Pumpkinhead (1988)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Stan Winston

Writers:

Ed Justin (poem)
Mark Patrick Carducci (story) ...

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Cruel, devious, pure as venom. All hell's broken loose.

Plot:

A man conjures up a gigantic vengeance demon called Pumpkinhead to destroy the teenagers who accidentally killed his son.

Plot Keywords:

Demon | Storekeeper | Witch | Death | Vengeance

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Lance Henriksen	...	Ed Harley
Jeff East	...	Chris
John D'Aquino	...	Joel
Kimberly Ross	...	Kim
Joel Hoffman	...	Steve
Cynthia Bain	...	Tracy
Kerry Remsen	...	Maggie
Florence Schauffler	...	Haggis
Brian Bremer	...	Bunt
George 'Buck' Flower	...	Mr. Wallace (as Buck Flower)
Matthew Hurley	...	Billy Harley
Lee de Broux	...	Tom Harley (as Lee DeBroux)
Peggy Walton-Walker	...	Ellie Harley (as Peggy Walton Walker)
Chance Corbitt Jr.	...	Eddie Harley
Dick Warlock	...	Clayton Heller (as Richard Warlock)

Also Known As:

Vengeance: The Demon

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | Australia:M | Canada:R | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

Because of Stan Winston's request, the screenwriters made both Pumpkinhead and Haggis (the old woman), much darker than in the original script.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Pumpkinhead is entering the burned out church, he takes several steps where you can clearly see that he's wearing Nike shoes.

Quotes:

Ed Harley: God damn you! God damn you!
Haggis: He already has, son. He already has.

Movie Connections:

References First Blood (1982)

Very well executed film

This film stands as one of the most underrated I have seen. It has a compelling story of a father's love and the powerful grip of vengeful desires. It is well acted, has amazing creature affects, and takes the road less traveled by most horror films. It takes no easy ways out. The plot prefers to turn slowly into a gnarled tale of battling with an inner demon. The lighting in the fog and the mere visual presence of the witch, Haggis, with her wispy hairs in the fire light, are genuinely creepy. I think Lance Henriksen gives one of his best performances in this film. Definitely give it a look if you haven't yet.