Customer Reviews

Pumpkinhead (Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Pumpkinhead is an orignal and at times, a pretty frightening little horror movie. The film builds suspense, and gives you real characters, not just usual horror film slaughter fodder. If you have not seen this little forgotten gem do yourself a favor, pick it up, and block off a late Saturday night to watch it with the lights off, and big old bowl of popcorn near to hand. BUT....by all means, avoid reading most of the reviews posted. Most of the reviewers here are not reviewing the movie, so much as detailing all of the events that occur in the film!! WHY do so many people feel obliged to not only give away major plot points of a film, but basically run down the entire script of the film...I mean really, after reading some of the reviews posted here, the only thing left to watch the film for is to see who provided the catering on the set!! I highly recommend this movie like most of the other reviewers here....but you will enjoy the film so much more if you go into it not knowing what to expect!

Stan Winston, who is possibly the greatest makeup artist and creature effect artist ever, directed this unusually good horror film. Lance Henriksen stars as Ed Harley, a man who wants revenge against the city folk who accidently killed his son. He goes to a witch that lives near a swamp and she conjures up Pumpkinhead, a monster that will get revenge on the yuppies. However, Ed begins to realize that he has made a mistake, and he tries to stop the monster he helped unleash. Henriksen is unbelieveably good in his role, and it may be the best of his career. Stan Winston did a great job as director and its a shame he hasn't directed anything since. As with the original Halloween, Pumpkinhead is a horror movie that pulls off being scary and good at the same time without buckets of blood and gore being splashed every other scene. Highly recommended.

One of the few movies of the "gothic horror" genre that truly follows the "recipe" of having a moral. The slow transformation of Ed Harley into the creature due solely to his anger and quest for revenge is a lesson to be learned by all of us. Being a Lance Henriksen fan, I thought his role as Ed Harley was his best and "Buck" Flower was great in a supporting role. And anyone who has seen this movie can't help but carry the vision of Haggis in their memory. And Stan Winston, well, what more do you have to know. He is one of the best. Truly an overlooked classic. I have often characterized this movie as "Alien" meets "Deliverance" , but, unlike Alien or Predator, this is a creature with a mission.

Oh my goodness. i had to look up this movie, and sure enough, it still scares the hell outta me, i wanna buy it just for memory sake, but i dont think i can watch it. i remember viewing the movie as a child in '89, and you talk about terrified, i dont think any of these so-called HORROR films hold candles to these 80's classics.

I just watched this movie again last night, and it definitely stands up as a great horror flick even now. This is one of those movies that will never get old. I just wish they would release a DVD version with 5.1 surround sound!!!

This is a movie that I wish got the respect it deserves, but it never will. True horror fans will appreciate the true scariness of this movie and the suspense tied all through it.

In a time where scary movies are hard to come by this movie is a slept on throwback classic. Check this movie out in a dark room at night alone and you will really find an appreciation for it I guaranree it.

I didn't describe the movie because I don't want to spoil it for you just buy it now and enjoy.

This new collector's edition of Stan Winston's PUMPKINHEAD includes:

- Audio commentary track featuring co-screenwriter Gary Gerani and creature FX creators Tom Woodruff, Jr. and Alec Gillis moderated by Scott Spiegel

- Seven new featurettes, totaling an hour

- Behind-the-scenes video

- Stills gallery

The movie is widescreen for the first time ever. However, this widescreening was created by simply matting off the top and bottom of the full-frame image. There does not seem to be a definitive source available on the internet, but many believe the film was shot full-frame and then matted off when shown theatrically. If this is true, then this latest DVD does indeed approximate the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The old 'full frame' version of the movie, however, will show you the extra imagery at the top and bottom of the now-matted frame. I don't think we're losing anything. In fact, this new edition is so much more clean, crisp and vibrant than the old disc, it will blow your mind.

This is a fine quality horror film that doesn't get the honor it should. This isn't just another monster in the woods chasing teenagers movie. This is a tale of revenge, regret and retribution. Good acting, lead by Lance Henrikson highlight this film, along with some incredibly creepy settings. Special effects did a great job with Pumpkinhead himself. If you are a fan of horror, go grab this one.

Pumpkinhead is possibly the most underatted horror film in the long, rich history of the genre. Pumpkinhead deals with one of the best concepts in any movie, revenge. (another good horror flick about revenge is, Friday the thirteenth) The idea of pumpkinhead is a couple of teenagers go up to the woods in search of vacation time. When one of them ACCIDENTALLY kills a man's son he goes and (with the help of Haggis, the mountain witch) raises pumpkinhead. While the plot may seem stupid and predictible, it does translate to the film quite nicely. Forget about what you've heard. Go out a get Pumpkinhead NOW!

Pumpkinhead is a beast brought to life when the justice of men is not enough. Lance Henriksen (star of Aliens, Near Dark, and TV's Millenium among MANY others) stars as Ed Harley, a single father (we are to asume a widower) living in a deeply rural area and running the only general store for the mountain people of the area.

Mr. Harley lives a hard life. His only ray of sunshine is his young son. A group of young people (a traditional group of 1980's bandana-wearing twnetysomethings) stops by his store on their way to a mountain-biking getaway. An accident happens and Ed's ray of sunshine is snuffed out.

This is where we get to the meat of the movie. We are shown that, as a young boy, Ed witnessed a creature of local folklore hunt down and finish off an accused murderer. The children of the area call the creature "Pumpkinhead".

Now, distraught over the loss of his child by some "city folk" who ran from the scene of the "crime", Ed sets out to summon Pumpkinhead and have the creature take vengeance in his name.

I think we all might at the very least CONSIDER doing what Ed does, that is IF the same thing happened to us. The message of the film is that we shouldn't. Ed realizes that, and tries to stop Pumpkinhead after he sets this juggernaut in motion.

The film is directed (and directed WELL I might add) by Special Effects guru Stan Winston. Winston is behind such incredible monsters as the creatures of Aliens and Jurassic Park.

Pumpkinhead appealed to me because I like gloomy, mythic, vengeamce stories. Ed Harley takes a journey through a rainbow of emotions and Lance Henriksen handles them all superbly. He really is one of Hollywood's most underrated actors.

The twentysomething "city folk" actors are nothing special, but they do not need to be. Lance Henriksen, Pumpkinhead, and the fantastically evil, cackling witch who summons him carry this movie on their shoulders. they take us to a place where you can't call the police. A place where if someone wrongs you, you can take deadly retribution on them, and your victims will never be missed.

Pumpkinhead is a great Halloween movie, but it will fit nicely into any dark, rainy Saturday night. The movie loses one star for the generic post-teenage characters and for the annoying streaming blue light and strob effects that seem out of place in night time scenes.