Rediscovering Gremlins

A young man receives a pet Mogwai with a very specific set of care instructions: Don't expose him to the light (it will kill him), don't get him wet, and don't ever, ever, ever feed him after midnight. Sound strange? It is!

Gremlins has come to enjoy a cult status as one of the best comedy-horror films, if not the best, of the 1980's. Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, the film brings to life these Gremlins through some of the best animatronic work the era had to offer. Featuring an excellent script, likable cast, surprisingly good special effects, and maybe a social statement or two, Gremlins is entertaining in a way quite unlike any other film of the decade.

Aside from its technical achievement and entertainment factor, the film goes well beyond the bounds of usual comedy-horror fare in terms of plotting. It features a family and social plot that at times seems to veer into adventure-drama territory. However, the film doesn't hold back on the mayhem. In fact, Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are solely responsible for the invention of the PG-13 rating, as both of these films were released with a PG rating to great controversy.

In a strange twist of fate, Gremlins has been repackaged with friendlier cover art and stocked in the family section on many store shelves, leaving parents in for a particularly unpleasant surprise. So think twice before picking up the title for a family movie night. Gremlins also spawned a sequel titled Gremlins 2: The New Batch, a good film but more firmly planted in comedy territory.

The Gremlins DVD comes complete with excellent audio commentary along with other special features and is available online (*in-store when applicable) from the following retailers.

• Amazon

• Best Buy

• Blockbuster

• Borders

• Target

• Virgin Megastore

• Wal-Mart