Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins:

Joe Dante’s 1984 film Gremlins follows Billy Peltzer, a young man who receives an exotic small animal as a Christmas gift, then inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet, which unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous creatures on a small town.

The Steven Spielberg-produced phenomenon was a smash hit upon its release. It notoriously necessitated the advent of the PG-13 rating (along with the other 1984 Amblin hit, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), being deemed too scary for small kids but not quite for adults either. Gremlins is an anti-Christmas film of sorts, poking fun at the ironic juxtaposition between a time known for its jolliness and warmth, having been freshly co-opted by capitalistic mania during Ronald Reagan’s era of American excess. But above all, Gremlins is a wickedly fun exercise in Looneymania, brimming with unbelievable puppet work and practical effects, directed to perfection by genre/schlock maestro Joe Dante. It’s equal parts cute and disgusting, which is exactly why it remains a holiday classic to this day.

Rated PG.

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