Courtesy of Warner Bros.
It’s officially December, which means you’re gearing up for all that seasonal viewing. Everyone has their favorites in this category, whether you’re a real freak (complimentary) who goes for Inside or you stick to the classics like Black Christmas. But in my experience, there’s one unifying factor: Everybody loves Gremlins.
It’s been more than 40 years since Joe Dante’s holiday horror-comedy arrived in theaters, and it’s still one of the best Christmas viewing experiences you can possibly have, whether you’re a horror newbie or a seasoned fan of genre fare. Any time of year is a great time for Gremlins, but December is the best time for it, and it just hit Hulu for your streaming pleasure.
In case you somehow still haven’t heard about this all-time banger, directed by Dante and written by Chris Columbus (who gave us another seasonal favorite when he directed Home Alone), here’s the basics: Small-town dreamer Billy (Zach Galligan) gets an unusual Christmas gift from his father (Hoyt Axton), in the form of a tiny, furry critter he names Gizmo (voiced by Howie Mandel). Gizmo is a Mogwai, a member of a species with some very specific care instructions. When those care instructions are ignored, the Mogwai start multiplying and transforming into gruesome monsters, wreaking havoc on an idyllic small town.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if It’s a Wonderful Life were invaded by murderous monsters and the townsfolk were forced to battle with kitchen appliances, wonder no more. Gremlins expertly builds on classic Christmas movie imagery, delivering a film that simultaneously feels like an ’80s movie and like something that might have come out of the 1950s creature feature bonanza. It’s festive, it’s funny, it’s got creature effects, and the ensemble cast is incredible. Plus, as Dread Central laid out last year, it’s got one of the best uses of popcorn as a prop in the history of horror movies.
There’s another ingredient to Gremlins that makes it particularly special, and that’s Dante’s directorial style. He was fresh off establishing himself as a horror heavyweight with films like Piranha and The Howling, but even when those films got dark, they showcased a mischievous side to Dante’s storytelling. He’s one of those filmmakers who can blend horror and comedy in a way that feels seamless, merging the two so closely that we experience them simultaneously, not just in each scene but in each moment. He never turns the volume down on either feeling, giving Gremlins and its eventual sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, the impish glee of a living cartoon. There’s a reason he’s one of the genre’s greatest voices, and Gremlins is a shining example of his talents.
Categorized: Streaming News
