Gremlins

Dir. Joe Dante. 1984, 106 mins. DCP. With Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton. This nasty little number, produced by Steven Spielberg, is a cheerfully gory throwback to fifties B-monster-movies in which a Rockwell-ready American town falls under siege at Yuletide to a horde of mischievous, murderous beasts. With its gruesome kitchen set piece (in which a lovable mom slices, dices, and microwaves a handful of the creatures) and unforgettably grim Phoebe Cates monologue about why she hates Christmas, Gremlins might not be for young children, but its subversive exuberance can make an adult feel like a kid again. Recommended ages 12+