‘Big things come in small packages’
Gremlin is a 2017 horror monster movie directed by Ryan Bellgardt (Dinosaur World; The Jurassic Games; Army of Frankensteins) from a screenplay co-written with co-producers Josh McKamie and Andy Swanson.
The movie stars Adam Hampton, Katie Burgess and Caleb Milby.
In the US, Gremlin was released in July via Uncork’d Entertainment. On 26 February 2018, the film is released on DVD in the UK by High Fliers Films as Gremlin’s Curse.
Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk
Plot:
Two years after the murder of his ten-year-old son, Adam Thatcher receives a mysterious box from a relative containing a terrible secret, a creature that will brutally kill everyone he cares about one by one.
The only way to release himself from the curse is to give the box to someone he loves, continuing the never-ending circulation of this ancient evil.
As the ominous timer on the box counts down to its end, Adam can only imagine the horrors that await. Does he give the box away to save his family, or face his own demise while unleashing a powerful terror on the rest of humanity? He can’t destroy it. He can’t escape it. He can only give it to someone he loves…
Review:
Gremlin is a bit of a disappointment — it’s okay but not as good as expected — mainly due to the clichéd family dynamics (shrew wife, petulant teenage daughter, lunk of a husband, and nearly mute pre-teen son), inconsistent writing, and weak acting all around. Gremlin is certainly worth a watch just because of the unique subject, but probably not worth a second viewing.
Ben Spurling, MOVIES & MANIA
Other reviews:
“The pacing of Gremlin is one of its most impressive aspects – not only is the plot development steady and engaging, but the action and the creativity of the film’s lore improves and accelerates as the minutes increase. Another memorable characteristic of the film is its willingness to make daring choices in its script that – without revealing any spoilers – take the story to new and unexpected heights.” tnhorror.com
” …a thoroughly engaging mini-monster movie […] Still, the protagonist-oriented, eighty-eight-minute photoplay is held back by less than stellar effects. It also suffers from a talkative second act and an all-too-abrupt finale.” A Word of Dreams
” …it really manages to shock and surprise with its kills, not only how they are achieved but also by the mere fact that it shows no hesitation to kill off some of its most likeable characters rather than leaving the dying to cannon fodder supporting roles. Plus, it’s very effectively directed, with a CGI creature that looks suitably horrifying.” Search My Trash
“It’s a somewhat more realistic take on the usual monster thriller — for one thing, the police aren’t there solely to become victims and actually get to do some investigating. The special effects are a bit inconsistent, but the characters are all well-drawn and the acting is solid, even from the kids. And alongside the terror, the family still has to deal with the same problems they had before.” The Movie Critic Next Door
Cast and characters:
Adam Hampton … Adam Thatcher
Kristy K. Boone … Julie Thatcher
Catcher Stair … Charlie Thatcher
Mike Page … Detective Morris Patterson (as Michael Page)
Katie Burgess … Anna Thatcher
Mike Waugh … Jim Roberts
Connie Franklin … Natalie Rose
Caleb Milby … Tyler Cook
Vicki Wilcox … Mary Roberts
Kyle Penington … Detective John Harris (as Kyle Pennington)
Rachael Messer … Luciana Ferro
Stacy Casaluci … Lisa Roberts
Raychelle McDonald … Detective Mahoney (as Raychelle MacDonald)
Chris Crane … Police Chief
Christopher Sneed … Officer L. Jenkins
Working title:
Give it to Someone You Love
Trailer:
Full film free to watch online:
