Gremlins: ‘Tis the season for some horror, comedy and Christmas charm

So it’s Christmas time once again – one of the most wonderful times of the year! And what better way to celebrate this holiday than by watching the Christmas classic, Gremlins.


Gremlins is a small-town American story that revolves around a father that wants to surprise his son with a Christmas present and ends up buying him a small Gizmo. But the shopkeeper warns him of three simple rules:

1. Do not expose the Gizmo to direct light.

2. Do not get him wet.

3. Do not feed him after midnight.

And of course, these three rules are somehow broken and now it’s up to the family to stop the Gremlins from taking over the town.

Gremlins (1984).Photo: IMDb

This film was directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus from the Home Alone fame. It seems pretty obvious that Dante never wanted to do a traditional Christmas film. In fact, it’s a satire. Gremlins is a genre-blending masterpiece. Along with satire, it’s embedded in the heart of a Christmas tale, and fully packed with outrageous monsters. It’s the perfect mix of horror, comedy, and Christmas charm.

Zach Galligan in Gremlins (1984).Photo: IMDb