Review of Gremlins (1984) by Thequietgamer — 27 Oct 2017

Comedy and horror prove to be strange bedfellows in this Christmas movie. One that feels like an attack on the commercialism of the holiday, among other things. The humor is juvenile, but violence is gruesome. There are some surprisingly brutal deaths. It makes for a movie that almost misses any kind of audience. The jokes are a little too silly and rambunctious for a lot of adults, and it might just be a little too dark for youngsters. Especially when one character gives her shockingly macabre reason for hating Christmas.

I do believe there is a certain age range where this movie would provide a perfect first foray into the horror genre as it's just lighthearted and goofy enough, while packing a surprising bite, to prepare newcomers for the bigger and badder scary films out there, without subjecting them to too much too soon. It can build up an appreciation for horror movies without giving them more than they can handle at a early age. Don't ask me what that age range is though, as I'm not quite sure myself. Perhaps early tweens?

Despite it's odd amalgam of qualities, Gremlins apparently struck a chord with so many regardless as it's something a pop-culture hit. Admittedly, I found it to be quite entertaining myself. Certain qualities such as the incredibly memorable "Gizmo," helped it succeed. I still can't say that all of the elements came together perfectly, but they came together well enough to make for a likable film and a delightfully odd choice for the holidays. I just wish it had been more concise in tone. It jumps from childishly silly to serious and savage without much connective tissue in between to make for less jarring transitions.