Pumpkinhead | Anatomy of a Franchise

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
  • In today's video we are looking at the history of 1988's Pumpkinhead, the sequels that came from that, and Stan Winston who made it all happen. Hope you enjoy, and thank you so much for watching.
    Twitter: / praise_shadows
    Email: inpraiseofshadows1:gmail.com
    Patreon: / praiseofshadows

Komentáře • 591

  • @InPraiseofShadows
    @InPraiseofShadows  Před rokem +415

    Hey everybody! Hope things are going well and your'e having an amazing spooky Halloween season. There will be two videos (hopefully) this month, and I really am excited to share them with you. I've been working almost every day on this second project since June, and is in my opinion the most unique and professional work I've ever produced. It will come out the last week of the month right before Halloween, and is about a horror legend from where I grew up. It is a very personal project to me, and I'm already very happy with how it is turning out. Thanks again so much for everything, and I'll see you again very soon.

    • @Nyctonaut
      @Nyctonaut Před rokem +5

      I'm excited for it my friend! I'm working on my Oct episode as well, this is the month!!
      Your work on here is really inspiring! After finding your channel 5 months or so ago I've just been blown away by the quality of your work and how well written, put together, and edited your videos are. I just tore through your back catalog! You really inspire me to work even harder on my own channel.
      Thank you!-SLD

    • @TailsR1984
      @TailsR1984 Před rokem +3

      Hope you can give The WISHMASTER series of movies the treatment in the future 👍🏻 Congrats on your successes

    • @timcombs2730
      @timcombs2730 Před rokem +3

      Can you please stop being so pretentious in moralistically self-righteous in your videos?

    • @JohnInTheShelter
      @JohnInTheShelter Před rokem +1

      Looking forward to the next video. I'm about to watch this one, and am so glad whenever PUMPKINHEAD gets attention. It's like a tight short story, great pacing and, the big one for me in a horror movie, ATMOSPHERE. I have never seen the sequels because I feared being let down, so looking forward to this. Keep up the good work, your videos are always entertaining.

    • @CorbCorbin
      @CorbCorbin Před rokem

      I thought the thing, about where the poster artist drew inspiration, was from either the Witch or actually Hardy, at one point, when his eyes get like that, as he’s partially becoming the beast.

  • @fiendishdevil808
    @fiendishdevil808 Před rokem +271

    I grew up with a 7ft tall Pumpkinhead movie prop in my grandparents front room. My Nana would dress it up for holidays and make it sway during storms while telling us it was coming to life to eat us. Pumpkinhead has a special place in my heart, behind my Nana staring menacingly.

    • @theterbear9915
      @theterbear9915 Před rokem +7

      How did she get that?

    • @fiendishdevil808
      @fiendishdevil808 Před rokem +23

      @@theterbear9915 My grandparents had a friend who collected weird things that they bought it off of. If I'm not mistaken the guy had a giant Thomas the tank engine replica/prop as well.

    • @gabriellemadrid2831
      @gabriellemadrid2831 Před rokem +31

      Nana is metal af

    • @hexxerman7656
      @hexxerman7656 Před rokem +18

      My grandma was really into Pumpkinhead as well. She would hide a radio around her house at night and play sound clips of Pumpkinhead growling and stuff to scare people and owned all the movies.

    • @gabriellemadrid2831
      @gabriellemadrid2831 Před rokem +11

      @@hexxerman7656 your Nana is metal af too! 👑

  • @waymire01
    @waymire01 Před rokem +94

    I have to disagree on the eyes. Pumpkinhead is a dead thing (actually the previous person to call on the power), animated by hate and vengeance. While his face is wonderfully emoting and animate... he has the eyes of a corpse and it's freaky as hell. Once Henricksons character starts to lose his soul, his eyes change as well. He was damned when he gave his soul to vengeance, but just hasn't realized it yet. It's a huge part of the lore.

    • @scarlettleaves9042
      @scarlettleaves9042 Před rokem +6

      Yes, more times than not, when the eyes of a creature glow it gives a cheesy or cringe worthy effect for me !

    • @love68
      @love68 Před 10 měsíci +2

      Absolutely.

  • @TellItAnimated
    @TellItAnimated Před rokem +133

    So happy to see Pumpkinhead getting some love more recently, they announced a remake but who knows if that will happen haha. Part 1 and 2 are pretty great though

    • @Chiefteeth1
      @Chiefteeth1 Před rokem +6

      With all the reboots we’ve gotten in the last decade I’m 100 percent certain one of the more iconic b movie monsters will get a reboot.

    • @TellItAnimated
      @TellItAnimated Před rokem +5

      @@Chiefteeth1 Oh totally, if Toxic Avenger can get one anyone can haha

    • @jasonsantos3037
      @jasonsantos3037 Před rokem +4

      Pumpkinhead is underrated movie monsters he get more love

    • @paintingcube3853
      @paintingcube3853 Před rokem +2

      @@jasonsantos3037 I would so love it if Robert Eggers or even Sean Ellis directed and developed the story for an excellent reinvigoration of the monster.

    • @Dragonzord571
      @Dragonzord571 Před 10 měsíci

      Blood Wings is trash

  • @lorddevilfish5868
    @lorddevilfish5868 Před rokem +197

    I absolutely agree with the color palette thing, I’m sick that every monster is either grey or pale. Which is something I love about King Ghidorah, despite him being potentially the ultimate evil in the Godzilla and Mothra franchise his golden color palette radiates an elegance and etherealness usually reserved for angelic characters and gives him a sense of authority over the other Kaiju helping him pop amongst the giant monster crowd.

    • @lorddevilfish5868
      @lorddevilfish5868 Před rokem +8

      @Zetti Yeah classic Gigan has a great color pallet that really complements the comic book aesthetic of that movie, even the modern Gigan has a good color scheme with the red eye really popping with the metallic blue and silver.

    • @thedukeofchutney468
      @thedukeofchutney468 Před rokem +11

      Speaking of Mothra she’s another good example of a colorful monster. Kaiju do tend to me more colorful then smaller monsters. With Titanosaurus, King Ceaser, and Biolante all being good examples of this.

    • @mandalorianhunter1
      @mandalorianhunter1 Před rokem +2

      I wouldn't say Ghidorah is the ultimate evil unless you count Anime Ghidorah or MV Ghidorah, which are actually evil. Other versions of Ghidorah were just controlled monsters with the exception of GMK Ghidorah that was a protector.

    • @gonhunter3994
      @gonhunter3994 Před 9 měsíci

      ​​​@@lorddevilfish5868Pumpkinhead is brown & a little pink here & there. So the character has a good color palette

  • @ColonelPanic007
    @ColonelPanic007 Před rokem +49

    The body of the man who is responsible for calling Pumpkinhead goes to the pumpkin patch as a seed. This seed, when watered with blood, grows into a new vessel for Pumpkinhead.
    In this regard it is a fitting metaphor for revenge. The violence we do against others becomes the seed of further violence in the future.
    As far as the motorcycle chain, who can say? I'm sure an ancient demon can observe the world as it is a spirit. Also, the transformation of the summoner (Henriksen) into the beast while Pumpkinhead is still active might suggest a mingling of experience. It also shows how disfiguring hate and vengeance can be.

  • @PlaylistGeneral
    @PlaylistGeneral Před rokem +50

    I've never seen Pumpkinhead but there's something legitimately upsetting about how we go from the first 2 entries hiding the monster in shadow and light, to subsequent sequels showing the whole thing tip-to-toe; walking around confused, like it went to the wrong pride fair.

    • @love68
      @love68 Před 10 měsíci +1

      I truly hope that you've watched this awesome movie.

  • @shaddonon
    @shaddonon Před rokem +31

    11:20 I always *loved* that Pumpkinhead removed the dirt bike’s chain as a mean trick. I guess I’ve always assumed Pumpkinhead would know how to mess with the bike because it knows what *Ed Harley* knows. Plus when Pumpkinhead is killing the main cast, Ed can feel their fear and pain-which kinda suggests Pumpkinhead acts as a conduit to the victims’ perceptions, too. Like maybe after killing the first brother, it absorbed some of his dirt bike knowledge? I dunno, for me the lore’s level of fidelity works so well. It is juuust cohesive enough, and juuust vague enough, too, like some real-world folklore you might stumble upon in an isolated corner of the world.

  • @grapeshot
    @grapeshot Před rokem +90

    One of things always liked about Pumpkinhead was that if you don't interfere nothing will happen to you it only kills who it's assigned to kill. Well at least for the first movie. Oh yeah that one actor that did survive along with the girl he played a young teenage Superman in the first Superman movie that came out in 1978. He was the one racing that train.

    • @robertodell9193
      @robertodell9193 Před rokem +4

      Yeah. That was Jeff East. Except for the hair, he didn't look any different in 1988 than he did in 1978.

  • @golemofwill4728
    @golemofwill4728 Před rokem +28

    Pumpkinhead despite being a demon, is one of the least evil monsters in horror next to original leatherface. It's just a means of revenge for those who are unable to grieve. I think 1,3, and 4 all do a pretty great job setting up the reasons for the summoners to committing to the ritual. Lance really nailed his character and he probably the best part of this franchise. He's doesn't feel like Lance here, just a wronged man and eventual spirit locked with the curse. I wish we saw other previous summoners appear in the films. This is the most underrated horror franchise imo. If I had the money and power, I would love to make another one of these without the cgi and use a proper budget.

    • @erubin100
      @erubin100 Před rokem +7

      Do we really know that he's not evil? He's certainly intelligent, and from what we've seen, he does take sadistic pleasure in slowly killing people. If you ask me, the whole "revenge" thing is just an excuse for him to go after victims with impunity.

  • @zubrhero5270
    @zubrhero5270 Před rokem +11

    Dude, you may have just said something that I found ridiculously important to the entire genre, and movies as a whole at 45:58
    "Good enough to catch on cable late at night in the mid 00s, before there was the option to watch better things on streaming."
    Catching things on TV late at night, and renting movies with cool VHS covers, is probably how the majority of us gained our love and passion for the genre.

  • @khaymenbrock645
    @khaymenbrock645 Před rokem +104

    Was so excited to see this drop!! I love when you mention Southern Gothic Horror and always wanted to see you talk about it. As someone from the same state of you, I adore seeing people talk about southern horror from the lense of people who live there.

  • @imogenmangle
    @imogenmangle Před rokem +45

    I'm an illustrator by trade so character design is a big part of what I do, and your take on incorporating those vivid warning colours found in nature into monster designs is SO good. Like, I literally think your third eye was open - it's the kind of design approach that's brilliant because it's simultaneously true and obvious - like yeah, dangerous things have bright colours! - as well as being totally and tragically underutilised (as you expressed in the video). Just - it's so satisfying for me personally to hear such a crisp, fresh take relating to visual design. Thanks for perking me up

    • @imogenmangle
      @imogenmangle Před rokem +1

      @@GleebyDeebyEeby mmm.... now that you mention it, you're right that bright warning colours are more of a "don't eat me" thing. When you work in the visual arts as I do, many design ideas become rote to the point of tedious, and it's normal to develop this burning desire to just "see something done differently". I think that what you're saying is true and we should be mindful about exactly what cues we take from the natural world and what they mean biologically, but that doesn't make my heart any less bored of shadowy, camouflaged creature designs.
      Maybe something like the monster design in Attack The Block could be a good compromise, where the predators are mainly completely blended in with shadow, but accented with neon in a way that, whilst unrealistic, is visually swagadelic in the realm of atypical design that I'm yearning for.

  • @WolfxxBite
    @WolfxxBite Před rokem +14

    Lance H. was so good in this! That death stare he gave the teen who ran over his son, damn!

  • @delcarsdungeon
    @delcarsdungeon Před rokem +16

    To be fair, square dances ARE still a thing.
    Excellent analysis as ever, and I'm glad that the franchise still exists, warts and all.

  • @SeeleSO02
    @SeeleSO02 Před rokem +33

    Those Stan Winston effects in the first film are so damn good.

    • @numbdigger9552
      @numbdigger9552 Před rokem +6

      It was because he actually had a good group of special effect experts who knew what they were doing.

  • @pcaviator687
    @pcaviator687 Před rokem +98

    Pumpkinhead is one of my all time favorite horror films. It holds up as much today as it in the 1980s.

    • @00Discourse00
      @00Discourse00 Před rokem +5

      Practical effects, my guy. When you have something actually interacting with the physical space you get a superior level of realism that'll always be useful in suspending your disbelief - a necessity for this genre. These movies should always strive for believability, be it set-pieces or character behaviour, if you can't sell the audience on the lie, you have no stakes.

    • @Ner0mancer
      @Ner0mancer Před rokem +1

      @@00Discourse00 I love stakes

    • @HeavyMetalSonicRM
      @HeavyMetalSonicRM Před rokem

      @@00Discourse00 Nailed it.

  • @_KRUGR_
    @_KRUGR_ Před rokem +9

    Pumpkin head really disturbed me as a child, even your chill, laid back video about it still gets under my skin

  • @lorddevilfish5868
    @lorddevilfish5868 Před rokem +32

    I really love modern day gothic fantasy horror that really explore aspects of human character, with Pumpkinhead, Hellraiser, and even Gravity Falls being some really good examples. Pumpkinhead on the surface is a fairytale esque horror story about revenge but underneath is a story about how rage justified or not devours our humanity, Hellraiser is as much a story about how the line between pain and pleasure is thin to non-existent as it is a Lovecraftian horror story, and Gravity Falls is about how childlike curiosity is suppressed with maturity and must be cherished which enriches the supernatural elements.

  • @ashemountain
    @ashemountain Před rokem +11

    Pumpkinhead is a franchise that could be served very well to have its core rules explored in wildly differing stories and settings with each movie. Sure, the main theme of "revenge will destroy you" means it could get repetitive, but you could also do things like explore the idea of embracing the demon, or things like you suggested, of an It Follows type scenario where the subject of vengeance lives a paranoid life on the run. I don't even think the repetitive nature of the demon would be a bad thing when you could move the setting and characters around so much. It'd be a great way to let new talent rise up, as well.

  • @truesoulghost2777
    @truesoulghost2777 Před rokem +16

    I love this movie.
    There’s a horrorcore album inspired by it. It’s called Punkinhead.
    It’s a southern slang rap horror artist named Boondox.

    • @DemonSoul89420
      @DemonSoul89420 Před 8 měsíci +1

      There's also a misfits song. They even included the poem

  • @thatguyoverthere2755
    @thatguyoverthere2755 Před rokem +13

    That movie is an absolute classic and treasure. Lance Henrickson did an amazing job

  • @jmgfx4161
    @jmgfx4161 Před rokem +3

    The first Pumpkinhead was my house favorite when I was Savini's school. We would make jokes and say Ed Harley like Haggis to each other. Thank you for the memories.

  • @Boggythefroggy
    @Boggythefroggy Před rokem +12

    One of my favourite songs by folk punk band Harley Poe is called Vengeance the Demon, which is about the movie and even has a part near the end of the song where the poem is used as lyrics. I was watching Pumpkinghead for the first time and hadn't realized it was inspired by a poem, and to my surprise I knew the entire rhyme the kids recite in the beginning of the movie haha.

    • @xxNJohnson
      @xxNJohnson Před rokem +1

      Thank you for this! I like Harley Poe, and I watch Pumpkinhead every Halloween; but I've never heard this song before! It's really good!

    • @mariovazquez4436
      @mariovazquez4436 Před rokem +1

      Funny cause the misfits did exactly that in the 90s

    • @DemonSoul89420
      @DemonSoul89420 Před 8 měsíci

      ​@@mariovazquez4436 I love that song

  • @CorbCorbin
    @CorbCorbin Před rokem +17

    Pumpkinhead knows what Harley knows, in many ways, yet still has its own need to finish the curse.
    The longer it goes on, the more Ed becomes like Pumpkinhead, as they’re linked. The connection helps with defeating it, although it’s really Ed dying that really stops it.

  • @deetzyboywonder9312
    @deetzyboywonder9312 Před rokem +4

    Ive always loved pumpkin head feels like it usually doesn't get the love it deserves

  • @JohnnyBurnes
    @JohnnyBurnes Před rokem +8

    Lance Henrickson's said to be a really nice guy, and from the 5 minutes I talked to him at a Comic Con, that seems to be true.

  • @Saffron-sugar
    @Saffron-sugar Před rokem +9

    Ed Justin may have gotten the idea of Pumpkinhead from Jack Pumpkinhead.
    Jack Pumpkinhead is an L. Frank Baum character from the Land of Oz. “The Marvelous Land of Oz”(1904) has his 1st appearance.
    He was taken from a pumpkin patch and made into a creature by a witch, Mombie.

    • @MFLimited
      @MFLimited Před rokem +3

      I’m quite sure that’s where the idea came from. Definitely Jack Pumpkinhead

  • @theterbear9915
    @theterbear9915 Před rokem +5

    Legit one of the scariest monsters I've ever seen. I could even say it traumatized me as a kid who lived out in the Texas country. Made me hate the woods. But now I can say is one of my favorite monsters and wish it had a decent revival or sequel.

  • @renatocorvaro6924
    @renatocorvaro6924 Před rokem +33

    Aw man, I remember seeing the first Pumpkinhead years ago. I actually really liked it. Never saw the sequels though so I am sure this video will be very informative!

    • @VampireJack10
      @VampireJack10 Před rokem +4

      You're not missing much in regards to the sequels.
      They went to shit faster than the Howling sequels.

  • @samwill7259
    @samwill7259 Před rokem +29

    It's a shame we didn't get a BUNCH more movies in this franchise. I would have loved to see those other 6 demons, or even what kinds of sins they'd be associated with (I'm assuming Pumpkinhead's vengence is wrath?). This idea is so obscure that I can't even find any fanart of it!
    EDIT:...I need to check out that comic.

  • @ronofthesea5953
    @ronofthesea5953 Před rokem +7

    This was a pleasant surprise to rent in the late 80s when there were tons of boxes on the video store shelves that all looked good but rarely were. We rented both movies in the same weekend. I didn't know what to expect from Pumpkinhead.
    Rawhead Rex was a great short story I had read in "The Books of Blood", Clive Barkers short story books that came out before anyone recognised what his name meant. When we saw it at the video store I insisted on renting it but as always back then, it fell way short as a film after having read it first.
    Point being: Pumpkinhead got the treatment Rawhead Rex needed.

    • @erubin100
      @erubin100 Před rokem

      Part of me would love for someone to attempt a better Rawhead Rex movie, but then the other part of me says 'No' because Hollywood will likely fuck it up again.

    • @ronofthesea5953
      @ronofthesea5953 Před rokem

      @@erubin100 You're right about that. But it's Celtic folklore and Barker is English so it should be done by them anyway. I want him to be designed by the guys who did the first Pumpkinhead.
      It's a real short story to read, you should check out how he is described, it's pretty awesome.

    • @erubin100
      @erubin100 Před rokem

      @@ronofthesea5953 I've read it. He's a giant carnivorous penis. It's incredible. All the more reason why hollywood should not attempt it.

  • @caseymckenna7111
    @caseymckenna7111 Před rokem +7

    My father brought home Pumpkinhead from the video store in the 90s specifically because of Stan. Saw it way too early, always knew it was something special. So thanks for this, it fills in a lotta the blanks and is phenomenally researched and presented as always.

  • @SamanthaCZimmerman
    @SamanthaCZimmerman Před rokem +7

    please don't ever change anything about your deadpan delivery. every time you say something funny in the exact same tone of voice i lose it lol
    in seriousness though, this is probably your best anatomy of a franchise. perhaps i'm biased because i love pumpkinhead so much, but the details you point out bring me a much richer enjoyment of the referenced works. each new video you drop i see get better and better and it's been very gratifying to watch you grow.

  • @MrAjmay1
    @MrAjmay1 Před rokem +5

    One of my all-time favorites. A compelling story that stands out and holds up over time. Unlike so many slashers/creature-features, it provides a very literal lesson - i.e., that to act on our desire for vengeance makes us into the monster. Lance Henrikson did a great job with that character arc. While De Laurentis had a hand in many iconic movies of that era, I'm glad he didn't get his way. Glad to see the fime get the love it deserves!

  • @jameswolf9454
    @jameswolf9454 Před rokem +3

    Pumpkinhead is a very, very, very underrated Slasher horror film. Ive asked avid/fan of slasher and any other horror genre film fans if they have ever watched or heard of Pumpkinhead. they have not. For those who have not watch Pumpkinhead, it worth watching.

  • @patrickkasprik2444
    @patrickkasprik2444 Před rokem +7

    I largely have to agree with your praise of the original Pumpkinhead; it's clearly not only a labor of love from those involved, it was an intelligently filmed and planned movie for the budget it had (you can either work with what you have or against yourself)...
    The film that introduced me to Pumpkinhead however was the second ("Blood Wings"), which was apparently panned by critics and audiences alike...however I found it terrifying as a kid (to the point where I was really quite terrified of the creature for quite a few years)

  • @Cainer
    @Cainer Před rokem +9

    Always love your Anatomy of franchises, I've never watched Pumpkinhead but this may get me to change that.

  • @jamisonfrey3452
    @jamisonfrey3452 Před rokem +6

    This is one of the most informative and well thought out videos on the Pumpkinhead franchise. Pumpkinhead has been my favorite horror film ever since I first saw it as a kid back in the 80s and Pumpkinhead himself is easily favorite horror character. Over the years I've amassed a huge collection and have read up on anything Pumpkinhead related that I've been able to get ahold of including interviews and even early scripts to the first film. You've clearly put a lot of research into the franchise for this video and such efforts should be commended.
    The one thing I would add is that the comic book series you discussed from the 90s titled 'Pumpkinhead: The Rites of Exorcism' did in fact get a conclusion to the story. Yes, it is true, that only 2 out of the 4 planned issues were finished and released. However, the writer 'Gary Gerani' who, as you've mentioned helped write the first film, finished the story and included it within the instructional booklet which came with 'Geometric's' winged 'Pumpkinhead: The Metamorphosis' model kit. This, to the best of my knowledge, was the first time a winged Pumpkinhead was presented. The winged transformation was originally to be revealed in the comic, but it ended before they got that far. Luckily the idea was realized in the model kit and 'Gary Gerani' was able to finish up the story.
    At one point Gary Gerani had also hoped to put together a Pumpkinhead television series as well. It was to be an anthology and would focus on different Pumpkinhead tales that took place throughout varying time periods and would also explore the other demons of sin.
    Again, I commend you on a fantastic video.

  • @gabrielrosa9806
    @gabrielrosa9806 Před rokem +6

    This movie scared the shit outta me as a kid but started my love for horror

  • @matthewstoneback9
    @matthewstoneback9 Před rokem +2

    Whether he's playing a preacher, a beat cop,
    an android, a vampire or even a gorilla,
    Lance Henriksen always delivers the goods.
    Such a great actor!

  • @RonJomero
    @RonJomero Před rokem +3

    I still think Pumpkinhead is one of the best horror movies made. It's got a solid story, a solid supernatual bent, and even a moral lesson. It's a shame it isn't more well-known than it is.

    • @jamisonfrey3452
      @jamisonfrey3452 Před rokem

      Exactly!! Never go dirt biking in hillbilly country. No good will come of it and they have demons and stuff. A powerful lesson, indeed 😉

  • @lemonlordrpgs
    @lemonlordrpgs Před rokem +4

    Everytime I hear something like "Because of medium used at the time a certain amount of filmed footage was lost forever" it makes me sad. I don't even watch lots of movies in the moment but it still makes me sad :(

  • @Nasedo34
    @Nasedo34 Před rokem +8

    Between this and Nothing But Trouble... Bruh, you are speaking directly to me lately! Your videos are really informative and well researched.
    Keep up the great work!

  • @imaltheia
    @imaltheia Před rokem +3

    "i love how wet he is also"
    oh hell yes top ten Wettest movie monsters, dir. in praise of shadows

  • @eveecco
    @eveecco Před rokem +4

    Best part about this video, for me, is that I only just found out there are more than two movies. Thanks Tubi 😂

  • @erubin100
    @erubin100 Před rokem +1

    "Pumpkinhead's fingers don't move before blood feud."
    Now I can never unsee that!!!

  • @ThiccScoobyDoo
    @ThiccScoobyDoo Před rokem +8

    I first saw this film when I was 13, that was only 4 years ago. To this day it is still my favorite horror film. In a generation where everyone is so desensitized and wants nothing but blood, gore, and CGI monsters I appreciate the love and care put into this masterpiece of a movie

  • @swiftfoxmark2
    @swiftfoxmark2 Před rokem +5

    A really underrated horror film. It's a shame the sequels weren't as good or did something different.

  • @contrabandresearch8409
    @contrabandresearch8409 Před rokem +8

    Pumpkinhead 2 was one of the first horror movies I watched. The scene where the teens kill the guy playing with the toy truck was deeply disturbing and when Pumpkinhead is shot to death was ultimately very sad.

  • @Cyndal91
    @Cyndal91 Před rokem +13

    Also from NC, it usually feels strange to see Southern culture depicted in media. Most never seem to understand the actual horror that can be found in the hollows of the mountains. Themes of isolation or tradition stand out to me. Great video btw!

    • @Steadyaim101
      @Steadyaim101 Před rokem

      As someone from the far North in Manitoba, I feel the same about how Northern horror is portrayed. There's so much to work with; the complete isolation in an environment designed to kill you, the incessant wind that will drive you insane because it never stops, the surreal hallucinations and sense of peace that sets in as hypothermia takes over, the days when the sun never rises, the haunting sounds of elk and loon calls over the lakes. And of course the psychopomp of the whole aesthetic, the Wendigo. I would love to see a film about the Wendigo as a demonic state emerging out of the human psyche when we are driven to extremes rather than the 'hurr durr tall scary thing with a moose skull for a head'.

    • @joshmay2944
      @joshmay2944 Před rokem

      As an Eastern Kentuckian raised in a holler, I agree 100% with your comment.

  • @Zekrel
    @Zekrel Před rokem +7

    I love Pumpkinhead and I hope we get another film someday.

  • @TheBloodswordsman
    @TheBloodswordsman Před rokem +5

    I... kinda really like Pumpkinhead. I've seen all the movies on SyFy, and at least enjoyed, if not outright loved, them.
    Thank you, for teaching me about their history. It makes me appreciate them all the more.

  • @citizensguard3433
    @citizensguard3433 Před rokem +1

    I didn't just click on this video for pumkinhead, bud. I clicked on it for your unique brand of narration.

  • @Scp716creativecommons
    @Scp716creativecommons Před rokem +6

    I mean, yeah, "came for pumpkin head", but probably wouldn't have watched many others productions with the same focus. The cinematographic insight, over all research, and helpful understanding of why this role seems iconic for henrickson, thats why i come to you. Your laudings of the umbral are better conceived, and produced, than alot of the library VHS i grew up on. That isn't shade, i love those VHS tapes, that as formative memory is likely a large part of why i enjoy channels like yours. Nonetheless, you represent an evolution in the format. Could probably avoid the titular monsters like a plauge, and still arrive ata watchable piece.

  • @erubin100
    @erubin100 Před rokem +5

    Regarding blood feud being anachronistic: there are parts of the united states that are like that culturally. The fact that police and other authorities don't get much involved is simply because they accept that's the way things are in those parts. You usually find it in small towns that are in remote locations with very little tourism. I think you touched on that slightly with the hills have eyes video.

  • @dfolz1101
    @dfolz1101 Před rokem +5

    I really respect your ability to find the good elements in what would typically be considered really bad movies. I have seen ashes to ashes. I saw it far too young watching the scifi channel knowing i wasnt supposed to and even i changed the channel because i thought it was stupid. I like that you've taken the time to find effort in certain details that others would refuse to acknowledge or even bother to look for, knowing how difficult it is to make a movie in general. Even if its a bad one. Great work as usual man.

  • @acadia5898
    @acadia5898 Před rokem +4

    your channel has been such a great help in my writing, seeing in new light and being able to dwell deeper into their meanings that i wouldn't normally catch. you reignite my passion for filmmaking and makes me want to write in deepest passion. thank you very much for all of your videos

  • @spaceace9103
    @spaceace9103 Před rokem +6

    Excited to see how that new Pumpkinhead turns out. Hope it can be as solid as that new Hellraiser

  • @doyouwantmore8860
    @doyouwantmore8860 Před rokem +4

    I always look forward to your videos

  • @jello4835
    @jello4835 Před rokem +1

    I've gotten to the point where I watch movies just because you made a video on them. I'm never disappointed. I love watching a horror movie and then coming straight to this channel for the breakdown right after.

  • @kendalflongbeard2935
    @kendalflongbeard2935 Před rokem +3

    You've read my mind! I've been playing Terrordrome Rise of the boogymen alot lately and I've been focusing on pumpkinhead! lol. The movie stands its ground to this day as a classic dark fairy tale of vengeance.

  • @BonjourMonAmi11
    @BonjourMonAmi11 Před rokem +7

    A found footage one would be amazing. Especially if they have a really good cast.

  • @emilylogan2379
    @emilylogan2379 Před rokem +2

    Knowing how much love went into making the first movie makes me love it even more

  • @thebumblerman2085
    @thebumblerman2085 Před rokem +6

    Have you ever considered doing a video on the Phantasm series? That is one of my favorites series and I would love to see your take on it.

  • @poisonxdagger6670
    @poisonxdagger6670 Před rokem +3

    I’ve always considered Pumpkinhead in the same category as Jeepers Creepers! 2 unique original iconic horror characters that started off with great films but eventually fell into mediocrity! I hope to see both franchises rise back up but doubt it at this point it’s quite sad!

    • @jamisonfrey3452
      @jamisonfrey3452 Před rokem

      Speaking of both Pumpkinhead and Jeepers Creepers, at one point, about 10 or so years ago, there was a fan film of Pumpkinhead vs the Creeper being made. For whatever reason the idea was scrapped which is a shame because they released a video showing the creature effects and costumes they were working on for the project and they looked really well done. They had a Pumpkinhead costume, Creeper costume as well as the Pumpkinhead fetus. They even showed some work they were doing for the witch 'Haggis'. Too bad it never saw completion.

  • @SwaggyG_2102
    @SwaggyG_2102 Před rokem +12

    Pumpkinhead is perhaps one of my most favorite monster designs to have ever come from a horror movie.
    This is one of the many reasons that the late 80s to late 90s were my favorite era of horror movies.

  • @aghilton8531
    @aghilton8531 Před rokem +3

    Awesome retrospective! Pumpkinhead needs more love. That first film really is quite a monster movie gem.
    Along with the xenomorph, the design of Pumpkinhead is probably the creature look that has become most ingrained in my psyche. Looking back, elements of one or both always seem to seep into my horror writing involving monsters😅

  • @existenceisrelative
    @existenceisrelative Před rokem +2

    Ancient or no, from hell or no, the modern world is still modern, and he knows what he needs to know to kill his targets.

  • @MojaveManiac
    @MojaveManiac Před rokem +6

    It's really funny that I was trying to guess what franchise you'd cover next and I actually guessed right! I love these retrospectives since there's not a lot of channels with that are able to look at these films with the articulation and polish that you have!
    Glad you're making these looks at horror franchises!

  • @IrishMorgenstern
    @IrishMorgenstern Před rokem +1

    Did you see the stack of Lament Configurations by the window of the doctor's office? Great Homage to Bradley's work as the immaculate Pinhead of Hellraiser.

  • @JudgementNutter
    @JudgementNutter Před rokem +2

    Thinking about Pumpkinhead always reminds me of Spoony, miss that guy..

  • @GilbertHeadmusic
    @GilbertHeadmusic Před rokem +5

    Let’s go!!! Much needed Pumpkinhead recognition!

  • @Rick_Cleland
    @Rick_Cleland Před rokem +2

    My friend showed me the film when I was twelve, talk about nightmares. 😂

  • @jonjones6764
    @jonjones6764 Před rokem +1

    Seeing this drop today is such a nice surprise!

  • @jamesbrooking1287
    @jamesbrooking1287 Před rokem +2

    Everytime I see a deathclaw in the fallout series they always remind me of pumpkinhead

  • @OomaGooma
    @OomaGooma Před rokem +6

    Great movie. And Lance Henriksen is a legend.

  • @vincentbatten4686
    @vincentbatten4686 Před rokem +2

    Sorry, slight editorial note. I clicked on the video because it was a video by you, and I love what you have to say on art and the genre. Your hard work and dedication to the craft makes this a website worth coming to. Your hard work helps inspire me to not slack on my own creative endeavors.

  • @LoveforLamps
    @LoveforLamps Před rokem +5

    Early enough you might see this. Thank you for your hard work, as entertaining as it is I hope you find it fulfilling. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and creativity with us 😊

  • @naftalibendavid
    @naftalibendavid Před rokem +2

    Creature features on a budget! Lessons learned. I am grateful for your appreciation of the relevant issues, which enhances my own enjoyment.

  • @jacobniedermayer8924
    @jacobniedermayer8924 Před rokem

    You said in this video that the sole reason for clicking on this was for Pumpkinhead. I came to moreso to hear you talk about it. I've seen the film before, was sit-throughable, but figured the added context may help with the enjoyment. So far, so good. :)

  • @dacksonflux
    @dacksonflux Před rokem +2

    I really like the phantasmol appearance of pumpkin head. It's spooky. I like spooky. I don't like glowing for the sake of being excruciatingly obvious.
    "Hey hey hey... hey... this is where you should be looking." Rather than finding pumpkin head's unsettling milky gaze by accident.
    Like Orca dolphins. They're super cute until you realize their eyes aren't in the white spots. Their eyes are solid black and hard to see until one is looking you straight in the optic nerve.

  • @joeystracener9804
    @joeystracener9804 Před rokem +2

    Always look forward to hearing from In Praise Of!!!

  • @amandaredd3057
    @amandaredd3057 Před rokem +2

    This was my and my dad's jam when I was younger! Good stuff

  • @bazdaniels7420
    @bazdaniels7420 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I think I have a little correction -- in the first film, death of the summoner is not the only way to send Pumpkinhead back to the grave -- it's just the only way to stop the revenge from happening. Letting him finish the revenge is also an option. "You have to let it run its course," says the old witch. Unless we assume its course finishes with killing Harley, but that was never implied as far as I recall.

  • @travisdsimmon
    @travisdsimmon Před rokem +2

    and Stan Winston (and his studio)is legend! thank you for giving them a light

  • @ricrebelo
    @ricrebelo Před rokem +3

    I love this retrospective. Thank you for this!

  • @AnchorV2
    @AnchorV2 Před rokem

    Watched Dead & Buried on your recommendation today and I loved it
    Thanks man. Glad to see another NC native doing good work

  • @imdrnickriviera
    @imdrnickriviera Před rokem +2

    I always look forward to the next video!
    Always great lore and analysis about the genre I love most!
    And of course, the credits music selection is - as always - EXCELLENT!

  • @Lhobbes11
    @Lhobbes11 Před rokem +1

    Thank you so much for another wonderful video. I am so grateful for the work and care you put into them and to be introduced , lovingly, to a new (to me) film franchise. Whenever another video of yours comes out I always set aside special rejuvenating me time to watch it. I can’t wait for the second October release !

  • @ecmelton8633
    @ecmelton8633 Před rokem +2

    Great video. I always wished that pumpkinhead was utilized better in his movies. The black and white comics really remind me of the Blair Witch comics which were very good imo.
    I haven't seen it since it's premiere, but in Ashes to Ashes I assumed that the witch was legally claiming the mummy, just like the other woman was with her son, and the cops just didn't want to bother a scary 120-year-old woman with paperwork.
    It's also worth noting that mishandling human remains isn't super illegal actually. Grave desecration is illegal because it's destruction of private property (the grave plot), and most instances of people being charged for mishandling bodies in funeral homes are because they misrepresented the services they were getting paid for. In both cases the dignity of the deceased and the actual handling of the body is pretty immaterial. The fact that the doctor was doing so much free work and didn't seem to be receiving money to handle the bodies means that he probably would have gotten off. The movie should have explained that however.

  • @TheUndeadGamr
    @TheUndeadGamr Před rokem +3

    Never watched these films but awesome video as always. I would definitely like to watch the first!

  • @paulcolvin837
    @paulcolvin837 Před rokem +3

    Yes. Just yes

  • @josephmayfield945
    @josephmayfield945 Před rokem +1

    Another great one!
    Thanks for doing what you do.
    I try to get people to look deeper than the surface when it comes to horror, and cinema as a whole; as I feel we are in rough time when it comes to movies.
    Mediocrity is the king these days.

  • @AngelCruz-pd1hc
    @AngelCruz-pd1hc Před rokem +2

    This is by far my favorite horror icon which is underrated horror gem. I love the setting and atmosphere. Great video!

  • @kenbonez
    @kenbonez Před rokem +2

    I loved the 1st 2 movies as a kid. I still have the 2nd one on vhs 📼 🤣 . Great timing. Decorating a pumpkin and In Praise of Shadows drops an hour long video on Pumpkin head 👍

  •  Před rokem +6

    The conclusion to The Rites of Exorcism was summarized in the instruction manual to Pumpkinhead: The Metamorphosis, a model of winged Pumpkinhead. Someone transcribed all of the text from this manual on Film|Boards. It sounds like it would have easily been the best sequel over every other comic & film.

    • @mrjiggy716
      @mrjiggy716 Před rokem +1

      link?

    •  Před rokem +1

      @@mrjiggy716 CZcams won’t let me post it. You should be able to find it by Googling:
      filmboards Pumpkinhead Rites of Exorcism Metamorphosis

  • @mylesjude233
    @mylesjude233 Před rokem +1

    Oh man new update from In praise of shadows, can't wait to watch this 🥰

  • @jonathanmulondo9206
    @jonathanmulondo9206 Před rokem +2

    Pumpkin head is underrated, If they ever reboot the series, they should make it a thematic series. It would have various people deal with the Entity.

  • @travisdsimmon
    @travisdsimmon Před rokem +1

    pumpkin head scared the hell out of me when i was a kid..i rewatched somewhat recently and it's soo good!