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PUMPKINHEAD Dear Zombie flock,
it is I Sister Mary Mind-Suck, back with yet another film review for you. The story begins in 1957 when a young boy witnesses a terrifying Demon kill a man, from his bedroom window. Fast forward to 1988 present day and that young boy has grown up into Lance Henriksen, playing a character named Ed Harley, who runs a dilapidated grocery store with his young son, Billy-played by Matthew Hurley. As in all good folk tales, there is never an explanation of why Ed Harley-L.H., is a widower or where the state is that this story takes place. The actors and Director of this movie do an excellent job portraying the relationship between the father and son, which makes it all the more upsetting when the young boy is accidentally killed by a group of "city-folk", who are on their way to a remote backwoods cabin. The little boy is struck by one of the males in the group who is recklessly and drunkenly riding a dirt bike. The guy takes off, leaving his brother and friends to deal with trying to help the doomed child. Eventually they all leave except the brother of the moto-killer who stays behind to tend to the boy until his Father's return. It is here, that the movie really begins to shine.Using a Deliverance meets The Devil approach, this movie takes on hill-folk lore and vengeance. Everything all self-respecting city people should fear. The most interesting part of this story is how the grief-stricken Father chooses his revenge. In actuality, only one person deserves to be punished for the death of the little boy. The others do something not often found in revenge movies, they actually all try to help the situation. Which makes the choice that Ed Harley makes, an interesting and possibly morally ambiguous one all the more. Knowing that true justice will not bring back his son, or prevent these intruders from getting their deserved punishment, he along with guidance of a backwoods hillbilly, goes and finds a witch named HAGGIS, remarkably played by actress Florence Schauffer. He in essence sells his soul to the devil in order to bring the Demon- Pumpkinhead, back to life. To exact justice-which equals death- onto the unknowing city folk. It is easy to imagine what follows, as one by one the city folk fall victim to the demon's grisly work, and just let me add on a personal note, you want to see the Moto-killer Joel, killed from word one!!! however, two things to be watched for are the actual re-birth and design of the Pumpkinhead creature.These two effects alone are fantastic. There is plenty of religious symbolism, and eye for an eye aspects to this story, that will satisfy any fan of religious horror films, such as yours truly. The story changes direction when, Ed Harley realizes the horror he himself has wrought, and attempts to intervene. The ultimate moral of this story is "be careful what you wish for, as you just may receive it". A couple of great things to look carefully for in this film, is a small part played by Mayim Bialik-Yes, I am referring to T.V.'s "Blossom", in a small role, as one of the Walker kids. Plus my personal favorite, the sharing of a bedroom by two obviously adolescent siblings. There are minor undertones of them sharing a "special relationship." As far as the set decorations, they are impeccable and really lend credence to the authenticity of backwoods folk living. This movie is superbly
acted, well directed and written, the effects are great. Look for Pumpkinhead
perched in a tree with one of his victims- if you doubt this, and on my
scale PUMPKINHEAD rates a 4 out of 5 praying hands.
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