(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column on the spookiest scenes in horror, with your tour guides being Matt Donato and Ariel Fisher, two leading authorities on the genre. In this episode, Matt reminds everyone that “Gremlins” can bite back, while Ariel again hears “The Gremlin Rag.”
Before I could write about Michael Dougherty’s frightfully festive gift to the world last week, Ariel correctly seized “Krampus.” This week, I had the need to double-dip and discuss my love of the outro toy pop that plays before the credits, but that wouldn’t be good for SEO, would it? Let’s instead add a new chapter to the Scariest Scene Ever canon. Let’s revisit one of the many nightmares that Christmas horror has to offer.
What is Joe Dante going to use from “Gremlins” to frighten our wonderful readers?
True, “Gremlins” features far more crazy creature comedy than anything vicious or frightful. The scariest parts of the movie are actually when Billy treats Gizmo like a helpless pet owner. But before Kingston Falls gets rid of its naughty infestation, a charming jump-scare elicits one last rush of adrenaline. We prefer dark, twisted horror comedy, and Dante adds one last shriek to further shake the audience’s sense of security. There is one final realistic puppet that, like Santa’s beard, looks better than computer animation, along with a final send-off squeal and lingering smile.
The Setup
Gizmo the Mogwai is a valued property of shop owner Mr. Wing (Keye Luke), who keeps him in an underground Chinatown antiques shop. Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) enters and makes a bid for the wide-eyed baby animal right away, but Gizmo isn’t up for sale. At least not in Mr. Wing’s opinion. Randall is accosted by Mr. Wing’s grandson as he is leaving, who offers to sell him Gizmo due of his difficult financial situation. Mr. Wing doesn’t know yet.
In addition to outlining three straightforward guidelines for Mogwai owners, Randall presents Gizmo his son Billy (Zach Galligan) as an early Christmas gift and tells him not to expose the animals to sunlight, feed them after midnight, or get them wet.
When Billy isn’t dazzling Gizmo with mirror reflections, the two quickly become friends—that is, until clumsy youngster Pete Fountaine (Corey Feldman) spills water on the cute Mogwai. The Mogwai then begins to bubble until furball bullets begin to shoot out of his back, exposing an unexpected surprise: Gizmo can reproduce when he comes into contact with water.
The Story So Far
To make matters worse, Billy is tricked into eating after midnight by Gizmo’s kids, lead by a young idiot with a mohawk named Stripe. That serves as the impetus for a transformation inside slimy egg sacks that appear to hold facehuggers. A gremlin that no longer resembles a cute Mogwai emerges from each cocoon and descended upon the town of Kingston Falls. As Billy plays “hero” with his crush Kate Beringer (Phoebe Cates) by his side, the bucolic village transforms into a horrible fantasy where cackling beasties roam free.
The gremlins continue to harass, ramming Ruby Deagle (Polly Holliday) out of her second-story window and running Murray Futterman’s (Dick Miller) tractor through his living room. Billy seizes the moment while his enemies are preoccupied; he sets the theatre on fire and decimates Stripe’s ranks, leading to a department store boss battle. Billy and Kate pursue the crazy horde to the neighbourhood movie theatre where “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is playing on film. Gizmo rescues the day by speeding past in his remote-controlled car and flooding the garden centre of the store with light, ostensibly killing Stripe. My fright enters the scene at that point, and Joe Dante earns one final yell.
The Scene
Billy and Kate rush to the rescue of a Gizmo whose head has been severely bonked in the outdoor portion of the Montgomery Ward in Kingston Falls. Before the mean-streakin’ gremlin can jump into a churning fountain to procreate, he has just soaked Stripe in sunlight. Little green dudes don’t exist; the deed has been completed. Given that Billy’s father is now present, Kate wraps Gizmo in Randall’s scarf to soothe the Mogwai’s head.
Stripe’s melting body still bubbles and steams in the water feature where it fell. Billy begins to move closer. Underneath the rising fog, an underwater light show explodes like fireworks, releasing dry ice from a machine. There is a problem. Billy makes a cautious approach to Stripe’s last resting place just to make sure.
Billy jumps back in amazement when Stripe’s skeleton, which is standing above the fountain, jolts erect from the dense mist. A high-pitched cry reverberates throughout the space, and Stripe’s corpse appears to have had an acid bath. A heap of bones, cartilage, and possibly some remaining tissue jump out of a disgusting stew and onto the ground before deflating and turning into a mushy puddle.
Billy may rest easy now that it’s over. Stripe has now been put to rest permanently, at least until the sequel.
The Impact (Ariel’s Take)
This movie is amazing. Despite how odd it sounds, it still makes me feel at home, even if it used to terrify me as a child. There’s something so comforting and reassuring about it, just like with “Poltergeist” before it. But it’s also mildly unsettling, especially for children. Although I wouldn’t rank this sequence as the scariest in the film, it comes in a very close second.
One of my favourite things about horror is how nicely it works with humour, allowing you to chuckle with your buddies after a fright. This scene reflects that. As Stripe jams his tiny gremlin finger into the top of that dreadful fountain, everything is tense and it appears as though there is no hope left. However, little Gizmo saves the day and lowers the shades, allowing you to breathe easier. Billy and Kate are safe, Gizmo is safe, and Billy’s dad is present for some reason. The situation is fine. You won’t be scared to death until Stripe’s corpse leaps out of the fountain.
Okay, he terrifies the hell out of me. At least when I was a child, Dad used to. He still gives me the creeps, but it doesn’t keep me awake for hours on end. However, “The Gremlin Rag,” which I believe to be one of the greatest movie themes ever, is “plagueing” me right now.
