Pumpkinhead (Road to Halloween)

"Keep away from Pumpkinhead,
Unless you're tired of living,
His enemies are mostly dead,
He's mean and unforgiving,
Laugh at him and you're undone,
But in some dreadful fashion,
Vengeance, he considers fun,
And plans it with a passion,
Time will not erase or blot,
A plot that he has brewing,
It's when you think that he's forgot,
He'll conjure your undoing,
Bolted doors and windows barred,
Guard dogs prowling in the yard,
Won't protect you in your bed,
Nothing will, from Pumpkinhead."

First of all a little bit of history about the film. It was almost never completed because the production company went bankrupt. However, it was eventually picked up by "United Artists" and released under the name "Vengeance: The Demon" for release in the USA. This is yet another film that I originally watched in my childhood. I remember being scared at the time, but wasn't particularly sure of how well the film would hold up.

A family have locked themselves into their house for the night, and just as things seem peaceful a man bashes on their door. He screams for them to let him in, but they will not interfere in what is about to happen. The man is being chased by Pumpkinhead, a demon of vengeance. The young child of the family witnesses the man being taken into the night by the demon; a night he will never forget.

A group of young folks go into the back of beyond to spend time in a cabin and dirt biking out in the middle of nowhere. On there way they meet "Lance Henriksen" (Ed - who is the young boy from the opening scene)and his son, Billy. While Ed is away picking up some feed for a customer, he leaves his son with their dog in the shop. Unfortunately the dog runs out into the fields barking at the sound of the dirt bikes the group are using. As the boy runs after the dog, he is struck by a dirt bike and rendered unconscious. By the time Ed comes back, he finds one of the group standing over the lifeless body of his son. He picks him up and as he walks away gives the guilty party a stare that screams of hate.

Later on young Billy dies, so Ed visits a woman who lives in the mountains and begs her for her help. She won't bring him back from the dead, but she will conjure a vengeance demon that will kill all those responsible. One again Pumpkinhead begins his work...

As I stated earlier, my greatest concern with this film was that it might not hold up as well as it had in the 80's. I was sadly correct. The scares are limited, the gore in nearly non existent and the plot loses a little something because of this. Although, I like the concept of creature that is pure vengeance and its single purpose it to right wrongs in exchange for your immortal soul. But like I said, you just don't feel as connected to the film as you would have been.

Don't get me wrong, there are still things that freak me out. Pumpkinhead for example is still a truly gruesome creature; with his obvious shaped head, gangly figure and hideous face. I don't know about everyone else, but one thing that really creeps me out is elongated fingers. And guess what, Pumpkinhead has got 'em. He still looks scary to this day.

The rest of the film is a mixture of poor acting and a southern drool drawl that could put you into a coma. It just feels surprisingly lackluster for a horror movie...but I guess that's what happens sometimes. It is difficult to create a film that maintains its relevancy after so many years.

By all accounts, "Pumpkinhead" is not a bad film. It has a plot that I actually find quite interesting and there are some genuinely freaky moments; one involving Pumpkinhead crouching in a tree. A film that was better regarded in its time, but should not be forgotten. If you want to watch some of the best animatronic effects in the business, give this a watch.

As a last note, I did laugh quite extendedly at a scene where "Lance Henriksen" started yelling:

"Not like this! Not like this!"

It reminded me of that scene in "The Matrix" where the exact same lines are uttered. So it makes me wonder, where the "Wachowski Brothers" actually responsible for this being a memorable line, or was it already ingrained in our minds 11 years earlier? You be the judge!

Rating 2 out of 5

See it if you liked:
Halloween
Nightmare on Elm Street
Death Sentence

What does IMDB say?

Review by Stephen King