I have decided as author of this blog that one entry truly is not enough, especially when that one entry speaks almost nothing of the world of film. So I have decided to write yet again, but this time on a film that I have just finished watching; that film is titled Leprechaun (1993).
For those who have seen the film they can skip this paragraph, for all those reading this who have not seen the film it is about (don't worry I'll keep this spoiler free) a man who travels to Ireland to spread his wife's ashes. Upon his returns he has an urn full of gold that he supposedly stole from a Leprechaun. That bit of information is simply told to the audience in the first few minutes of the film. The Leprechaun in question has managed to follow the man back to his home in the USA. The Leprechaun is then forced into a crate where he sits until the house's next owners mistakenly let him out allowing him to reek havoc until his gold is returned.
Many claim that movie is of poor quality, it is considered a horror film that is not scary, and a slasher film with very little slashing (not to say that it is without its share of bloodshed). I, for one, happen to disagree with these people. Those who can appreciate a slasher film understand that this has all the elements necessary while still holding onto much of its unique charm. The elements that are necessary, which I will go into deeper in a later blog entry, are: 1) has a plot which is almost irrelevant (which like I pointed out in the summary is simply told in the first few minutes) 2) takes death lightly enough that while is contains lends thrills to the squeamish it does not deeply disturb in anyway 3) It understands to not take itself too literally, which the audience will not do whether the director wanted them to or not 4) It has a whimsy that films like Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) capture so well, that is to say, the killer is both scary, comical, and witty in the same breath.
That said I give this film 2 and 1/2 stars, not because I didn't enjoy it immensely, but rather because when compared to the best of this genre it is not perfect.
On a side note this is a good film to check out if your a Jennifer Anniston fan because it is was her first full length film. I have to admit she pulls pulls of the role of scared teenybopper most splendidly at the age of 25, but of course that she has seemed to hold that role through it's many forms throughout her career.
To make my point in short, this is a good film to check out for cheap thrills in the slasher genre but don't get carried away on trying to make sense of it. The good news is if you like it their are four sequels which lend to many more hours of enjoyment.
