“Don’t feed him after midnight.”
synopsis
Young Billy Peltzer receives a strange Christmas gift from his father: an adorable creature called a Mogwai named Gizmo. The rules for caring for the creature seem simple—don’t expose it to bright light, don’t get it wet, and never feed it after midnight. Naturally, every rule is broken. Soon the town is overrun with mischievous and increasingly destructive gremlins who turn Christmas Eve into absolute chaos.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Part horror, part comedy, and part Christmas movie, Gremlins is a wonderfully strange hybrid that somehow works. Director Joe Dante balances playful mischief with genuine menace, while producer Steven Spielberg gives the whole thing a glossy 1980s blockbuster charm. The result is a cult classic that’s both festive and slightly unhinged.
Twinkling lights, popcorn, and a healthy respect for mysterious pets with oddly specific care instructions.
Absurdist's Corner
The rule “don’t feed them after midnight” raises a philosophical question: when exactly does “after midnight” end? Because technically… every meal ever is after midnight.
fun facts
The film’s darker tone surprised audiences expecting a cute family movie.
The movie was one of the reasons the PG-13 rating was created shortly afterward.
Gizmo was originally supposed to transform into the villainous Stripe, but Spielberg insisted Gizmo remain the hero.