HALLOWEEN REVIEW OF THE DAY: Gremlins (1984)

What other film can you say starts off as a typical cute and innocent family film, and out of nowhere to a crazed and demented ride straight out of an asylum. Well Gremlins seems to be that specific film. Gremlins is a movie that completely changes its tone during the middle of the plot, and it is one of those good surprises a film can give. Like Ghostbutsers, though I can't really say is as good, has that type of different and fantasy-like world that we people at the time just happened to accept. It has a perfect blend of well done cute scenes and well done scary scenes that are probably too dark for small children. I really appreciate that this story is very original as well as fun, and this a time when not only Steven Spielberg's Amblin but other production companies were coming out with some new and creative ideas for film plots. Sadly we don't see much of that today with all these sequels and reboots, even if some are good. I guess I'll talk about what most people remember about this movie. First is Gizmo the Mogwai. I know it's weird to talk about a character who was clearly just to be there to sell toys and merchandise and to target to the younger audience, but gosh darn it this thing is too adorable. I don't know how they did it or how Howie Mandel was able to pull of a voice so adorable for this creature. I'm usually not affected by something like this in a film, but something about Gizmo works which is why he is one of the few reasons why this film is so enjoyable. The other good element are the Gremlins themselves. They're not really horrifying enough to give one nightmares, but they do succeed to be horrifying enough that one is grateful that these things do not exist. I am not saying by any means that these creatures are terrifying but the film does a good job with its story to build up these things and as Gizmo works as an adorable little fur ball, the Gremlins work a enjoyable, maniacal, and diabolical little villains. What I like most about the Gremlin creatures is that they sort of represent are deep dark and wild side, and as human beings we are often curious and wanting to know what that is like. The Gremlins are almost the type of characters you almost root for, they are so enjoyable to watch. Gremlins is one heck of a roller coaster ride, shifting and turning tones and at the same time having fun with it. It represents the wild side of life but still has a good amount and of heartwarming and memorable moments. Grade: P