This month, Kristi won the opportunity to choose the December 2018 film for the 9 Deuce Horror Group, and she put it to a vote with Gremlins winning. Chris, Kristi, Dom, and I join in on the conversation to discuss many different questions about this Joe Dante classic.
Also, Chris and I did a podcast discussing all of these choices, so please check that out at Are You Not Kentertained
1. Why would you buy a pet that you couldn’t get wet? They live in New York where you get snow and some rain, plus accidents happen, and cleaning may be more problematic (yes, I know there is dry shampoo).
Kristi: I mean, Gizmo is pretty cautious. I want me a Gizmo. He is adorable and cuddly. I want him.
Chris: You wouldn’t if you were normal. Also, what do they drink if they don’t drink water?
Dom: Great point Chris. Still, I would want me a Gizmo. He’s so cute
Kent: Yeah, of course, you want one at first because look at him, he is damn cute. In reality, after the initial rush of instant gratification wears off, you’d realize just how F’d the situation is. I don’t know what it can drink, or perhaps it doesn’t drink, but even food has moisture. The whole thing…..it’s a really big problem.
2. Another rule was not to feed the mogwai (Gizmo) after midnight. That alone is a whole other issue, but how does a mogwai’s body know when it’s midnight? Also, how does this apply to Daylight Savings Time? Furthermore, when can you start to feed him?
Kristi: Well shoot. I think after 8 am is safe. They just know when it’s after midnight. Don’t fight the movie. Roll with it.
Chris: No shit? After midnight
Dom: It’s an internal clock thing. But isn’t anytime after Midnight, actually after midnight? So wouldn’t they starve to death ( along with the no water to drink thing these guys really have no chance at all) cause you’d be feeding them after
Kent: I promise, I am not asking these things to nitpick because you must avoid logic at times. But had they said that they had a 6 or 8-hour time frame that they can’t eat, it would help so much. Even 11:59 PM is technically after midnight. One line could have avoided this confusion.
3. Randall (Billy’s father) was an inventor. Tell me what you think his best and worst inventions were. I have a list that is probably incomplete, but I tried my best. There was the chicken egg breaker, bathroom buddy, orange juicer, powered hammer, rotating flyswatter, that great coffee pot, and the smokeless ashtray. If you caught other ones, feel free to use them.
Kristi: I dig the fly swatter. I could use that shit.
Chris: Best was the automatic hammer. Worst was the orange juicer. Imagine having to clean that shit up
Dom: Best invention: Billy!!! Worst: every damn thing else. (Kent: Okay, that Billy response made me laugh.)
Kent: I would go with the flyswatter. I believe Homer Simpson already proved that the powered hammer simply isn’t sufficient. The worst is definitely the orange juicer because, as Chris pointed out, that mess. Fudge that.
4. Have you ever had an open can of soda (or other beverage) just sitting on your bed with you as you ate?
Kristi: I have in my party years. These days, I’m too OCD to do that.
Chris: I would like to say no, but probably back in the teen years when cleanliness was a dirty word
Dom: As I sit here writing this there is no open can of soda near me. What fool does that?
Kent: I want to say no, but I know damn well that I have. I also used to keep an open can or bottle of beer in my shirt’s chest pocket when I didn’t want to get up as frequently. I get it, but it’s a foolish choice to say the least.
5. Who or what was your favorite gremlin? Gizmo doesn’t count. I don’t know if any had names aside from Stripe, but you can say what they did, like the one with lipstick or the flasher or the beer drinker.
Kristi: I have to go with Stripe. He feels like the leader to me. He knows what’s up.
Chris: Since you said we could talk about gremlins 2 on
Dom: Spike, The spider gremlin and the lady gremlin (lipstick)
Kent: The flasher and beer drinkers both made me giggle a lot as a child and an adult.
6. Was Kate’s story about her father dying all that important to the story in any way, or was it just a way to give Phoebe Cates more dialogue?
Kristi: I do not think this had any impact on the story really. Just to add lines.
Chris: Considering all the talent to make this movie, I was surprised at how shitty it held up. Coming where it did in the movie adds nothing to her character
Dom: I feel like she left (Fast Times at) Ridgemont high after her dad passed away and that’s the reason she ended up where she did in Gremlins. She also had enough of swimming in pools and slowly come up the ladder out of them and being some guys wank fantasy so she ran away and ends up with Billy fighting Gremlins. Or else she was in the witness protection program and the Dad thing was her cover story.
Kent: I don’t think I can add anything new to the 3 responses above me. There needed to be a ladder for her to climb up while telling the story and then maybe I could find some purpose to her story. I would absolutely have cut that out of the film though.
7. How the hell did that baseball bat hold up so well against the saw at the end?
Kristi: American made!
Chris: Well, according to Murray
Dom: It was a well made American Movie prop.
Kent: I expected nothing less. It was such a ridiculous line, I had to bring it up.
8. What was your favorite death scene?
Kristi: I have to go with the microwave scene. I know it’s going to happen and yet, I still laugh every time!
Chris: The gremlins in the microwave. Or Mrs. Deagle
Dom: Mrs. Deagle And Spike
Kent: Mrs. Deagle is one of those things that have stayed with me since I first watched it in the theater.
9. At the end of the film, Mr. WIng came to the Peltzer household to take Gizmo back. He was pretty grumpy. Was he right for criticizing the family? If you had to blame one person the most, who do you blame for all the hell that broke loose? You have any number of possibilities: Randall, the Chinese boy, Mr. Wing, Billy, Pete (Corey Feldman), Gizmo, etc.
Kristi: The dude that sold it in the first place. He knew the dangers. He knew it was going to a kid. Should have never agreed to sell him.
Chris: Billy. He broke every rule and caused mass chaos and death, and then gets told someday he may be ready for Gizmo. The dad did nothing worse than anything Billy did
Dom: I blame the writer of the film for allowing it to be made. If he never wrote it then no of this would have happened.
Kent: I’ll blame Randall. He was insistent, and Mr. Wing was very specific about the rules. Randall was just like “Eh, fuck it, we got this.” Sure you did….sure you did.
Bonus Deuce Questions on Gremlins
1. Out of the 6 main characters, who was your favorite? I’d say the main six for this question are: Billy, Kate, Randall, Lynn (Billy’s Mom), Gizmo, and Stripe.
Kristi: Gizmo and Stripe. I just want to snuggle the heck out of Gizmo. Stripe was just a badass little dude.
Chris: Lynn. Mama has the highest individual body count in the movie. She also gets the best kills.
Dom: Everyone but the Dad.
Kent: Lynn was like the most underappreciated character in this, in my opinion. I also really liked Randall. Definitely a guilty pleasure character.
2. Out of the rest of the characters, who stood out for you? There were a ton of people including Corey Feldman, Dick Miller, The Deputy (Jonathan Banks of Breaking Bad fame), Sheriff Frank, Mrs. Deagle, Mr. Wing, the Chinese Boy, Gerald Hopkins (Judge Reinhold), Barney the Dog, etc.
Kristi: Mrs. Deagle for her kill and of course, Barney the dog. Also would like some snuggles from him.
Chris: Murray Futterman seems like one of those characters whose portrayal would not be pc these days
Dom: Mrs. Deagle. Corey Feldman cause it’s Corey Feldman.
Kent: Murray because Dick Miller is pretty much amazing in every role I have ever seen him in. I also enjoyed the sheriff and deputy.
Final Thoughts on Gremlins
Do you consider this more a comedy or a horror? Just pick one. I’m not looking for creative alternative answers. I am asking you, is it more predominantly a comedy or a horror? Explain yourself if you want to. Also, did this film get overlooked on our best horror music list?
Kristi: Comedy for sure. I definitely laugh more than I am scared or on the edge of my seat. It’s fun for the whole family 🙂
Chris: Watching this now, it is straight up comedy. It has a good jingle, and a couple of good uses of Christmas Carol’s, but I think it still misses out on the top 10 lists for music. Did not hold up anywhere near where I expected it to
Dom: Comedy. I recently played the Gremlins slot machine at Saratoga and the theme is now continuously playing in my head.
Kent: Comedy, although dark, still more funny than horror. Even as a kid, I thought it was a comedy. I’m not sure if the theme belongs in the top 10, but top 15 I think. I think it depends on my mood that day.
All the pictures used in this blog are for review purposes. They are the property of:
- Warner Bros. (a Warner Communications company) (presents)
- Amblin Entertainment
Please go find a copy and support the creators.
That wraps up the 9 Deuce Horror Group’s conversation on Joe Dante’s classic comedy horror film, Gremlins.