An effects marvel and good wholesome holiday carnage

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2014)

Y'ask me, we need more gleefully violent movies like GREMLINS to offset the cloying schmaltz we usually get. I like that this movie is like a sadistic version of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE'S small-town atmosphere, lending some mean-spiritedness to the mischievous antics. But it's all in good dark fun, especially when Mrs. Deagle gets her comeuppance. It's a good time watching the gremlins wreak havoc; those ugly bastards are surprisingly entertaining (the bar scene in particular). On a technical level, this movie's pretty impressive; they pack some real personality into Gizmo. And credit Zack Galligan for giving a chainsaw fight with a puppet a sense of urgency.
Great movie all-around.
8/10