TOULOUSE
Its former owner warned him clearly: it must not be exposed to light, must be kept away from water, and above all, above all, must never be fed after midnight…
More than three decades after its release, Joe Dante’s fantasy comedy remains a benchmark of the genre – at once absurd, joyful and subversive, armed with the worst of intentions against a certain ethos of American conservatism.
The blend of comedy and suspense allowed this film to carve out its own unique path, crafting memorable scenes where suspense often rubs shoulders with the grotesque: one thinks in particular of the Gremlin hunt, which makes use of certain objects born of technological innovation (such as the microwave in which one of the monsters explodes), with the director taking a swipe at consumer society through the mayhem orchestrated by these uncontrollable creatures.
The gags come thick and fast in a small town decked out in both Christmas and Disney colours, as if to contrast the devastating fury of the hideous creatures with the laughable conservatism of a certain side of America. The lawless Gremlins tamper with the electrical system of a stairlift, smoke several cigarettes at once, drink more than is sensible, and watch an old Snow White film whilst throwing popcorn everywhere. In short, political correctness, steeped in family-oriented values, is cheerfully torpedoed by these rampant, slimy creatures.
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Ages 10 and over
Original version with subtitles
