Monster A-Go-Go: Pumpkinhead

If you were to ever sit me down and have a long conversation about horror movies, it wouldn't be long before I start talking about "Pumpkinhead". "Pumpkinhead" is not the best scary movie in town, but it is a pretty good low-budget monster movie.
While the sequels are abysmal, the original I hold in high regards as one of my all time favorite 1980s fright films. So why so much adoration for a film that requires a hefty supply of qualifiers when describing it? Because the monster himself is amazing.

Designed by Stan Winston, the genius special effects artist responsible for "Jurassic Park", "Aliens", "Predators" and most recently "Iron Man", Pumpkinhead is one of those creatures that thrives off visual presentation. Pumpkinhead is just a neat looking ghoul and when you throw hillbilly voodoo, satanic demons spirits, and Lance Henriksen into the bag you've got yourself a party mix that anyone can enjoy.

The plot of the film is basic, but it supplies the right amount of motivation to set all the individual pieces in motion. Pumpkinhead is both a spirit of vengeance and a demon of unimaginable evils. There's a creepy atmosphere of mystery that surrounds Pumpkinhead that effectively pumps the audience up and gets them prepared for his grand stage entrance towards the end of the film. Once he steps into frame and we get a good long look at his nightmarish physique, we the audience feel as though we are staring into the mouth of madness; gazing at terror incarnate.

Sure, Pumpkinhead is not the best monster movie out there, and the limitations stem from the low production values of the film. Despite these short comings, the very image of Pumpkinhead is so rewarding that it ends up overshadowing any flaws that might exist anywhere else in the film. If you're a fan of special effects and make-up, the original Pumpkinhead movie is something you need to check out.