What happens when a special effects wizard takes on the role of director for a monster horror film? Well, the proof is in the pudding, as Stan Winston’s directorial debut wowed audiences with its unique and amusing concept. He was the go-to guy for the most difficult effects, and his long list of credits includes Jurassic Park, Alien, and Predator, among others.
The narrative about the vindictive, monstrous Pumpkinhead was both terrifying and entertaining, and it went on to become a cult favorite. With three sequels and more than thirty years on the market, horror enthusiasts recall the guilty pleasure on offer, and Stan Winston’s innovative designs in the 1988 monster film surely turned a few heads.
Returning to Pumpkinhead, the devil was summoned by a father seeking vengeance against those who had murdered his son. He quickly realized, however, that he needed to stop the mighty demon before it was too late, and thus began the homicidal rampage that concluded with a bang.
While Pumpkinhead is often underappreciated, we decided to dig a little further and bring you some behind-the-scenes information and lesser-known facts about the film that will undoubtedly make it more enjoyable to watch next time. With a reboot in the works, now is the perfect moment to brush up on the subtle elements that fueled the film and helped it become a franchise!
The Journey from a special effects expert to a filmmaker!
Stan Winston had already established himself as one of the finest special effects experts going around. His work in the Terminator series, Aliens, and the first few Jurassic Park movies had earned him quite a reputation and it did not come as a surprise when he was approached for designing the monstrous creature Pumpkinhead.
However, Stan Winston had other ideas and he finally decided to take the plunge and direct the movie himself. He even developed the script, worked personally on the creature designs, and made it a grand success.
Since he was so familiar with the special effects department, it also helped him in controlling the budget of the movie and it did not shoot past the allocations. The cast and crew later revealed that he was a fun guy to be around, and the sets were fun and lively during the filming process. We all know happy workers mean good work, don’t we!
Given that his directorial skills were on point, it is unfortunate that he did not direct more movies. His next directorial venture was a movie called A Gnome named Gnorm, and it wasn’t a huge hit either. We are sure that with the right kind of support he could have been as legendary a director as he was a special effects maestro!
A creepy poem inspired the movie
This is not something we hear every day – a horror flick being inspired by a poem! But that is exactly what happened for Pumpkinhead, which found inspiration in a creepy poem written by Ed Justin. The poem talks about a horrifying entity named Pumpkinhead, which is invincible and gets to its victims by hook or by crook.
It establishes Pumpkinhead as a ruthless creature that derives joy from getting revenge, and no amount of preparation can save one from its wrath. While the poem was not specifically written for the movie, Ed Justin is still credited as a writer for the movie, and the ominous tone in the lines did help in conjuring one of the most remarkable monsters in horror history!
The Original Title wasn’t Pumpkinhead
You would think that the name Pumpkinhead would come naturally to the creators, especially because it was inspired by a poem talking about the terrifying creature Pumpkinhead! However, that was clearly not the case and the initial title was Vengeance: The Demon.
It was kind of in your face, and thankfully, the name did not stick. When De Laurentiis Entertainment Group filed for bankruptcy, United Artists came into the picture, and they went ahead with a fresh title.
Eventually, it was decided that the movie would go ahead with the title Pumpkinhead, and while it is undoubtedly a peculiar name for a horror film, it is any day better than something as pretentious as Vengeance: the Demon!
The supernatural demon was made to have a resemblance with Lance Henrikson
The true demons and monsters lie within humans! It is a saying that has been utilized time and time again by monster flicks, and Pumpkinhead goes on similar lines. The first appearance of the monster presented him as something like a mutant child, but with time, it started to look more human, with a clear resemblance to Lance Henrikson, who played the role of Ed Harley.
He was the one to summon the monster to get his revenge, and it was a way of showing how his vengeful outlook had blinded him about certain basic ethics. Pumpkinhead was basically blending into the corrupted and troubled soul of Ed and it just went on to signify how the real monsters were only created from human trauma! It has to be said that the monster design was astoundingly perfect, and you simply cannot imagine seeing practical effects like this in today’s CGI fuelled cinema culture!
Lance Henrikson wasn’t too keen on the role
Stan Winston was already familiar with working alongside Lance Henrikson for movies like Terminator and Alien. When his opportunity to finally direct a movie opened up, he was quick to approach the actor for the lead role of Ed Harley. However, the actor was in a dilemma about whether or not to accept the role.
For starters, the title did not convince him and he was worried that it could end up being a laughing stock. It all changed after he had gone through the entire script and realized the seriousness of the role.
One scene, in particular, where his dead son appears before him and questions his actions convinced him that the lead role offered him a challenge that he was willing to take up. We are glad about how things turned out because he was impeccable while portraying the character!
The movie was not an instant hit
We might be hailing Pumpkinhead for being a cult classic today, but back when it was released it didn’t exactly set the cash boxes jingling. It had a limited release initially, and even after the proper release the makers barely made back the money spent in filming. One of the main reasons behind the box office failure of the movie was the lack of proper marketing and promotions.
The De Laurentis Entertainment Group faced a major financial collapse, and hence, the movie lacked the budget to go all out during the promotional events. It also caused the initial limited release, and the company lacked the right kind of experts to sell the film by making it lucrative for the audience. The dull poster lacked the kind of artwork that would interest the fans, and overall, it took some time before the movie finally got the appreciation it deserved.
Sheldon Cooper’s girlfriend made her debut
The Big Bang Theory was one of the biggest sitcoms in recent times, and Mayim Bialik is a familiar face for many for her role in the show as Sheldon Cooper’s girlfriend. While she is a well-known global star at present, her rise to stardom was through a journey filled with struggle.
She has he roots in horror, and her first acting role in a movie was in Pumpkinhead! She plays the role of a young girl, who meets a group of teens at Ed Harley’s grocery store toward the beginning of the movie. She did have a relatively small role, but it was an impactful performance that got her started. It would be a good few years till she bagged the role of her lifetime in The Big Bang Theory, but these strange starting stories for big names are always fun to hear!
The Cabin might seem familiar
If you happen to be a Friday the 13th fan, the cabin where the teenagers stay in Pumpkinhead will seem all too familiar. This is because the makers chose to shoot in the same location as Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter. The Jarvis house in that movie is the same cabin used here, and it is quite a famous location that has been used in several other films and TV shows. The iconic location is actually in Kelly Gulch in Topanga, California, and the beautifully maintained cabin was an asset for those looking for offbeat locations. Apparently, people could also rent the cabin for weddings or other special occasions. The Pumpkinhead makers couldn’t have found a better location for the fateful house!
Lance Henrikson regretted being a part of the sequels
As is the case with most movies that gain some popularity, Pumpkinhead spawned a few sequels along the way. While Pumpkinhead II: Bloodwings got some love from the fans, the following two movies didn’t exactly have the same kind of reviews. Lance Henrikson reprised his role as Ed Harley in both these films, and he later regretted choosing to be a part of them.
He went on record to call them shitty and revealed that he was once so embarrassed after the screening of the movie that he sneaked out of the theater, avoiding a Q&A session in order to avoid the audience. The third movie, in particular, Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes, was criticized for being a cheap addition to the franchise. While the sequels still have a loyal fanbase, it would be unfair to even draw a comparison with the original, which has truly been the highlight of the Pumpkinhead movie series.
The movie used the same Dog as Gremlins
You must have noticed the dog named Gypsy in Pumpkinhead! Well, as it turns out, the dog is quite an experienced actor who also starred in Gremlins. The adorable golden retriever player the role of Billy’s pet Barney in Gremlins, and in Pumpkinhead the friendly canine impressed once again! The real name of the dog is Mushroom, and everyone on the sets grew extremely fond of the dog because of its loving nature – not to mention his flawless acting skills!
There is a comic strip based on the horror franchise
Back in 1993, Dark Horse Comics came up with a comic series spanning only two issues. It had a slightly different take on the Pumpkinhead demon, as seen in the movies, and there was supposed to be a third issue that would explore a winged version of the creature.
It wasn’t really mind-blowing, but it still promised to be a decent read, especially for the fans. Later, Cullen Bunn recreated the magic of the evil demon once again in the pages of a comic book. Once again, the artwork is not really impressive and neither is the narrative. The plot is simply a poor rehash of the movies, and all it does is simply expand the Pumpkinhead universe with some more background about the demon.
The Pumpkinhead Video game is not exactly perfect
After the release of the second Pumpkinhead movie titled Bloodwings, a game titled Bloodwings: Pumpkinhead’s Revenge was developed by an American studio called BAP Interactive. It was published by Electronic Arts for DOS, and the game was largely based on the movie. It is a first-person shooter, and several video clips from the movie have been utilized throughout the gameplay.
Unfortunately, it was not well-received by the gaming community, and people called it a poor rip-off of Doom. The random, grainy video clips did not help, and the controls were clunky and difficult to use. Even the graphics are rather mediocre, and the creatures don’t really look appealing. Clearly, the idea to cash in on the success of a franchise doesn’t always work out as planned!
Our Final Words
We have already mentioned the impact that Pumpkinhead had on the creature horror genre. It was a defining work of art by the late Stan Winston who will always be remembered as one of the greatest in his field of expertise! After the last two sequels fared poorly among the fans, there were talks about the possible closure of the franchise.
Luckily, a remake was planned in 2017, and even though the project was stuck for quite some time, it finally looks like we might have a proper reboot going ahead. Paramount Pictures have always done their best in the horror genre, and it seems like they are keeping up with the tradition with their new venture. While you wait for the movie to be released, do let us know in the comments below about the facts that surprised you the most!