‘Gremlins’ Almost Included Multiple Big Deaths and Could Have Been a Flop

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As a longtime fan of the cinematic universe and having grown up watching these timeless masterpieces, I can confidently say that Gremlins, released in 1984, remains as captivating today as it was back then. However, had producer Michael Finnell not intervened, this festive favorite might have taken a darker turn. The original script by Chris Columbus, filled with more deaths than we see in the movie, would have transformed Gremlins into an outright horror film instead of the family-friendly adventure it became.

The impact of the film from 1984 remains just as powerful today, but its appearance could have been drastically altered if a different hand hadn’t intervened during production. In fact, the original script penned by writer [REDACTED] included far more fatalities than the festive classic about a gang of playful creatures invading a small town during Christmas. While Spielberg played a significant role in eliminating many of these deaths, both producer [REDACTED] and director Joe Dante battled Warner Bros. to preserve one of the movie’s most heart-wrenching scenes.

Watching the classic film “Gremlins,” it’s remarkable to think that it was primarily created using practical puppets, as computer-generated imagery (CGI) was yet to materialize as a viable option for movies at that time. The spectacular portrayal of monstrous chaos often surpasses what many contemporary films offer, thanks to the collective vision of both Dante and Spielberg. Interestingly, the final version of the movie deviated significantly from Spielberg’s original plans, which may have been beneficial in reducing the death toll, potentially saving the film. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Columbus reminisced:

It appears that the father might have remained to combat the Gremlins, but I’m unsure if he survived. The mother definitely did not. Billy, portrayed by Zach Galligan, rushed into his house, and his mother’s head tumbled down the stairs. There were certainly fatalities, and poor Barney the dog didn’t fare well either; he was hung up in the Christmas lights, but it was more than just entanglement – he was hanged by the neck and perished. Sadly, we caused Barney’s death. The Gremlins consumed him. Later, they invaded McDonald’s and devoured the patrons – not the food itself. There were many events that didn’t make it into the final script.

‘Gremlins’ Could Have Been an Outright Horror Movie

Despite Columbus not disputing Spielberg’s ideas about the intensity of violence and mortality depicted in the movie, even though he originally intended it as a full-blown horror film, he ultimately acknowledged that Spielberg was right, particularly regarding one significant alteration. He stated: “Spielberg knew best, especially when it came to this pivotal modification.

“He was spot-on. It wasn’t until page 30 that Gizmo transformed into a gremlin, and he remained this way throughout the whole movie – quite different from being soft and cuddly as we initially expected. This transformation was one of Steven’s brilliant ideas, keeping Gizmo by Billy’s side at all times. He had figured it out, but I didn’t: The audience needed a character to empathize with in relation to the gremlins, and that role was fulfilled by Gizmo.

However, there was one particular death that was not seen in the movie but heartbreakingly relayed by Phoebe Cates’ Kate that Columbus, Dante and Spielberg agreed had to remain in the final cut, despite reservations from the studio. Columbus added:

In my opinion, our movie was quite dark. It included a scene where Phoebe Cates’ father dies in the chimney, a scene the studio wanted to remove. However, Steven, Joe Dante, and I argued to keep it. That was one point I stood firm on during production.

It’s no secret that the film Gremlins, initially released during the holiday season, remains a favorite due in large part to the creative vision of Steven Spielberg. Without his revisions, audiences might have been presented with an R-rated movie that may not have stood the test of time and instead faded into obscurity rather than becoming a cherished Christmas classic.

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2024-12-26 19:01