Gremlins - Movie Review

In a small picturesque town during the Christmas time a harmless gift becomes a horror when three important rules regarding the care for a Mogwai are violated. This leads to the production of mischievous monsters referred to as Gremlins and who go on the rampage bringing menace to what should normally be a happy period in the calendar-the Christmas season. Blending the comedy horror genre, it reflects on themes of vulnerability of small town America, dangers of curiosity, and disorder from the noncompliance with the norms of consumer society. It is funny and at the same time scary, which is a fine line in the tradition of the films that were possible to watch in the 1980s, when the audience was hungry only for thrills and innovations.

Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer does the job and indeed, being an actor he has an ability to capture a childlike curiosity about the unknown. Supporting this boost Kate portrayed by Phoebe Cates effectively shields the film emotionally. However, this film’s biggest characters are the Gremlins and they are animated with irresistible charm and menace that actually delivers horror and comedy of the film. His work is full of energy and keeps viewers interested in the film’s ambivalent and in the continual shifts from comedy to horror. The music serves the film shows the change in character for the film and fits the chaotic undertone wonderfully.

The cinematography gives off the small town Christmas feeling of snow and happiness before the Gremlins take everything apart. One of the movie’s most striking qualities is the effective and imaginative use of light and shadow, especially when accentuating the tension and the celebratory atmosphere.

The visions of the small town, the conception of the Gremlins themselves, establishing the atmosphere of reality and dreamland, the production design is people’s orientation in this world that looks credible and fantastic at the same time. It swings between normalcy and insanity, and provides great setting for the story’s shenanigans

In Gremlins the title characters were made using puppets and animatronics which were the order of the day in the 1980s. These effects give the Gremlins life and danger, so when you watch the movie you both shiver and you are fascinated.

The use of editing in Gremlins is applied in a way that succeeds in creating suspense, synchronizing the madness of Gremlins rampage with the pace of the story. It builds suspense while offering the audiences a dose of laughter.

The movie pace is not monotonous but is highly entertaining right through the screen time. The shift between the calm and menacing roars is tightly-knit, which is akin to Gremlins’ unpredictable nature, thus making every turn interesting.

Speaking of the dialog in ‘Gremlins’, the humor is never far off that is either due to the characters’ quick-witted dialogues or, of course, Gremlins’ silly-sounding babble. It only supplements the fun further in the plot of the picture… but sometimes it seems that the film is too silly to be scary. Certain character motivations appear rather forced, which essentially serve as a part of the plot rather than the character themselves. It reminds people of earlier days when films were free of complex themes, but at the same time entertains with the help of genres fusion. The mischievously endearing nature of the film along with the character creations makes it an all time hit.