Review of Gremlins (1984) by Danny R — 17 Jan 2016

Joe Dante's cleverly engaging horror film with a wicked sense of humor, about an Inventor Randy Peltzer, played wonderfully by the late Hoyt Axton, who has bought a special gift from an old Chinese merchant in Chinatown for his son Billy, played superbly by Zack Galligan.

The gift is an adorable small furry creature called a Mogwai, nicely voiced by Howie Mandall. The Mogwai is named Gizmo by Billy, now there are three important rules that Billy must be follow if he wants to keep the creature, such as keeping it away from bright light especially sunlight cause it will kill him, never get him wet, and the most important rule of them all, never feed him after midnight.

Billy does what he can but he accidentally gets him wet one day and it makes him multiply into other Mogwai creatures like him, then Billy makes another big mistake and inadvertently feeds the others Mogwai creatures after midnight, the effect transforms them into extremely vicious, hideous reptilian little monsters known as Gremlins, who will soon cause pure deadly mayhem in the town of Kingston Falls.

Astute direction by Dante, with a witty script by Chris Columbus, executive produced by Steven Spielberg. Superlative practical special effects, with a terrific score by the late great Jerry Goldsmith, and solid supporting performances by Phoebe Cates, the late Keye Luke, Polly Holiday, Scott Brady, Cory Feldman, Harry Carey Jr.

, and Dick Miller. This movie became one of the biggest box-office hits of 1984, it has a great sense of charm and of course black humor thrown into it with serious gruesomeness. A fun ride all the way.

Highly Recommended.