Gremlin

If you enjoyed The Gate (1987) you will enjoy this.

The acting is low caliber, but it doesn't detract from the movie. I've seen worse acting in recent Hollywood blockbusters.

Definitely worth a watch.

This is an ok horror movie. a story that isn't full of surprises or anything so you see where it is going but the acting isn't as bad as in most of these such flicks and there's some really good jump scares.

I should mention up front that I am not a huge gore/horror film fan. Perhaps this means I am a bit harder on films in the genre or not, I am not sure…but I do occasionally enjoy a horror film if the story engages me. In addition, the film has absolutely nothing to do with the film Gremlins and the creature looks nothing like a gremlin…and ultimately, you learn it isn't a gremlin…so why the title?! I have no idea.

When the film begins, some selfish guy gives a fancy looking box to a family member. But inside is a horrible creature that has an insatiable thirst to kill. And, once you've received the box you must find someone you love and give it to them soon or the monster inside will eventually kill your entire family. After the monster came out and started killing people, none of them ever called the police but they just piled up the dead family members in the basement for safekeeping. And, they didn't consider throwing the box into a blast furnace or inside a huge block of cement or in the middle of the sea. Instead, they just wait as one by one they are sliced and diced. If it sounds as if I didn't like the story in Gremlin, you are absolutely right. The problem was although the acting is competent and the CGI acceptable, the story just never made a lot of sense to me. And, when you ultimately learn what the creature is, this isn't enough of a surprise to save the picture. The movie is watchable but nothing more.

A good concept, not an original one but with a real potential to be both fun and scary, and a creepy-looking DVD cover were what drew me into seeing 'Gremlin' in the first place. Also do have a high appreciation for horror/sci-fi, and thee are a fair share of good to great, even classic, examples.

'Gremlin' is not to be confused with the 1984 film (a great one) of the same name, either as a film or in assuming it is connected to that film. They have nothing in common other than the title. Seeing 'Gremlin', it has its good points, that stop it from being a complete shambles, but a lot of bad ones that stop it from living up to its concept. There are certainly far worse films in the genre and overall and it didn't leave me angry or cringing, just that it is very underwhelming that doesn't do a good job with its objectives of being fun or scary.

There are good points. The creature effects are surprisingly competent and the monster does evoke some genuine creepiness. 'Gremlin' has moments of excitement, creepiness and suspense, like with the Anna and the monster confrontation.

It's effectively lit and shot too sometimes. The soundtrack has eeriness when it isn't being intrusive or obvious.

Sadly, too many things bring it down. The acting ranges from barely adequate to embarrassing, worst of all being Kristy K. Boone whose performance was all over the place. The characters are uninteresting and annoying, with naively silly and sometimes illogical decision making and behaviours, a primary example being with the police.

Excitement, thrills, creepiness and suspense are too far and between. The scares are generally not enough and suffer from predictability and lack of tension. The lack of atmosphere makes the pacing suffer, giving 'Gremlin' a dull feel frequently. The story is far too minimal, another thing that affects the pacing with the padding and over-stretching, bland and often ridiculous.

Rest of the visual effects are pretty bad and the editing is sloppy, also too many instances of the camera work being unfocused and the sound/soundtrack killing the atmosphere with over-obviousness. The direction is not a hack job as such, but there is very little distinguished about it.

Overall, 'Gremlin' wasn't irredeemable but it underwhelms. 3/10 Bethany Cox

Gremlin isn't a reboot or remake that associated with the mogwai movies, this is a complete different type of story. Going into this film i didn't know what to expect hoping it would impress me in being a good movie as the premise of this film's background of the box is good in setting it tone but sadly this film lack's any impact in being a great.

The acting is OK but amateurish with minimal effort in trying to carry this film forward which didn't appeal to me alone, at best this film is a typical syfy channel movie. The only good thing is the visual effect which seem to have some budget which all the money has gone into as the creature itself is well designed.

Sadly this film might appeal to the demographic that enjoy these low budget B movies which this film is, but if you looking for a well made film i would recommend avoiding this film as it not that great.