Gremlords

Let me say, this movie's a hoot, I would even go as far to say it's almost 'Plan 9' quality. I know... I know, that's a big thing to live up to, but believe me, it does so.

This is the ultimate example of how committed low-budget film-makers are. The aspect ratio switches between 1.85 and 2.35 all the time, which I presume is due to a grueling hardship to get the film finished.. even with different types of film stocks. Even Ed Wood didn't go that far.

I will reveal nothing about plot details, but I will say that it has one of the best surprise endings that I've ever seen... far better than the Sixth Sense. Man, It's one of those moments where you just wish you could erase your memory and re-live it all again.

Some films become part of your life, they provide a vocabulary, inform your life, prevent you from going into business. This is one of the greats. It doesn't have to be defended, No excuses need to be offered. This is a superlative film.

The father of those kids is one of the greatest fathers. He's an every man. Someone we can all relate to.

The pest control hero who wants to get into management. That is a hero indeed, reluctant, but eventually pulls his weight.

The girl at the garage. She is lovely, a little hoarse, but quick-witted and spirited.

The UFO expert is enthused and informed. He is up against it with the local radio audience, but he has right on his side.

The couple that runs the bakery. They don't panic easily. I could taste one of those fritters now.

The car chase. One of the ten best in films.

The villain. Another great. Much better than john Travolta in the Punisher.

The funeral for the cow is a touching surprise in an all-action film.

The evocation of the simple pleasures of country life such as night fishing will always be with me.

The reference to King Lear as a man who takes crazy risks.

So, I've already mentioned that this is possibly the greatest film ever made, so I really ought to do my best to justify exactly why I think a low budget 'Star Wars' parody is so good. Even though I know deep down that it's terrible.

First of all, I was seven when this film came out only a year after George Lucas had released Return of the Jedi. Therefore me (and every other boy of the eighties) was heavily into our 'holiest of trilogies.' And, I believe this was before 'Spaceballs' came out, so 'Gremloids' (or 'Hyperspace' if you're not from the UK) was just about the first time I'd ever seen Star Wars sent up (in anything other than brief TV sketches).

It's about a Darth Vader wannabe 'Lord Buckethead' (who you'll have to see to understand exactly why that name is so fitting!) who is in pursuit of the leader of the rebels (who just so happens to be a beautiful space princess) because she's gone and nicked a bunch of top secret plans from him. Now, I'm sure you'll probably agree that this all sounds very familiar. However, from then on it does veer off from what you might expect a Star Wars parody to be like. For a start, our evil villain is not exactly hot on her trail. Instead, he's ended up on Earth in some small American town. Therefore, the rest of the film is a case of mistaken (planetary) identity with Bucketbrains chasing around a hapless receptionist, rent-a-kill guy and their vacuum cleaner (Bucketbonse thinks the Hoover is a 'droid!').

Now, the best thing about 'Gremloids' is that it's bad. No, make that EXTREMELY bad. The special effects are so bad that they're actually referenced as such more than once during the movie. Then there's the acting. I don't think they hired any professional actors for the lead roles (I think I saw one guy in 'Groundhog Day' but that was about it!). In fact, I think most student film-makers could make a more believable alien invasion movie than this. And yet I still say it's brilliant. There's just something weirdly amazing about the whole thing. I almost can't place why it's so great. I guess it's because the film-makers knew that they weren't exactly making a 'real' sci-fi epic, such as the source material that it's based on and just played to the film's strength, which is a script that is truly funny and a situation that is so daft it just works.

There are times when you see a film with great actors, a massive budget, a well-known writer and director behind the scenes... and the film turns out to be rubbish. Everything SHOULD work and yet it doesn't. Here nothing should work and yet it does. I would even go as far as to say that the speederbike... sorry SHOPPING TROLLEY chase could well be the worst special effects ever committed to film... and yet I still laugh every time I see it. I've watched this movie so many times now I practically know the script off by heart. I'd like nothing more than to recommend it, yet I know deep down that it has a very 'limited' appeal. If, like me, you enjoy 'so-bad-they're-good' films, plus love 'Star Wars' and cheesy eighties B-movies, then you may just get something out of this. Otherwise, I can see many people watching the first ten minutes and claiming that this is the 'worst film ever made' (and I can see where they're coming from in a strange sort of way!).

Lord Buckethead (yes, he really does have a bucket on his head) goes on a rampage in small-town America as he and his handful of little helpers are on the lookout for "the princess and the secret transmissions". But apparently they've landed on the wrong planet ! What follows is a rare and surprisingly funny spoof on the "Star Wars"-trilogy. Buckethead, the Darth Vader of this story looks like something out of a Monty Python-picture as he roams the countryside. It's not always on target but when it is, the humour is so innovative, crazy and refreshing that with the low budget in mind one can't help feeling very impressed over Todd Durham's piece of work.

Since I'm such a fan of Gremlins, the title of Gremloids immediately spoke out to me. But I then quickly learned that Gremloids isn't about little green creatures, hopefully a spoof of some kind, but it's actually another spoof of the Star Wars franchise. And like another Star Wars spoof, Spaceballs, this also delivers some laughs. But no way as consistent as Spaceballs, though it does try. It's an incredibly cheesy film, that only true lovers of cheese will probably eat right up. I personally thought the movie started off much better than how it concluded. Though I did find the ending funny. I'm a sucker for that silly hillbilly schtick. Anyways, Gremloids is a must see for any Star Wars completists out there and for anyone who loves the cheesy side of film. Plus you get a young Chris Elliot playing an inexperienced scientist. Not bad, not bad at all.