Watching a string of "reaction" videos recently for the 1984 horror comedy "Gremlins" a few thoughts crossed my mind, possibly abandoned plot threads. Not plot holes, mind you, just elements that could have been explored but weren't.
First, the character of Gerald Hopkins played by Judge Reinhold. He was the "up and coming" employee for the bank, the one who believed he'd have the bank president's job by age 25. Now, he did serve a purpose, being shot down by Kate (played by Phoebe Cates) to help establish she was not impressed by money and power. But it just seemed as though he might have suffered a particularly distinctive fate by the mutated mogwai as did Mrs. Deagle. But after that initial bar scene, he just kinda' vanished. Was something planned and just dropped to help streamline the narrative?
Second, the gremlin at the school. It was spawned from either Gizmo or from one of its 5 offspring. It scurried into the ventilation network after dispatching Mr. Hanson and clawing Billy's hand. Where did it go? Now, it's reasonable to assume it joined the horde that eventually entered the movie theater and died with the rest, engulfed in flames. But, like Hopkins, it feels like it might have been a setup for a side quest, or imply it escaped death to be shown skulking at the very end of the movie, hinting at a possible sequel (likely one very different from the meta film we actually got. Again, has anybody come across production notes or commentary by the makers stating something like that was considered?
Yeah, I have read some interesting trivia. This was initially just a "spec" script by Chris Columbus to demonstrate his writing skills, but not expecting it would actually be developed. Another was that the earliest drafts were far darker. The gremlins outright kill the dog. They also butcher Billy's mom. He races home and the monsters roll her decapitated head down the stairs where it comes to rest at his feet. Also, Gizmo was going to metamorphose into Stripe! But Spielberg urged the characters remain separate. But so far I have not come across any information about the points stated above.
Anybody have info' I likely have missed?
First, the character of Gerald Hopkins played by Judge Reinhold. He was the "up and coming" employee for the bank, the one who believed he'd have the bank president's job by age 25. Now, he did serve a purpose, being shot down by Kate (played by Phoebe Cates) to help establish she was not impressed by money and power. But it just seemed as though he might have suffered a particularly distinctive fate by the mutated mogwai as did Mrs. Deagle. But after that initial bar scene, he just kinda' vanished. Was something planned and just dropped to help streamline the narrative?
Second, the gremlin at the school. It was spawned from either Gizmo or from one of its 5 offspring. It scurried into the ventilation network after dispatching Mr. Hanson and clawing Billy's hand. Where did it go? Now, it's reasonable to assume it joined the horde that eventually entered the movie theater and died with the rest, engulfed in flames. But, like Hopkins, it feels like it might have been a setup for a side quest, or imply it escaped death to be shown skulking at the very end of the movie, hinting at a possible sequel (likely one very different from the meta film we actually got. Again, has anybody come across production notes or commentary by the makers stating something like that was considered?
Yeah, I have read some interesting trivia. This was initially just a "spec" script by Chris Columbus to demonstrate his writing skills, but not expecting it would actually be developed. Another was that the earliest drafts were far darker. The gremlins outright kill the dog. They also butcher Billy's mom. He races home and the monsters roll her decapitated head down the stairs where it comes to rest at his feet. Also, Gizmo was going to metamorphose into Stripe! But Spielberg urged the characters remain separate. But so far I have not come across any information about the points stated above.
Anybody have info' I likely have missed?
