Knowing this backstory makes wonder what AMC was thinking when naming a '70's car after mechanical failure? Took truth in advertising to a whole 'nother level!
Remember when the movie took that out-of-nowhere hard turn toward being insanely dark with the story of why Kate hates the Christmas season?
Honestly, when my wife and I rewatched it this last Christmas, I wasn't sure which surprised me more - the fact that she dropped the whole "my dad got stuck in our chimney doing the Santa thing and died" thing without any warning, or the fact that I'd completely forgotten it was in the movie while it was the one thing my wife remembered. Memory's a funny thing sometimes.
I think those early 80s movies had a lot of real drama in them, even the more "light hearted" ones. It's too bad that whenever someone tries to do this today, they seem to ignore this aspect.
They did, but it wasn't always handled well. I'd say Gremlins is one such case where it wasn't because while the drama did add to Kate's story, it was handled about as smoothly as a tree branch to the face. Though, I suppose you could argue that's still fitting with the out there tone of the movie, and there's certainly been worse examples.
I agree about most of these "moments of meaning" being poorly handled. Still, it was almost like a requirement to try to inject some kind of deeper meaning into virtually every type of movie, and I don't see that everywhere today.
Could just be from recently rewatching it, but the reveal of Dalton's backstory in the original Road House comes to mind. It's not as much of a whiplash in the moment as Kate's backstory in Gremlins, but it's the sort of shoehorned dark backstory that feels more like it's done for the sake of excusing how the last act of the movie shifts from over the top but fun action romp to a straight up murder fest. It's the sort of thing that really didn't feel like it was earned given what the movie was up to that point, so it just comes off as a well delivered (it's Sam Elliott telling the story so it's well acted) but ultimately unearned dark twist for the main character.
Okay, great example! Gotta love a well-fitted dark backstory though. Like Quint's in Jaws-- made all the more horrible by the fact that actually happened.
Quint's backstory is fantastic, handled respectfully and it ties nicely into the events of the story. I also enjoy how Jaws hints at Chief Brody having a pretty dark backstory if you pick up the context clues - his drunken ramblings about NYC crime rates vs how Amity Island is the sort of place where "one man can make a difference," and later during the scar stories when he lifts his shirt and thinks about talking about his gunshot scar but decided not to. It's never expressly said what happened to him, though, which I appreciate. We don't need to know exactly why Brody is the man he is now, it's enough to know that he clearly went through something deeply impactful but is standing up to face the threat before him now.
I remembered, too, the Twilight Zone gremlin. First it tormented Captain Kirk in the original black and white show. Then they updated it with John Lithgow. So good.
Can we be sure, however, that the actual causes of the myriad unexplainable problems with the aircraft were mere maintenance issues postponed one time too many?
One of the best of the early Bugs Bunny cartoons, "Falling Hare", has him dealing with a gremlin in the sense of how Dahl imagined them. ("I ain't Vendell Vilkie!)".
But imagine this coming out in 1943. About a year and a half after Pear Harbor. The war effort in full stride and getting stronger every month. The crew of the Memphis Belle probably watched this.
I would also think, though, that in 1943 it was very obvious who the bad guys were. Today there are so many factions and each one has a stalwart faction diametrically opposed to it and screaming hysterically that unless they are stopped the world will literally end.
So a lot of idiots crying wolf. And a lot of actual wolves who have convinced people they're actually victims.
When I was a little kid that movie scared the crap out of me. That scene where they were attacking Santa was worse than anything Freddy Kruger ever did.
Thanks for this. Your write-up makes me want to watch it again, right freaking now. But sadly I have to abide by my gf "seasonally appropriate" movies and TV shows. Sigh.
I love the movie, it was one of the first "scary" kind of movies that I saw as a young human but the first thing I thought of was the car. When I was growing up I always heard people make fun of the Gremlin, we even had the Gremlins bastard cousin the Pacer in the mid-1990's, that was a horrible car but I recently saw a fully restored, custom detailed, 1978 Gremlin and it was actually pretty cool.
That skit is amazing. What's even more amazing is that I've been on a major Key and Peele binge over the past several weeks and this one somehow flew under my radar.
That’s when I found about the RAF stuff as well which I had never known before. Fascinating how words can enter the public consciousness without people knowing where they originated 👍🏼
Definitely one of the formative movies of my childhood. But I made my kids watch Dead Poets Society last night and that was the movie that I most related to for the longest time. Teenage me was all about soaking the marrow out of life and taking the path not taken (though my daughter tells me that is not the real point of the poem). I guess it’s all how we see things.
Unimpressed. They were like “So it’s basically about a bunch of boys who learn how to feel.” They compared it to “Scent of a Woman” and “Mona Lisa Smile,” and much preferred those.
Knowing this backstory makes wonder what AMC was thinking when naming a '70's car after mechanical failure? Took truth in advertising to a whole 'nother level!
I totally forgot about the cars! Great catch!
Truly a case of just a bit too much honesty.
I've got a great idea for the name, everyone! Trust me, everyone will understand how ironic the joke is.
Remember when the movie took that out-of-nowhere hard turn toward being insanely dark with the story of why Kate hates the Christmas season?
Honestly, when my wife and I rewatched it this last Christmas, I wasn't sure which surprised me more - the fact that she dropped the whole "my dad got stuck in our chimney doing the Santa thing and died" thing without any warning, or the fact that I'd completely forgotten it was in the movie while it was the one thing my wife remembered. Memory's a funny thing sometimes.
I think those early 80s movies had a lot of real drama in them, even the more "light hearted" ones. It's too bad that whenever someone tries to do this today, they seem to ignore this aspect.
They did, but it wasn't always handled well. I'd say Gremlins is one such case where it wasn't because while the drama did add to Kate's story, it was handled about as smoothly as a tree branch to the face. Though, I suppose you could argue that's still fitting with the out there tone of the movie, and there's certainly been worse examples.
I agree about most of these "moments of meaning" being poorly handled. Still, it was almost like a requirement to try to inject some kind of deeper meaning into virtually every type of movie, and I don't see that everywhere today.
Really want one, please!
Could just be from recently rewatching it, but the reveal of Dalton's backstory in the original Road House comes to mind. It's not as much of a whiplash in the moment as Kate's backstory in Gremlins, but it's the sort of shoehorned dark backstory that feels more like it's done for the sake of excusing how the last act of the movie shifts from over the top but fun action romp to a straight up murder fest. It's the sort of thing that really didn't feel like it was earned given what the movie was up to that point, so it just comes off as a well delivered (it's Sam Elliott telling the story so it's well acted) but ultimately unearned dark twist for the main character.
Okay, great example! Gotta love a well-fitted dark backstory though. Like Quint's in Jaws-- made all the more horrible by the fact that actually happened.
Quint's backstory is fantastic, handled respectfully and it ties nicely into the events of the story. I also enjoy how Jaws hints at Chief Brody having a pretty dark backstory if you pick up the context clues - his drunken ramblings about NYC crime rates vs how Amity Island is the sort of place where "one man can make a difference," and later during the scar stories when he lifts his shirt and thinks about talking about his gunshot scar but decided not to. It's never expressly said what happened to him, though, which I appreciate. We don't need to know exactly why Brody is the man he is now, it's enough to know that he clearly went through something deeply impactful but is standing up to face the threat before him now.
One of my best friends was an illustrator for the Air Force and then the Navy. He used to draw gremlins when creating training materials.
That's really cool! Do you have any of those drawings (or could you get a pic)?
I've lost touch with him (he has MS issues like me). He's a typical one like he showed me.
https://unwinnable.com/2023/01/11/gremlins-on-board/
That's great!
Yes, another great article.
I remembered, too, the Twilight Zone gremlin. First it tormented Captain Kirk in the original black and white show. Then they updated it with John Lithgow. So good.
Can we be sure, however, that the actual causes of the myriad unexplainable problems with the aircraft were mere maintenance issues postponed one time too many?
Because what about the Foo Fighters?
A googly-eyed gremlin who's stupid as f**k? It's in the movie!
Hahahahahahahaha.
I'm glad this panned out. Thanks for the reminder.
Btw the gremlin in the microwave haunts me still.
And of course Phoebe Cates' soliloquy about her father. Yikes.
Thanks for the mention.
Ha! I still can't get enough of that K&P clip. When they are on, they are ON.
One of the best of the early Bugs Bunny cartoons, "Falling Hare", has him dealing with a gremlin in the sense of how Dahl imagined them. ("I ain't Vendell Vilkie!)".
This is it, right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZElJxTCIsJI
Wow.
The Gremlin seemed a little loaded.
But imagine this coming out in 1943. About a year and a half after Pear Harbor. The war effort in full stride and getting stronger every month. The crew of the Memphis Belle probably watched this.
Propaganda in 1943 was probably at its all time peak!
More than now?
Yeah. I think it's more that nobody was calling it out back then, so the effect was amplified. Today, a lot of people call BS.
Yeah.
I would also think, though, that in 1943 it was very obvious who the bad guys were. Today there are so many factions and each one has a stalwart faction diametrically opposed to it and screaming hysterically that unless they are stopped the world will literally end.
So a lot of idiots crying wolf. And a lot of actual wolves who have convinced people they're actually victims.
It's a mess.
I can hardly think about it.
When I was a little kid that movie scared the crap out of me. That scene where they were attacking Santa was worse than anything Freddy Kruger ever did.
yep, same. By the time I watched Nightmare, I was well prepared.
Thanks for this. Your write-up makes me want to watch it again, right freaking now. But sadly I have to abide by my gf "seasonally appropriate" movies and TV shows. Sigh.
The holiday season is just a hop, skip, and jump away!
True. I can still do a Christmas horror short if I want. Girlfriend doesn't have veto power on my post, thank god!
Silent Night, Deadly Night never had it so good.
Love this! Love this film. That sketch by Key and Peele is just perfect!
It shocked me how funny it was.
moral of the story: be careful what you feed after midnight? ;-)
(fun video, btw)
It wasn't that long ago that I first saw that video, but I can't remember if I peed or not.
I love the movie, it was one of the first "scary" kind of movies that I saw as a young human but the first thing I thought of was the car. When I was growing up I always heard people make fun of the Gremlin, we even had the Gremlins bastard cousin the Pacer in the mid-1990's, that was a horrible car but I recently saw a fully restored, custom detailed, 1978 Gremlin and it was actually pretty cool.
Ever hear of the Yugo? That was even cheaper than a Gremlin, and probably even worse!
Oh yeah, I have only heard of the Yugo, I've never seen one but from what I hear, they were terrible.
Check out SNL making fun of Gremlins, Yugos, and Escorts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F02P2JO7yfc
That's awesome, Phil Hartman was hilarious.
RIP Lionel Hutz.
I did not know that the word gremlin wasn't just some kind of fairy. Or that it's common use predated WW2. Thanks!
That skit is amazing. What's even more amazing is that I've been on a major Key and Peele binge over the past several weeks and this one somehow flew under my radar.
I think it's a candidate for one of their best, but you tell me!
I wrote about Gremlins at Christmas as it’s one of my favourite festive movies :-
https://open.substack.com/pub/danielodonnell/p/christmas-movies-gremlins?r=2bfxud&utm_medium=ios
That’s when I found about the RAF stuff as well which I had never known before. Fascinating how words can enter the public consciousness without people knowing where they originated 👍🏼
Definitely one of the formative movies of my childhood. But I made my kids watch Dead Poets Society last night and that was the movie that I most related to for the longest time. Teenage me was all about soaking the marrow out of life and taking the path not taken (though my daughter tells me that is not the real point of the poem). I guess it’s all how we see things.
What did the kids think?!?
Unimpressed. They were like “So it’s basically about a bunch of boys who learn how to feel.” They compared it to “Scent of a Woman” and “Mona Lisa Smile,” and much preferred those.
Ha! Did you tell them that boys weren't allowed to have feelings back then?
These were different times!
Lol. Should have.
That's the one.