FILM: Gremlins (12A)
The rules are simple enough: keep Gizmo away from bright light, don’t expose the cuddly critter to water and never, ever feed him after midnight.
Billy violates all three rules and unleashes an army of diabolical creatures on his picture-postcard community of Kingston Falls, jeopardising his family and girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates).
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Hide AdVicious spinster Mrs Deagle (Polly Holliday) suffers most grievously after an ill-fated ride on her stair-lift but that’s what you get for being a mean-spirited crone.
Directed with verve and laced with macabre, twisted humour, Gremlins is quintessential festive fare that stands up extremely well almost 30 years after its initial release.
Kate’s heartfelt confession about her reasons for hating Christmas epitomise the script’s macabre humour and Dante certainly doesn’t stint on the gloop and gore as Stripe and his evil gremlins are dispatched in a microwave or orange juicer.
Eagle-eyed viewers should be able to spot executive producer Steven Spielberg’s cameo at the beginning of the film.
Released: December 7 (UK & Ireland, selected cinemas), 106 mins