In 1984, the town of Kingston Falls was overrun by Gremlins in Joe Dante‘s classic horror comedy. Gremlins 2 brought the mutated Mogwai to Manhattan. Now, a new fan film, Gremlins: Recall, is starting three decades after the original film with an intriguing hook: what if the Mogwai were fully domesticated? In this world, almost everyone knows the three rules of the Mogwai: Don’t get them wet, don’t expose them to bright lights, and never, ever, feed them after midnight. The Wing corporation is claiming to have solved those problems, but as you’ll see, it’s far from a perfect solution.
Filmmaker Ryan Patrick wrote and directed this short, which utilizes practical effects to bring its Gremlins to life. Katherine Rodriguez stars in the short as Claire, a lonely waitress working for her aunt, Deb (Sarah Lilly), in a diner. They soon encounter a Mogwai driver named Owen (Randy Irwin), and his traveling companion, Trink. Unfortunately for everyone, Claire assumes that the Mogwai rules are no longer in effect or she simply doesn’t know them. Either way, the Gremlins make their return and it just so happens to be their favorite time of the year.
Patrick and his collaborators did an excellent job on this short, and it ends on a note that suggests a larger story beyond the events depicted here. While we’d still welcome an official Gremlins 3, we’d also be up for more adventures with Claire, Trink, and Owen if the Gremlins: Recall team decides to keep the narrative going.
What did you think about Gremlins: Recall? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images: Ryan Patrick
Get into the nerdy holiday spirit!
- Every single holiday movie coming to streaming in December!
- 7 ludicrous holiday gifts for people who want to live like Elon Musk!
- The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth ugly sweaters are must-have for Henson heads!
- What makes ELF a Christmas classic?
