Pumpkinhead - 1988 - PFF

How far would you go for revenge? Retribution and consequence are the central themes of this film. This film stars horror icon Lance Henriksen as a man willing to do the unthinkable to right a wrong, it is also the directorial debut of Stan Winston. Superstition can be a dangerous thing - couple that with vengeance and you have a deadly combination. Set in the rural backcountry, Single father Ed, played by Henriksen, has a loving relationship with his adorable little boy, Billy. But they are on a collision course with tragedy thanks to the thoughtless actions of a group of young adults who are visiting the area for vacation. Heartbreaking tragedy strikes, causing a chain of events that leads to a high body count and a hard lesson learned about the cost of revenge.

The simplicity of this film is one of the things that makes it the most enjoyable. The locations and sets are not very complex and look very natural keeping your eyes and mind held in the atmosphere of the story. The costumes and look of the characters lend an honesty about the location and the simplicity of the people that live in the area. Using natural lighting as well as an eerie soundtrack and ambient sounds help set the tone and lend to the sense of dread that resonates throughout the film. The characters are believable and some of them you feel sorry for, while others you want to beat with a lead pipe. Henriksen delivers his usual spot-on performance as a man driven to desperate measures by grief and superstition.

There is gore in this film, but it is not over the top and drives the story along. It moves at a fairly steady pace, moving just quick enough to keep you on edge and interesting enough to make you want to see what is going to happen next. Not only does this film draw you in and hold you until the climax. It also makes you think, if you were in Ed's position, what would you do? Would you make a deal with the devil to get revenge or would you turn the other cheek? The look of Pumpkinhead himself is a bit over the top. It's tall, gaunt, hairless frame with creepy white eyes and a large mouth, it is a bit unnerving to look at.

The cast is very well put together and play well off each other. Let's talk about them, shall we? Our first actor is a name that is well recognized by the horror community, horror icon, Lance Henriksen.

With a career spanning more than 4 decades, this is a face, voice, and name that is easily recognizable by fans of the horror genre, as well as those who are fans of sci-fi. Before he was our grief-stricken father, he had roles in the 1975 film, “Dog Day Afternoon.” One of his first horror films was the 1978 horror sequel, “Damien: Omen II”. One of his best-known roles is as “Bishop” in the first film of the “Alien” franchise. Lance is known for playing gruff hero types or calculating villains. He scored the lead in the 1996 sci-fi/horror series “Millennium”. Most recently, he can be seen in the 2019 film “Cliffs of Freedom” as well as many films in post-production. Whether starring in a retelling of “The Pit and The Pendulum” (1991) or being a welcome addition to the Hellraiser franchise. His performances never disappoint and I look forward to seeing the films he releases in the future.

Our next cast member is the woman who is almost as frightening as the monster itself, Haggis, the old woman who Ed goes to see after tragedy strikes, played by Florence Schauffler. Mostly a television actress before she was Haggis. Having roles in such series as “Hardcastle and McCormick” (1984), “St. Elsewhere” (1985), and “Newhart” (1985). She was 68 years old when she played the role of Haggis and endured a costume that weighed 65 pounds. The raspy sound of her voice that held just enough authority to keep your attention and the horrific make-up to make her such a frightening character. She had a few more roles after Haggis, in “Mr. Belvedere” (1989) and “Evening Shade”(1990). Her last role was in the 1994 film, “The Favor”. She was called home on Christmas Eve, 2017 at the age of 97.

Our last cast member is the completely unlikable character, Joel, played by John D’Aquino. John was mainly a television actor before he became your typical 80’s bad boy, Joel. He had roles in such series as “Wildside” (1985) and “21 Jump Street” (1987). After Joel, he returned to television series and movies. Having recurring roles in “Shades of LA” (1990), “Matlock” (1989), and “SeaQuest 2032” (1993). His career remained fairly steady throughout the ’90s and into the new millennium. Most recently he can be seen in “K.C. Undercover” (2018). The character Joel is one of those individuals that come across as a typical punk with a bad attitude bordering on abusive to his friends. He is the primary reason that the chain of events is set in motion and you will not be disappointed in how things play out.

This is a great horror movie, a wonderful little cautionary tale about what can happen when you make decisions before thinking things through. As well as the repercussions from decisions that are made. Just remember, there is a consequence for everything decision that you make and even though revenge might seem the best option in the moment, are you really willing to deal with the demon you unleash with your choices?