Monday, October 26, 2015

Gremlins Review












Gremlins


Release Date: 13th December 1984 - Australia


Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Amblin Entertainment


Genre: Horror/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 102 minutes


Budget: $11,000,000

Box Office Gross: $213,715,442 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Young Billy Peltzer receives a gift from his dad that is a cute new pet and must follow three instructions. Never get it wet, keep it away from the bright light, and most importantly, never feed it after midnight, no matter how much it begs and cries. Unfortunately, Billy has
broken these rules and
unwittingly unleashes a horde of little monsters that can cause so much destruction to his hometown.


Cast
Zach Galligan - Billy Peltzer
Phoebe Cates - Kate Beringer
Hoyt Axton - Randall Peltzer
Polly Holliday - Ruby Deagle
Frances Lee McCain - Lynn Peltzer
Corey Feldman - Pete
Howie Mandel - Gizmo (Voice)
Judge Reinhold - Gerald Hopkins
Edward Andrews - Mr. Roland Corben
Glynn Turman - Mr. Roy Hanson
Harry Carey, Jr. - Mr. Anderson
Keye Luke - Mr. Wing
Dick Miller - Mr. Futterman
Jackie Joseph - Mrs. Futterman
Frank Welker - Stripe/Gremlins (Voice)
John Louie - Chinese Boy
Scott Brady - Sheriff Frank
Belinda Balaski - Mrs. Joe Harris
Frances Lee McCain - Lynn Peltzer
Arnie Moore - Alex
Kenny Davis - Dorry
Jonathan Banks - Deputy Brent
Mushroom - Barney
John C. Becher - Dr. Molinar
Gwen Wilson - Mrs. Molinar
Donald Elson - Man on Street
James MacKrell - Lew Landers (WDHB-TV Reporter) (Cameo)
Don Steele - Rockin' Ricky Rialto (Voice)
Fred Newman - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Mark Dodson - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Michael Winslow - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Peter Cullen - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Bob Bergen - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Michael Sheehan - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Bob Holt - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
Brad Kesten - Mogwai/Gremlins (Voice)
(Uncredited)
Mushroom - Barney
Marvin Miller - Robby the Robot (Voice)
(Uncredited)
Chuck Jones - Mr. Jones (Cameo)
Steven Spielberg - Man in Electric
Wheelchair (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Jerry Goldsmith - Man in Telephone
Booth Glancing in Camera (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
William Schallert - Father Bartlett
(Cameo) (Uncredited)
Kenneth Tobey - Smoking Gas
Station Attendant ( Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Joe Dante
Writer - Chris Columbus
Executive Producers - Steven Spielberg,
Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall
Producer - Michael Finnell
Casting Director - Susan Arnold
Production Designer - James H. Spencer
Set Decorators - Jackie Carr
and Sally Ann Jameson (Uncredited)
Director of Photography - John Hora
Stunt Coordinator - Terry Leonard
Special Effects Supervisor - R.A. MacDonald
Creator: Gremlins - Chris Walas
Creature Consultant - Jon Berg
Matte Artist - Rocco Gioffre
Film Editor - Tina Hirsch
Supervising Sound Editors - Richard L. Anderson
and Mark A. Mangini
Sound Editors - Warren Hamilton Jr.
and David E. Stone
Re-Recording Mixers - Steve Maslow,
Kevin O'Connell, Bill Varney and Rick Kline
(Uncredited)
Foley Artists - John Roesch and Joan Rowe
Music - Jerry Goldsmith
Music Recording Mixers - Bruce Botnick
and Robert Fernandez


Review
It is one of those movies that I have yet to review. GREMLINS was a horror comedy conceived brilliantly by writer and future director Chris Columbus, filmmaker Steven Spielberg and director Joe Dante. It came out in cinemas on the same day as Ghostbusters, which the former made a massive impact on audiences that same year. I remember GREMLINS when I first watched it on cable television as a child. It brought me an impression of how these devilish creatures could come to exist through unique effects and puppetry. I define GREMLINS as having a dark, twisted and comical vibe with fright all over the place to startle and amuse audiences. Apart from having Spielberg, Dante and Columbus on the directional team, there was an ensemble of actors I never recognised, apart from young Corey Feldman and Judge Reinhold in the supporting leads. Each gave a distinction for their performance in the film.

There are no movies today that could compare to GREMLINS. This film has a rewatch value and is one of those stories that always stay with you even if you believe there may be gremlins rampaging through household appliances or causing household mayhem.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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