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With: Lance Henriksen, John D'Aquino, Jeff East, Kerry Remsen, Kimberly Ross, Buck Flower, Mayim Bialik, Joel Hoffman, Cynthia Bain, Florence Schauffler, Brian Bremer, Matthew Hurley, Lee DeBroux, Madeleine Taylor Holmes, Tom Woodruff Jr., Dick Warlock
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Written by: Mark Patrick Carducci, Gary Gerani, based on a story by Mark Patrick Carducci, Stan Winston, Richard C. Weinman
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Directed by: Stan Winston
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MPAA Rating: R
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Running Time: 86
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Date: 10/14/1988
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Striking a Gourd
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
Legendary make-up and FX artist Stan Winston directed this above-average monster movie, an uncommonly wise look at the nature of revenge. A group of teens are on their way to spend a weekend in a cabin and ride dirt bikes. They stop at a small shop/gas station run by widowed Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) and his beloved son, Billy (Matthew Hurley). A couple of the teens fire up their dirt bikes and start riding around, while Billy chases his dog Gypsy, and I don't have to tell you what happens. Ed visits a creepy old witch (Madeleine Taylor Holmes) and asks for vengeance, so she teaches him how to summon the monster known as "Pumpkinhead," who targets the entire group of teens. What's fascinating is how the characters weigh the moral conundrums of what happened, trying to figure out what the right thing to do is. Even Ed begins to realize that revenge won't solve anything and tries to undo the damage he has done. The monster is great, and the movie definitely provides the kills audiences will be looking for. It was inspired by a poem written by Ed Justin. A direct-to-video sequel followed in 1994.
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