Leprechaun Movie Review
Oh snap! Have you guys seen Leprechaun? This 1993 American comedy horror flick is a wild ride, written and directed by the one and only Mark Jones. And let's not forget about the star of the show, Warwick Davis, who absolutely crushes it as the title character. Plus, we get to see Jennifer Aniston in her film debut, which is pretty damn cool. If you're into horror-comedies, this one's definitely worth checking out.
Oh man, let me tell you about this movie, it's wild! So there's this leprechaun, right? And he's not your typical lucky charm kind of leprechaun, no sir. This guy is vengeful as hell, and he's convinced that this family has straight-up stolen his pot of gold. It's a crazy ride, my friends. Listen, man, this dude is out there on the hunt, searching for these guys. And meanwhile, they're scrambling to find his stash of gold, hoping to calm him down. It's a wild situation, man.
Oh man, let me tell you something about this flick. So apparently, the director wanted to go full-on horror with it, but then this dude Davis comes in and starts adding some comedic relief to his character. And you know what? It worked! But that's not all, they also went back and amped up the gore factor to really get those older viewers hooked. Crazy stuff, man. Oh man, have you guys heard about Leprechaun?
It was the first flick that Trimark Pictures produced in-house for the big screen, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride. This movie made a cool $8.6 million in the US alone, all while being made on a budget of just about a million bucks. And you know what? It's become a cult classic. Listen, man, at first people were hating on it, but then it made bank and suddenly we got a whole bunch of sequels. Crazy how that works, right?
Let me tell you a wild tale. So, in 1983, this guy Dan O'Grady goes to Ireland and straight up steals a pot of gold from a leprechaun he interrogated. Can you believe that? I mean, who does that? This is some next-level crazy stuff, man. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! Can you believe it? O'Grady, after burying his gold, finds out that the wicked leprechaun has followed him all the way home and killed his wife. That's some crazy stuff right there. Oh man, let me tell you something wild.
So O'Grady, this crazy dude, figures out that if he gets his hands on a four-leaf clover, he can totally suppress the powers of this leprechaun. And get this, he actually manages to trap the little guy inside a crate. Can you believe that? It's like something straight out of a fairy tale. Oh man, talk about a plot twist! Right as he's about to light him up, the dude has a frickin' stroke. That's some wild stuff, folks.
And let me tell you, it's been a decade since this message was sent. That's right, ten years. Can you believe it? Time flies, man. Oh Oh Oh man, let me tell you something wild. Ozzie was down in the basement, minding his own business, when he hears this little cry for help. He thinks it's a child in distress, but it turns out to be a leprechaun! Can you believe that? Oh my goodness gracious, folks! This man right here, he brushes off that old four-leaf clover from the crate and bam! He frees the leprechaun just like that. It's like magic, man.
Can you believe it? Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So Ozzie meets this leprechaun, right? And this little guy tells him he's a shoemaker from Ireland, but get this - he came all the way to America to find his gold. Can you believe that? It's like something out of a fairy tale. Oh man, let me tell you about Ozzie. This dude swears up and down that he saw a leprechaun, but nobody's buying it. So what does he do? He spots a freakin' rainbow and takes off after it, convinced that he's gonna find a pot of gold at the end. Classic Ozzie move, man. Oh man, let me tell you something. Alex is right there with Ozzie, not because he wants to, but because he's worried about the guy. He's afraid that Ozzie might do something crazy and hurt himself. It's a tough situation, man. Ladies and gentlemen, we have Ozzie here who just stumbled upon a bag of one hundred gold coins. Can you believe that?
I mean, what are the odds of that happening? It's like the universe just decided to drop a bag of treasure right in front of him. Absolutely mind-blowing. Oh man, let me tell you about this wild story. So Ozzie, bless his heart, he's testing this gold, right? And wouldn't you know it, he accidentally swallows a freakin' coin! But that's not even the craziest part. These guys, they stash the gold in an old well and start scheming to keep it all for themselves. And get this, they're hoping it'll somehow fix Ozzie's brain! I mean, what in the actual f***?
Welcome to the farm where the leprechaun lures J. This is some crazy stuff, man. I mean, who would have thought that a leprechaun would be lurking around the farm, trying to lure people in? It's like something straight out of a fairy tale. But you know what they say, truth is stranger than fiction. So hold on tight, folks, because we're in for a wild ride. D. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. This dude got himself into a real pickle by trying to mimic a feline. Next thing you know, he's chomping down on his own hand and causing some serious damage. Crazy stuff, man. Oh my goodness gracious, folks!
Tory and the gang are hauling ass to the hospital with their injured friend, and get this - the leprechaun is hot on their tail, pedaling away on a freaking tricycle! Can you believe it? This is some wild stuff, man. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! Alex and Ozzie head on down to the pawn shop to check if the gold is legit, and out of nowhere, the leprechaun goes and takes out Joe, the shop owner, for swiping his gold. Can you believe it? And get this, before the little guy takes off, he even goes and polishes up Joe's shoes. Wild stuff, man. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So this leprechaun, right?
He's cruising around on this tiny little go-kart like it's nobody's business. And wouldn't you know it, he gets pulled over by a cop for speeding! Can you imagine the look on that officer's face when he saw a little leprechaun zipping down the road? Crazy stuff, man. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! Let me tell you a wild tale. So there's this police officer, right? And he's getting chased by a freakin' leprechaun into the woods! Can you believe it? And what happens next is absolutely insane. The leprechaun catches up to the poor officer and takes him out. It's brutal, man. Just goes to show you never know what kind of crazy stuff can happen out there in the world. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! We got ourselves a leprechaun on the loose! This little guy's on a mission to find his gold and he's not stopping until he's found every last piece.
He's even shining shoes left and right, like some kind of mystical cobbler. What a wild ride, am I right? What's up, freaks and geeks? We got a wild one today. So, my man here just left J. What's the deal, man? What happened? D. Oh man, let me tell you folks, after their visit to the hospital, this crew hops back in their ride and heads on over to the farmhouse. Crazy stuff, right? Oh my goodness gracious, folks! Nathan walks into his place and what does he find? It's been ransacked! But wait, it gets crazier. He steps outside and BAM! Gets hit by a bear trap set by none other than the leprechaun himself. Holy smokes, what a wild ride. Oh man, let me tell you folks, this is some wild stuff. So there's this group of people, right? And they're out there fighting a leprechaun. Yeah, you heard me, a leprechaun. And they're not just fighting him, they're straight up ganging up on him, beating him with sticks and stones. It's like something out of a crazy fairy tale or something.
So these folks stumble upon a shotgun in this old farmhouse, right? And then, get this, they use it to blast the leprechaun multiple times. Crazy stuff, man. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So these folks try to make a run for it from the farm, but guess what? That sneaky leprechaun went and messed with their truck's engine. Can you believe that? It's like something straight out of a movie. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So this leprechaun, right? He goes and rams this truck with a freakin' go-kart. And then, get this, he starts terrorizing the whole group! But then, out of nowhere, Ozzie spills the beans and tells everyone that he and Alex found the pot of gold. It's crazy, man. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So Tory, this crazy dude, goes down into this well and retrieves this bag. And get this, he hands it over to a freaking leprechaun. Can you believe that? It's like something straight out of a fairy tale. Oh my goodness folks, can you believe it? They're heading to the hospital, thinking the worst is behind them. What a wild ride this has been. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! This leprechaun, he's counting his gold, right? And what does he find? He's missing the last coin that Ozzie swallowed! Can you believe it? That's some wild stuff right there. Oh man, let me tell you something, this guy, he thought he had it all figured out. He was all like, "Ha! I caught you!" and started getting all aggressive with them. But then, out of nowhere, Ozzie drops a bombshell about O'Grady being in a nursing home after his stroke. It was wild, man. Oh man, let me tell you folks, this group of wild and crazy characters came up with a genius plan to distract that sneaky leprechaun. They started chucking their dirty shoes all over the place, and wouldn't you know it, that little guy just couldn't resist shining them up all nice and pretty. Meanwhile, our girl Tory hopped in her jeep and peeled outta there like a bat outta hell. It was a sight to see, let me tell ya. Oh boy, folks! We got Tory here, and she's on a mission to learn how to take down a leprechaun! That's right, you heard me, a leprechaun! This is some serious stuff, people. Let's see what she's got up her sleeve.
So, at this nursing home, there's this little guy, right? And get this, he's pretending to be some dude named O'Grady. But here's the kicker, he's not just any little guy, he's a leprechaun! Can you believe that? I mean, what kind of crazy stuff is going on at this nursing home? Oh my goodness gracious, folks! Let me tell you about this wild scene from Leprechaun. So, the little guy is chasing after Tory, right? And they end up in an elevator. But then, get this, the leprechaun straight up throws O'Grady's bloody body down the shaft! And Tory is just running for her life. It's insane, man. Listen up folks, O'Grady, on his deathbed mind you, spills the beans that the only way to take out that pesky leprechaun is with a four-leaf clover. And wouldn't you know it, there's a whole bunch of 'em growing right outside the farm. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! Tory makes her way back to the farmhouse and starts hunting for a clover, but out of nowhere, she gets ambushed by a leprechaun! Luckily, Nathan and Ozzie come to the rescue and save the day. Can you believe it? Oh my goodness gracious, folks! This is wild! Ozzie just confessed that he swallowed the last gold coin, and now the leprechaun is going berserk trying to retrieve it. It's getting intense in here, ladies and gentlemen. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! This is wild. So, get this, before the leprechaun can take out Ozzie, Alex swoops in with a four-leaf clover Tory found, slaps it onto a wad of gum, and blasts it straight into the leprechaun's mouth, causing him to dissolve into thin air. That's some next-level stuff right there. Oh my goodness gracious, folks! This is some wild stuff we got here. So, get this: the leprechaun takes a tumble into the well, but what comes out? His skeleton! And let me tell you, that bony fella is still causing all sorts of trouble for the group. It's like something straight out of a nightmare, man. Whoa, dude! Nathan straight up pushed that leprechaun back into the well and then lit it up with gasoline! Boom! Oh my goodness gracious, folks! The cops are on the scene bright and early, investigating the wreckage of the well. And let me tell you, this leprechaun is not messing around. He's vowing to stop at nothing until he's recovered every last piece of his precious gold. It's gonna be a wild ride, folks!
Now, I gotta tell ya, that movie scared the bejeezus outta me when I was a young buck. But to answer your question, my friend, the star of that film was none other than Warwick Davis. That guy is a true talent, let me tell ya.
We have a true legend in the house tonight. I'm talking about none other than Warwick Davis, the man who brought The Leprechaun to life. This guy is a force to be reckoned with, a true master of his craft. I mean, have you seen him in action? He's got more talent in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies. And let's not forget about The Leprechaun himself. That character is an icon, a horror movie legend. Warwick Davis brought him to life with such skill and precision, it's no wonder he's become a household name. So let's give it up for Warwick Davis, the man, the myth, the legend.
We've got the one and only Jennifer Aniston playing the role of Tory Redding! Can you believe it? This is gonna be a wild ride, my friends.
The talented Ken Olandt portraying the character of Nathan Murphy. This guy is a true artist, bringing his A-game to every role he takes on. I'm telling you, he's got skills that'll blow your mind. So sit back, relax, and let's get into it!
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got Mark Holton in the house, playing the one and only Ozzie Jones. This guy is a true legend, bringing his A-game to the big screen and delivering a performance that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I mean, have you seen him in action? It's like he was born to play this role. So sit back, relax, and get ready to witness the magic of Mark Holton as Ozzie Jones. It's gonna be a wild ride, folks.
Robert Hy Gorman, who played the iconic role of Alex Murphy. This guy brought some serious heat to the screen, let me tell you. He embodied the character with such intensity and raw emotion, it was truly a sight to behold. I mean, the way he commanded the screen was just next level. It's no wonder he's become such a beloved figure in the world of cinema. Hats off to you, Robert Hy Gorman. You crushed it, my friend.
Alright folks, today we're gonna talk about the production of Leprechaun. It's a wild ride, let me tell you. We've got Warwick Davis playing the titular character, and boy does he bring the heat. The movie was released back in 1993, and it's got all the classic horror tropes you could want. But what really sets it apart is the unique blend of comedy and horror. It's a real trip, man. So sit back, grab a drink, and let's dive into the production of Leprechaun.
Please give it up for the one and only Mark Jones! Alright folks, this guy had a vision. He wanted to make a movie, but he didn't have a lot of cash to throw around. So what did he do? He went for the classic low budget horror flick. Smart move, my friends. Smart move. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So apparently, Jones got hit with some serious inspiration from those Lucky Charms commercials. But get this, he took that leprechaun character and flipped the script, turned him into a straight-up antagonist. Crazy, right? Now let me tell you something, folks. Jones was really impacted by the movie Critters, you know the one with the little villain. Crazy stuff, man. Oh man, let me tell you something, Jones, that dude is a visionary. He brought this concept to Trimark, who were just itching to get into the film game. And let me tell you, they were not disappointed. Oh snap, folks! Did you know that the Leprechaun movie was the first flick produced in-house by Trimark to hit the big screen? That's right, the little green dude made his way to theaters and it was a game-changer for the production company. Crazy stuff, man. Listen up folks, Entertainment Weekly is saying that the budget for this thing is just under a million bucks. Can you believe that? A million bucks! That's a lot of dough. Oh man, let me tell you folks, I was reading this interview with Fangoria and my mind was blown. This dude Jones, he's the mastermind behind the Leprechaun franchise, and he revealed that he started writing the script way back in '85. That's some serious dedication right there. And get this, he originally thought of the Leprechaun as this terrifying, bloodthirsty monster. But as he kept working on it, the character evolved into something more complex and hilarious. It's crazy to think about how much goes into creating a movie character, but Jones nailed it with the Leprechaun. Oh man, let me tell you about Warwick Davis. This dude, who you might remember from his role as the hero in Willow, was going through a bit of a rough patch. But then he gets his hands on this script and he's like, "Hell yeah, this is gonna be sick!" He's pumped to play a character that's totally different from what he's used to. Oh man, let me tell you something, Jennifer Aniston, who was just a nobody back then, blew Jones away with her talent. He went to bat for her and made sure she got the part.
We got some wild stuff that went down from October 28 to December 3, 1991. It all started at Valencia Studios, where Terminator 2: Judgment Day had just wrapped up production. Oh man, let me tell you something wild. So apparently, Big Sky Ranch, the same place where they filmed those wholesome shows Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons, was also the site of some pretty intense violent scenes. Can you believe it? It's like a whole different world out there. Oh man, Davis was like, "Dude, it felt a little blasphemous." Oh man, let me tell you something, Davis was an absolute beast on set. He was out there doing most of his own stunts like it was nothing. That's some serious dedication and skill right there. Oh man, let me tell you about this wild scene in the movie where Davis is chasing Aniston in a wheelchair. It was crazy! Aniston had to slow down her run so Davis could keep up with her. You see, Davis had some trouble with the wheels, but they made it work. It was intense! Oh man, let me tell you something, this film was originally a straight-up horror flick, but Davis, being the genius that he is, decided to sprinkle in some comedic elements to really take it to the next level. Oh man, let me tell you something, Jones was all about that tonal shift, and they went ahead and shot it as a horror comedy. Crazy stuff, man. Oh man, let me tell you, I heard that several scenes had to be re-shot because the producers were like, "Yo, we need more gore in this thing if we want to appeal to the older crowd." It's crazy how they'll do anything to get those viewers, but hey, that's just the game, man.
Gabe Bartalos, the master of make-up effects, absolutely killed it. His work was off the charts, I mean, mind-blowing stuff. Oh man, let me tell you something, Trimark reached out to Bartalos to whip up a sample. Oh man, let me tell you about Bartalos. This guy's early work just wasn't cutting it for him. So what did he do? He pushed that design in a more grotesque direction, because that's what he wanted to see on the screen as a horror fan. Oh man, let me tell you something, Bartalos's design was straight up impressive. It blew Trimark's mind and they had no choice but to give him the account. That's how you do it, folks. You bring your A-game and you get the job done. Whoa, can you believe it? It took this person a whopping three hours to put on their make-up! And get this, it took them another 40 minutes just to take it off. That's dedication, folks. Now, let me tell you folks, Davis here, he's describing the experience as "not a pleasant sensation". Can you believe that? I mean, we're talking about a sensation that's not even pleasant. That's wild. Oh man, let me tell you something, while the make-up was being applied, Davis had some wild conversations with Bartalos. These two cats were vibing, man. Oh man, let me tell you something, Davis knew what was up. He was totally aware of the importance of staying calm and still, and he channeled all that confidence he had in the make-up crew into his performance. That's some serious focus right there.
Listen up folks, I heard from Warwick Davis himself that there were some serious beef between the production and the distribution company Trimark Pictures. It was a real clash of the titans, let me tell you. Alright folks, so here's the deal. The production team had this idea to make a horror flick that was chock-full of gore, just like those classic Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street movies. But then Trimark comes in and they're all like, "Nah man, we want something more like Critters or Gremlins. You know, horror comedies that everyone can enjoy." So they ended up shooting different versions of certain scenes and then splicing them together in the editing room to get that perfect blend of blood and laughs. Crazy stuff, man. Oh man, let me tell you something, this movie was supposed to be a straight-up horror flick, but Davis, being the genius that he is, decided to sprinkle in some comedic elements.
And let me tell you, it was a game-changer. Oh man, let me tell you something, Mark Jones was totally on board with this tonal shift, and they went ahead and shot it as a horror comedy. Crazy stuff, right? Oh man, let me tell you something, folks. This movie had to go back to the drawing board because the producers wanted to crank up the gore factor. They wanted to make it appeal to the more mature crowd, you know what I'm saying? So they had to go back and re-shoot some scenes to make it bloodier. It's crazy how they do that, but hey, that's Hollywood for ya.
Mark Jones had a vision. He wanted to make a movie, and he knew he had to do it on a shoestring budget. So what did he do? He went for the jugular and decided to make a horror flick. Smart move, my friends. Smart move. Oh man, let me tell you something, Jones had this wild inspiration after watching those Lucky Charms commercials. He decided to create a leprechaun character, but here's the kicker, he made him into a total bad guy. Can you believe that? It's like he took the whole concept and flipped it on its head. Crazy stuff. Oh man, let me tell you something, it's crazy to think that there hasn't been a horror movie about a Leprechaun yet. I mean, these little guys have a seriously dark mythology, but for some reason, no one has been able to make a truly scary movie about them. It's wild. Oh man, let me tell you something, Jones was really impacted by movies like Critters from '86 and Child's Play from '88. You know, those flicks had these little bad guys that really got under your skin. It's crazy how much of an effect movies can have on a person's creative vision. Oh man, let me tell you something, Jones, he brings this concept to Trimark, who's looking to get into film production and distribution. It's crazy, right? But that's how things happen in this industry, you gotta hustle and make connections.
Leprechaun is wild, dude. I mean, how well did it do? It's hard to say, but it definitely left an impression on me. That little guy was something else, I tell ya.
Trimark was going all out leading up to the release of this film. They were getting after it with an aggressive marketing campaign, teaming up with big names like the National Basketball Association and the American Stock Exchange. And get this, they even tried to lock down deals with Domino's Pizza and Subway franchisees when the corporate headquarters wouldn't bite. That's some next level hustle right there. Listen up, folks! On January 8, 1993, the horror-comedy flick Leprechaun hit the big screens in a whopping 620 theaters. And let me tell you, it made some serious green, raking in $2,493,020 in its opening week alone. By the time it was all said and done, this little guy had brought in a total of $8,556,940 in the good ol' US of A. That's a whole lot of gold coins, my friends. Listen up folks, Vidmark dropped this bad boy on VHS back in April, and let me tell you, it moved over 100,000 units.
That's right, people were clamoring for it like it was the last beer at a frat party. Listen up, folks! The film score just dropped on March 9th courtesy of Intrada Records. Listen, folks, this flick hit the shelves on DVD back in August of '98. Can you believe that? It's been around for a minute. Oh snap, Lionsgate dropped a triple feature collection on March 11, 2008. Oh snap! You guys hear about this? All seven films in the series dropped on Blu-ray in a collection back in September 2014. That's some serious high-def action right there. Listen up, folks! This flick is a staple on cable channels like Syfy every Saint Patrick's Day.
Listen, we're living in a world where sequels and reboots are just a part of the game. It's like, you know, Hollywood is always looking for the next big thing, but sometimes they just end up revisiting the old thing. It's crazy, right?
They made not one, not two, but FIVE sequels! We're talking Leprechaun 2, Leprechaun 3, Leprechaun 4: In Space, Leprechaun in the Hood, and Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood. Can you believe it? That little green dude just keeps on going! Oh snap, folks! We had ourselves a reboot of the Leprechaun franchise back in 2014. They called it Leprechaun: Origins. Can you believe it? Oh man, let me tell you about Leprechaun 3. So, after the first sequel didn't quite hit the mark at the box office, Trimark decided to release the third installment straight to video. Crazy, right? But hey, that's just how the movie business goes sometimes. Listen up folks, Origins hit the big screen in all its glory. Listen up folks, if you haven't heard yet, Leprechaun Returns dropped on DVD on December 11th, 2018. This bad boy is a direct sequel to the OG film and it's sure to get your blood pumping. Oh
Check out what the critics had to say about Leprechaun? It's wild.
I've heard that Warwick Davis has been going around saying that Jennifer Aniston is straight up denying the existence of this movie. Can you believe that? I mean, come on, it's right there on IMDB for crying out loud. But hey, who knows what's going on in the minds of these Hollywood types. Oh man, let me tell you something folks, Aniston just responded to Davis and she straight up said that she considers Leprechaun to be her first film success. But get this, she also admitted that her early days as an actress make her cringe and she apologized for "ghosting" the film. Crazy stuff, right?
When this flick hit the screens, the critics were not feeling it. They were straight up negative. Chris Hicks from The Deseret News thinks that this flick should have gone straight to video. Can you believe that? I mean, I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty harsh critique. Listen, folks, Marc Savlov ain't holding back on his thoughts about Trimark's release of The Austin Chronicles. He's calling it clichéd, uninteresting, and a complete waste of perfectly good Kodak film stock. Can you believe that? It's like they took all the creativity out of it and just slapped it together. James Berardinelli, an internet-based critic, saying this movie is unwatchable. Unwatchable, can you believe that?
And then we got Matt Bourjaily from the Chicago Tribune saying this movie has brought new meaning to the term 'bad'. That's rough, man. Listen, folks, Robert Strauss over at the Los Angeles Daily News didn't hold back on this one. He straight up called it "as witless and worthless a horror film as could possibly be conjured". Ouch. Listen, folks, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette critic Ron Weiskind didn't hold back when he called this film incompetent. He straight up roasted the acting, lack of suspense, and production values. Ouch.
Michael Wilmington from the LA Times, he's calling the cast "the usual all-formula grab-bag". And Richard Harrington from The Washington Post, he's saying the human actors are all bland. Can you believe that? Listen, man, Berardinelli straight up called these characters a bunch of morons who couldn't even pass kindergarten. But he did give props to Aniston, saying she might have some skills if she was in a better flick. Oh man, Weiskind just straight up called Aniston's character a "Beverly Hills brat" that viewers are gonna be rooting to get taken out. Now let me tell you something about Davis, my friend. This guy, he's got this incredible ability to take a weak character and turn it into a powerhouse. I mean, the film is just not the same when he's not on-screen. It's like he brings this energy that just elevates everything around him. Listen, man, Harrington's take on this film is that it's really only worth watching for Davis' performance. That's it.
Vincent Canby, the man from The New York Times, said that the leprechaun was nothing but a dangerously cranky little fella, and reminded him of Chucky from Child's Play. Hicks also agreed that the leprechaun was quite similar to Chucky. Listen, folks, Wilmington's got a point here. I mean, a killer Leprechaun? What are we, in some kind of cheesy horror movie? It's just another gimmick, and let's face it, we've seen it all before. It's a bad idea, plain and simple.
Now, let me tell you something about this movie, man. According to Wilmington, the humor in Leprechaun just ain't dumb enough to be fun. Can you believe that? It's like they were trying to be funny, but they missed the mark, you know what I mean? It's a shame, really. Now, let me tell you something folks, Hicks, bless his soul, he called the humor in that film "ill-advised slapstick". And Canby, well, he had some choice words too, saying it's "neither scary nor funny". Tough crowd, huh? Oh man, Berardinelli really went in on those leprechaun one-liners, calling them "more idiotic than pithy". That's rough, but you gotta respect the honesty.
Jeff Makos over at the Chicago Sun-Times wasn't too thrilled with the tone of this movie. He even went so far as to compare it to Tremors, which he thinks might have had an impact on it. Listen, Makos just dropped a truth bomb on us. Apparently, Davis is trying to be a comedian in this flick, but the jokes just ain't landing. So, the real entertainment might just be hearing what the audience has to say about it. Oh man, let me tell you something, the use of Lucky Charms as humor really got people talking. It's wild how something as simple as a cereal can spark such a reaction. So check it out folks, Harrington's saying that Jones has got nothin' up in that noggin of his, 'cause he's gotta resort to talkin' 'bout Lucky Charms not once, not twice, but three times. And Bourjaily, well he's just not feelin' the humor in those Lucky Charms jokes. Tough crowd, man.
According to Berardinelli, the director Mark Jones, he's got no style whatsoever in this film. Can you believe that? It's like, come on man, you gotta have some sort of style to make a movie worth watching. Now listen here folks, Wilmington really let loose on this one. He called it a "dingy, drab, pointless little movie" that was made without any flair or imagination. It's like the filmmakers were just going through the motions, not even trying to bring any creativity to the table. And to top it all off, it seems like they were actually proud of their bad taste and low intentions. That's just sad, man. Listen, folks, Canby, he called the screenplay and direction amateurish. And Hicks, he wrote that Jones is bereft of ideas and should go back to his day job. He described the plot as "by-the-numbers killings with no rhyme or reason". That's rough, man. Now listen folks, Harrington, bless his heart, he wrote that this film has some major continuity and credibility problems.
Can you believe that? It's like, come on man, get your act together. Oh man, let me tell you something, Strauss, he's a smart dude, he really is. He's saying that the theme of this thing is anti-greed, but the way it's written is just not hitting the spot, you know what I mean? It's like, it's trying to be deep and meaningful, but it's just coming off as plain and confusing. Jones, he's missing his mark because of it. Oh man, have you heard what Wilmington said about the leprechaun's cries for his gold? He thinks it's all just a cynical ploy by the filmmakers to rake in that sweet box-office cash. Crazy stuff, man. Oh man, have you heard what Sight & Sound had to say about Leprechaun? They straight up roasted director Mark Jones for not having a clue about his target audience. Apparently, Jones was trying to make a fun adventure flick for the youngins, like Time Bandits, while also trying to cash in on the horror scene. Talk about a mixed bag, my friends. Listen, folks, this review right here is telling us that this thing ain't for nobody. Not for the grown-ups, not for the little ones. It's only for those hardcore completists out there who just gotta have everything. Oh man, let me tell you something, Harrington, he called the make-up "quite evil-looking", but Strauss, on the other hand, he wrote that "effects are strictly so-so".
We got some numbers here from Rotten Tomatoes, the review aggregator. Apparently, only 27% of 15 critics gave this film a thumbs up, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 10. Tough crowd. Oh man, have you seen the Metacritic score for this flick? It's a measly 17 out of 100, based on just 7 critics. That's a big ol' red flag, folks. The consensus seems to be one of overwhelming dislike. Yikes. Listen, folks, a retrospective from Entertainment Weekly back in 2014 identified Aniston's worst role to date, and let me tell you, she's expressed some serious embarrassment over the film. Listen up folks, back in 2009, Tanya Gold from The Guardian handpicked this flick as one of her top ten spine-chilling movies to watch on Halloween.
Back in '93, my man Luke Y. Thompson from the New Times had a different take than his colleagues. He said, and I quote, "This right here is the perfect high-concept comedic slasher, and let me tell you, it's still Jennifer Aniston's best film to date."