall

        The film is a ride, definitely. It’s stark that of all the films that are holiday related this one joins a list of experimental films to blend to genres that shouldn’t work, but work. Gizmo is one cute creature and the characters are enjoyable especially the mother. Who actually gets three kills in the film. It belongs in the pop culture, and I’m glad that I was exposed to it when I was in the elementary. 

        Gremlins gets a four out of five.