Transcript
Speaker: Hello and welcome to the Everything Action Cast podcast week of September 28th, 2026. I'm your host Zach. And my co-host Chris. And this week we're kicking off spooky season and talking about a cult horror classic, Pumpkinhead, which came out in 1988.
Speaker: The directorial debut of Stan Winston, the special effects legend who brought us, you know, Dinosaurs from Jurassic Park, The Terminator, The Predator, all kinds of other like I think designed like the Iron Man suit for Iron Man like just pretty much anything awesome that's been like like a special effects was a movie is probably a Stan Winston creation yeah it's like very geeky niche stuff Stan Winston was was there somewhere to like kind of design big changes
Speaker: And yeah, he didn't direct a lot. Like, I think it was this, and then he directed a gnome named Norm. you If you've seen that insane Does Get Made movie.
Speaker: I think that might be pretty much it. But Pumpkinhead, like, a pretty solid debut. And if nothing else, you you could expect a pretty awesome monster, which I think we get in Pumpkinhead. It's kind of xenomorph-y, but then, like, mixed with, like, some sort of weird demon.
Speaker: like Almost like Predator and xenomorph came together. Because it it it leaps high a lot, and it it kind of lurks in the shadow.
Speaker: Yeah, kind like they they kind of hold off on showing it up for a little bit, and then it's like, when made he starts like running around rampaging, it's kind of like oh like it's like, here he is. He's it's in full.
Speaker: Yeah, it's a payoff, and then it's just like all about Pumpkinhead messing around in almost like an evil, dead way.
Speaker: Well, he gets gets kind of like... like almost like playful as it goes on where he's just kind of messing with people more as the movie goes on Yeah, that just like that's where the Evil Dead aspects for me appear where Pumpkinhead's goals isn't just to just do what it's told. Like it it kind of toys with them, and it has nothing to do with like the person who summons it and wants it in a very specific way.
Speaker: you know This movie's all about like an accident, and then Pumpkinhead just sort of does its own thing.
Speaker: I thought maybe Pumpkinhead would be on a motocross bike later. like It's going to be vengeful like that. like That's a... you know, a chromatic villain. Setting up, like like, ironic deaths?
Speaker: Yeah, but I guess they want to keep it in that, you know, supernatural monster that it's just unstoppable. it It doesn't really have, like...
Speaker: a Freddy Krueger joke about it, or even a Jason Voorhees, we mess with this monster and its territory. You know, this is a a monster that is folklore.
Speaker: And it's just basic structure is it shows up and it mauls you. it's It's kind of similar to like, like the Gollum from like Jewish folklore, where it's like, you like,
Speaker: Oh, the golem? Yeah, that gets like set up that set out to exact revenge on people or do like certain things. Yeah, it's it's got that. A very classic golem-like aspect.
Speaker: And apparently also, like the one thing that I was surprised like watching the credits for this movie, re-watching it, was it's based on a poem? Yeah, Yeah, it's wild, right? There's a poem called Pumpkinhead by this this this poet, Ed Justin.
Speaker: that's actually It's actually in the movie. It's like when the hillbilly kids are taunting like their sibling. and They're like doing that like kind of like Freddy Krueger style like rhyme. That's like the pumpkin head poem.
Speaker: And do you figure the siblings would be more evolved, but you really don't get that either. Like, there's a lot of potential setup that the series can go... Like, the movie goes, but then...
Speaker: It kind of gets like back to basics of just watch these somewhat teens, young adults just get terrorized overnight. Yeah.
Speaker: And maybe as a kid, because I saw this when I was really young, I thought this was a more like... detailed movie where it's going to be complex with like the characters betraying each other which they do but it's just like it's resolved over one fight and then it's barely an hour it's not even an hour and a half long so yeah if you if you take away the the intro credits and the flashback sequences that really don't add much mm-hmm
Speaker: the movie's only like an hour ten. Yeah. Like actual movie and not just establishing shots. And and like I kind of want to talk about the setting because even when they show the flashback or like an old like an old like memory of Lance Henderson's character, where it's like when he was a boy. Yeah. It just looks like modern day in this movie for what they're trying to establish, because this is a weird Bermuda Triangle setting where there's just so many designs and, and like tones coming together and it makes no sense. Yeah. deography wise yeah Like different landscapes. Cause it's like, there's very like,
Speaker: know, like, Tennessee, Appalachia, kind of, like, hillbilly areas. Like, you're in, like, a holler. But then it's, like, a desert. Like, Lance Harrison, like, runs at, like, this, like, like store, like, in the middle of like, a desert.
Speaker: But then there's also, like like, a swampy pumpkin patch cemetery with, like, a swamp hag.
Speaker: So it's like all these different environments are like just crammed together within like driving distance of each other. I mean, I have no idea how this economy works because the hillbillies seem like they sell to each other.
Speaker: you know like and they just like They don't have a tourist thing. It's not like Lance Henderson's shop is so amazing that tourists from far and wide come do it. No. it's like the It's like the last resort. like if you're like some For some reason, you end up in like this like remote area. That's like that's the only like like place to get anything for like hundreds of miles.
Speaker: But yeah, it 1957, and yeah like like young Lance Henriksen, as a boy, kind of gets like a glimpse of this creature, Pumpkinhead, because there's a guy that is like trying to like like not like knocking on the door, like trying to let let them in That's kind of a recurring thing. like Everyone kind of knows who Pumpkinhead is like searching for, and then they like it's like, no we're not letting you in, because then Pumpkinhead will go after us. like We're not getting get pump in Pumpkinhead's way.
Speaker: so So leave. Yeah, the the townspeople seem to know that Pumpkinhead's real and that you shouldn't mess with it because it has, like, no distinguished,
Speaker: no distinguishing between his rampage. It's just, so you're in the way, he'll try to kill you. But it doesn't really do that as much. Well, if he, I think their philosophy is like, if we let it kill whoever's trying to kill, then at leave it's done, it leaves, and then we're all fine.
Speaker: So just like, like let like don't don't interfere. Let Pumpkinhead kill whoever's target is, and then let him go back to like the cemetery. Yeah. Okay, I mean, it seems like they've been using this for generations, so they kind of know the rules. Like, the hillbilly folk seem to have, like, a down-packed system, because as soon as they... Like, it makes sense in this outsiders, because who else are they going to use the pumpkin head rule with?
Speaker: Yeah, it's it's it's... Yeah, it's like... it It seems like people are using to, like, settle, like... Like... like a bunch of different arguments or disagreements. It's like, I'm going to go summon Pupkinhead and kill you.
Speaker: But you have to summon Pupkinhead through the witch. yeah And she just tells you where to go right? And that that's about it.
Speaker: Yeah, you have to have to go to the cemetery, dig up like the Pupkinhead corpse, and then she'll bring it back as Pupkinhead, the demon form. And it'll it will go and kill whoever you need to kill. And I guess guess normally, and and normally i guess it would like, once it once it kills whoever the person that summoned it wants dead, then it just like goes away.
Speaker: But then, i was in this would be like, when it's never just kind of like goes back on it, it's like, i got stop I gotta stop what I unleashed. So he kind like, he like interferes like the normal course of a pumpkin head rampage.
Speaker: But he, but he is a, when you, when you cut to like the present day, like he is a single dad raising his son, like, like the poor man's Jonathan Levnicki.
Speaker: like oh my God. He looks, he looks so similar to Jonathan Levnicki. He could be his like stunt double. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: I just like, I thought it would be something sinister where Lance Henderson kidnapped this boy and was raising him as his son. It's like sort of the... Because because because Lance Henderson, he kind of has like that like sinister, like he's always kind of like a little bit sinister. little bit sinister. Even though he is a great father, you know, he's just like this montage of their days seems pretty cool.
Speaker: And he's not like abusive, he's just like, alright, like, yeah. If anything, he's just like forgetful to not let the boy talk talk to strangers.
Speaker: or Or leave him alone with like strangers. But
Speaker: yeah they the but they yeah, they have a little like cabin. they run like They run like this like store in the middle of nowhere. and then when they're at the store, like this this group shows up, this group of, i guess, teenagers. i don't know.
Speaker: theyre but it's basically but It's basically the the cast of like a Friday 13th movie shows up.
Speaker: And they're they're like going out to like this like remote cabin. They have dirt bikes. They want to like rip it up on dirt bikes.
Speaker: And they're they're like buying supplies because it's like the only place they can left before they get to the cabin. They can get some supplies. No beer, though. That's why they do not sell beer or alcohol, which which is a bummer to them.
Speaker: Yeah, you know, the proper trope of Friday the 13th movie would have been alcohol and sex. But it seems like this group is already like... just Just like... At least Joel is. Joel already looks like he's on drugs. We learn that he's been drinking already. He's like driving his corvette yeah he's but like driving his Corvette up this cabin and like pounding beers brarely or something.
Speaker: In, like, his leather jacket.
Speaker: But yeah, but they but they show up It's, like like, tons of people show up at once, like, the the store. it's like the like the story it' like It's, like, crazy busy for, like, like ten minutes, where it's, like, this this group shows up, and also, like, the Hillbilly family shows up. I think the Wallaces, the Wallace clan...
Speaker: which is like, it's, Buck Flowers is like, like the the patriarch. And then he's got a bunch of his like, I guess, I think grandkids with him.
Speaker: And then so it's like, this this whole group is like, interacting each other with like this like culture clash of like 80s, like modern teens. And then like Dust Bowl hillbilly rednecks in like dirty clothes and overalls.
Speaker: Yeah, it doesn't seem like this area has running water, but they have a, uh, like a general store that they just pissed off the one guy that sells everyone in town, like, their supplies.
Speaker: Yeah, and like, the the wallace the Wallace's are like comically filthy. They're they're like pig pen.
Speaker: They're all just like covered in dust and dirt. I thought the, uh, They would have like a secret where it's like they secretly control Pumpkinhead or they they would have some sort of tie.
Speaker: But they're just like victims. like they Or are just like innocent bystanders, which is surprising. Because the grandpa looked like he was going to reveal some sort of crazy lore about Pumpkinhead, but no.
Speaker: And that's another thing. We don't really get lore. It's just Pumpkinhead. It's a monster. Yeah. there's just There's just like the like the poem like we were talking about. like like the the The older kids know the poem and they're like taunting one of the younger siblings like, Oh, you better to watch out or Pumpkinhead's gonna get you. Something bad, Pumpkinhead's gonna get you.
Speaker: But then... they head out Lance Harrison like he forgot to bring them feed like Mr. Wallace ordered feed but then Lance Harrison forgot their house and then he leaves he's like hey Billy run the store by yourself for like a couple minutes I'll be back you're like you're like what five or six like you can run the store by yourself right
Speaker: and then yeah so he leaves and then their their dog Gypsy runs out because like joel and Joel and his brother Steve, right there they pull up their dirt bikes and are running around. And then... so so and Billy is like chasing after his dog.
Speaker: And then but get the but crazy scene where like he gets hit by the dirt bike, but Joel joel hits him with his dirt bike.
Speaker: And then... he's... He's not dead, but like I guess almost dead? He's like super badly injured from being collided with a dirt bike. Which, not to sound callous, but it didn't look like that but like bad of a hit. He kind of just like bounced off the side of it. like like He didn't get run over anything. They do show him, and he does look more mangled than like colliding with a flipping
Speaker: It's not like he got hit head on it's like the dirt bike like hit his face while it was doing a trick yeah because like i think it's like joel was like like like coming off like a is like jumping kind of doing a wheelie kind of thing and then like didn't see billy and like hits him
Speaker: Yeah, but it totally, like, obliterates this guy. Yeah. Which, I mean, i don't I don't need to see, like, this kid get, like, you know, horribly run over, but, like, I feel like there's, like, to the the way it's, like, shot, it kind of, like, it's, like, I feel like he could, like, maybe he had a broken arm or something, or, like, but not, like, mortally injured by it.
Speaker: Okay, there's also, it like the Bibirbubo Triangle, we have no sense of time in this zone. So for all I know, he was lightly injured, but it's been like a day. Yeah, and and then and these like these idiots that from the city have no idea how to i help them.
Speaker: Like a first aid. there's like They're just patting him. I don't know. col He's cold. Put a jacket on him. I don't know. raise or Raise his feet. That's a thing, right?
Speaker: But I love like Joel establishes himself as like maybe one of the most like despicable characters in horror movie history where he just like runs off. He's like, i can't get i can go I can't get caught. Like it just runs off.
Speaker: Like grabs his girlfriend just peels out of the Corvette and leaves. Everyone's like, is he leaving?
Speaker: It's funny because like the villain regrets being the villain. he sort like Joel is just like, oh no. And then books it. it's like...
Speaker: At this point, for like the viewer, we don't even know why. you know It's not like there was a hint at it. It just seemed like he freaked out, but then he still wants to be a tough guy about it.
Speaker: oh Which is like the anti-bad boy image. Because would have been like, ugh, his fault. Then it's like you Joel. Yeah.
Speaker: if you then it's like you hate joel yeah But because he's like, oh no, i gotta go. And then he's like angry at everyone else. He's like, okay, don't turn me in, guys. It becomes like a...
Speaker: Like a Stephen King villain. Where it's like he uses the bully, but now the tables have turned. And now he's just sort of like lashing out in his group. Which, it does happen. like the The movie kind of follows that logic.
Speaker: Like, that has nothing to Pumpkinhead yet. yeah Yeah. All this is, like, its own thing. This could have been a group of of teens being hunted by a vengeful, like, father.
Speaker: Oh, yeah. yeah this This whole movie could just be, like, Lance Harrison goes nuts because they killed his son. And it's like, I'm going to kill all of you now. In a modern movie, and especially in the early 2000s, this would have been a metaphor for mental illness instead of an actual mythological monster.
Speaker: Like, at the end, you realize there is no Pumpkinhead, just like the Angry Dad. But this movie, because it's based on early 80s and 90s, where, like, you can't have metaphors. It's just, like, you need an actual monster.
Speaker: And you don't also have Stan Winston and not actually have an actual monster. I think I would have been more mad at this movie. Like, i I'm not mad this movie. I like that it's a great warm-up horror movie for the season.
Speaker: like I don't think this should be the last movie you watch before Halloween ends, you know? Like, for the spooky season. This is definitely a great, like, leading up to it. Yeah, kick kick off, like, like you know, it it's coming on October 2nd, so that's, like, the perfect, like, the first first weekend of October is like, a perfect time to watch this.
Speaker: Even though in this movie, it's not like it's October. No, this is not, like, a Halloween fall movie at all. i mean, it might be, but again, geography-wise and the B'numiru triangle effect of what we got going on, this movie could be taking place during like winter, for all we know.
Speaker: oh But, yeah, the the fact that all this is nothing, it's just sort of like the backstory for Pumpkinhead to get summoned.
Speaker: Yeah. So I like that pumpkin head isn't involved in this pumpkin head didn't make Joel do this. It wasn't, he was just like, do a sick trick. like He's just a douche who like freaks out. And then like, and I love him like escalating it even like further when they get to the cabin of like, cause he gets there first with his girlfriend, Kim.
Speaker: And then the other two people in the group, uh, Basically, our like our like our final duo, guess. But like Tracy and Chris, they get there and they found like Joel ripped the phone out the wall so that everyone could call the police.
Speaker: And then chris like Chris wants to get the keys. They're like, hey, well, give me the keys. We got to get out. Like we get the police call to get some help. And he like knocks Chris out and throws them in a closet, like locks them in a closet.
Speaker: So he's like, he's like he's ripped him out of the wall, taking hostages. like just, like, not... but not not Maybe anyone called the police, and he's just like... And his whole his whole, like, explanation is that he already had an accident before, and he was drinking, so then they're gonna, like, lock him up in jail.
Speaker: i understand the the avoidance, and it's like he avoids actual punishment, because... He's drunkenly doing DMX. Not BMX, but motocross in the desert.
Speaker: Yeah. I don't get is that everyone... There's at least two cars. So... like did Did Joel take all the keys?
Speaker: Yeah, because he took his Corvette... And then I think Tracy and Chris show up in like the truck with the like but they had the trailer for the the bikes on it. And then Steve shows up after like last with like his, he's riding his dirt bike up to the the cabin.
Speaker: But yeah, I think Joel took all the keys or something. Or like he just, it's like wouldn't anyone like leave. It's like, no one can leave.
Speaker: They're going fry me if you leave. like Like, he thinks he's going to get, like, the death penalty if he like if they call it police. I mean, he might get hillbilly justice.
Speaker: but Yeah, like, yeah. He might get, like, a posse after him.
Speaker: But I like that the hillbillies just sort of just like, oh, that's why what's happening, and they just get out the way. Yep. They know, like, oh, you're gonna.
Speaker: You're gonna summon the pumpkin head. And instead of having an angry mob, you know, it's just like, oh, that's just how we solve problems here.
Speaker: But yeah, but Lance Hedrickson shows back up. You know, he's he's got, like, his his son dies. He lasts, like, a little bit and then dies. And then he goes to it's sad, though. it Yeah, it's, it's like like, his last word's, like, daddy or something, and he dies.
Speaker: and he's trying to put his glasses back on it's It's very like my girl. like He needs his glasses. You can't see. But then he goes to the Wallaces because they're like you know they're in tune with like all the local folklore and then the all the weird goings on this area.
Speaker: But like like Mr. Wallace refuses, but then Bunt, when the one of the main kid that was at the gas station, the store... is like i'll tell I'll show you where like the this person... like because like Ed is looking for a witch that summons Pumpkinhead. He knows it's some sort of like magical witch.
Speaker: So Bunt's like, yeah, I know where she is. I'll show you. yeah Bunt plays the... Opportunist. Yeah, Opportunist because he got paid, but they don't really explain how Bunt really knows. it's like I guess the grandpa knew, and then it's like everyone kind of knows in that family but then you find out later that bunt didn't really believe in pumpkin head but it's like like he like leaves the house later because like he wants to see if it's actually real i mean makes sense you don't see one too often yeah so it's like a myth and you're like well okay you want see this myth be real i get it it's also there's nothing going on in that town mean it's it's not even a town it's like they have like It's like the Wallace clan is like their like compound and then Lance Harrison has a store in his house. That's There's like a cabin that people can rent somewhere. And that's it. It's like all that's going on in this area.
Speaker: So I get why they're like, oh, we're so they're going to summon a mythical being. Okay, I'll go find out what this is.
Speaker: Wait, is that also the same night? I feel like that's the other part of the movie that keeps going. Yeah, I mean, I think this might be all like one night or like like a day or two. Because Because like Billy gets hit by the motorcycle during the day and then i think like that night is when they sign Pumpkinhead and it's like goes into like the next day or is it like the entire like night is just like Pumpkinhead rampaging around.
Speaker: think it's the one night. Yeah. It's very compressed whatever the time frame is.
Speaker: But yeah, but yeah and it goes to this witch who's named Haggis. So it's like, she has a Scottish name, but she's like like a southern, like like Cajun witch. Like, she has like like a southern accent.
Speaker: Oh, like a bayou accent. Yeah, bayou, like... you got Go dig up the... Go to the pumpkin patch. Dig up the corpse. because she She can't bring people back to the dead, but then but she can, I guess, bring back dead pumpkin heads? because Is it pumpkin head a corpse when he when like Ed digs it up?
Speaker: Yeah, well, it's like she could transform a corpse into a pumpkin head. Into a demon, yeah. She can't bring it she can't like bring it back the person back alive how they were. and I think it's more like a vengeance thing where it's like, oh, when you do this, you're swearing like this vengeance.
Speaker: So that's why it's like, are you serious? It's like, once you do this, it's on. Yeah. it's it's on Yeah, because you also find out like you're kind of like... you're Once Pumpkinhead is summoned, like it's you're like linked. The person that summit wanted Pumpkinhead to be summoned is like linked to Pumpkinhead.
Speaker: So... That's pretty interesting as like a metaphor for revenge. Where... It's like, even when you get revenge, something about you dies...
Speaker: And it's never a clean exchange. You just can't get vengeance and just be normal. it's It's also kind of like if Ed never saw it, he was fine with it. But now it like he sees the pumpkin killing everyone through the pumpkin in his eyes. So he's like, oh, this is horrible. like i like What am I doing?
Speaker: Yeah, think he was like expecting like a gas leak or something to take out the teens or something. Or or he's like, alright, I sent Pumpkinhead. He'll kill them. I'll never hear about it. They'll be just be dead. It's it's fine.
Speaker: But when he's actually experiencing it, he's like, oh, this is i don't I don't like this. This is bad.
Speaker: Before we get into that, i you know I actually thought what would happen is he turns the sun into Pumpkinhead. feel like... i feel because it's It's been a while since seen this movie, but i feel like I remember that being it. like he like It's like, oh, you had to use like the sun's body to become Pumpkinhead or something.
Speaker: yeah like it kind of goes back into the line of the Golem story or even a Frankenstein monster where... You can't bring back life, but you can create a new life out of something that's, like,
Speaker: Mm-hmm. And when Ed digs up that body, I thought it was maybe, like, his dead wife or something. Oh, jeez. Yeah.
Speaker: But then, yeah, but once Pumpkhead shows up, it's kind of it's pretty much just like Pumpkhead just goes on a rampage and starts like killing everybody, and that's like like the entire rest of the movie. There's no no like no other like subplots or anything. It's just like Pumpkhead's here. He's killing everybody.
Speaker: Pumpkhead showed up, it's too late. Unless you have, I don't know, the right at machinery or even the summoner, it's just he's coming for you. But he might play around.
Speaker: I feel like yeah he kind of like he gra like he he gets more and more like playful and like sadistic as it goes on. His first couple of kills are just straight up he just like slashes them death. Steve is the first one to get killed even though ironically he's the one that like stayed with Billy until Ed showed up. like He was wanted to be like the most helpful person. He's the first one who gets killed. Tom Gade doesn't care. It's like, oh, you're part of the group? Okay, well.
Speaker: revenge you're you're dead. Yeah. and not Is it, like... Does summoning Pumpkinhead, you have to give him a list? Or you're just like, go feel my revenge, and so the monster goes and like seeks out who he thinks did him wrong.
Speaker: i would Yeah, I would assume there's some sort of like mental link, because obviously they're linked because Ed sees him killing everybody. So like I think it's just like... Ed is like thinking about who he wants murder. Like he like that's like he's just like psychically. Like the public is picking up psychically like, oh, I have to go kill these people. I'm sure he was just like, he's like, remember, like all but all those damn city folks that showed up, like all the all them are responsible. Like go kill all of them.
Speaker: I would have liked, it would added a little bit more to the movie, but I would have liked there be like an innocent group that is next to their cabin that the pumpkin head just rampages through first.
Speaker: And then that's where the first group realizes, and that's the guilt that Ed has later. He's like, oh no, like my vengeance was, my blind vengeance is out of control.
Speaker: is i think it's like three deaths in, he's like, okay, i gotta stop this. This is not what I thought it would be. Yeah, it's it's a couple. And then he decides, like, sides like i gotta I gotta help. Like, like I gotta stop this.
Speaker: But yeah like yeah, Steve gets like steve gets like slashed and, like, I Like, does he get thrown into a tree? Or, like, he gets like thrown around the woods for a little bit? and then like Yeah, he's thrashed around.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker: And I think then it's like, it's it's his girlfriend Maggie who's like, she's been like kind of talking to her time since they hit Billy with the microcycle. But then she kind of hears, she like hears something goes on the woods.
Speaker: And then it's like, it's like classic I find her teeth where like Steve like gets dangled down in front of them. Like it's like body. And then there's a great people like pumpkin like pump me that grabs her head and like pulls her up and onto the roof.
Speaker: Yeah, there's a lot of head grabbing in this movie. Yeah, that's like one of his go-to moves, is grabbing people by the head, like throwing them around, like pulling them up into like the trees or a higher spot.
Speaker: And then it kind of an interesting, like, he, like, puts her through a window, but it's not like a Jason where, like, he throws her through the window. he kind of just, like, pushes her a little bit. Like, she's, like, halfway into the into the window i like, the countertop. He, pushes her through and then just leaves her, which I assume she's dead.
Speaker: Yeah. I mean, there's there's just there's, like, a pool of blood coming out of under the countertop, so she's dead. Yeah, but she, yeah, you're right. Like, he doesn't toss her. It's just, like, look, look, and just, like, crashes her head.
Speaker: Because that's that's like a classic Night Friday Night Friday thing. It's just like, either Jason jumps through a window or like he throws something through a window. And I think i think doesn't like i think Kim, like Joel's boyfriend, like faints.
Speaker: And then Joel just runs away. He's like, I'm out of here. he's still being like a cowardly asshole. Just like runs away. i don't want anything do with this. Bye. Yeah.
Speaker: I mean, his brother is killed and he, I guess he can't process all that because everything's happening all at once. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: What's also weird, too, is, like, he, I think i think but at this point, he, let like, he lets Tracy and Chris out of the closet that he locked them in, and then they're all kind of just, like, but they're, like like, back on his side of, like, i guess, i I mean, because the monster's attacking them, so I guess there there's, like, no point of, like, lingering on, like, him, like, locking them in the closet, but there's like they're, like, so back on his side, like, Chris is, like, goes out the woods with him, like, he's, like, yeah, we gotta fight Steve, man, let's go! and they're like, he's, like, hugging him later, he's, like, it's okay, man, Steve, like, it's, it's like, I love Steve, too, man. Like,
Speaker: mean We don't mind you kidnapping us for four hours in the pantry. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, it's a quick jump. This would have been another like development throughout the whole movie, but like everything we're describing happens within don't know, like 40 minutes between the resurrection of Pumpkinhead and the hunting and then the killing. It's It's like, i remember right at the scene when Lance Henderson gives Steve the death look of like, oh, how dare you? like Yeah.
Speaker: It's such a like sharp look and it's way more sinister and like you definitely could feel the hate and Steve's just like alright I hope you blow over you whileila I love Steve's like when he gets back to the cabin he's like oh it's so it's so it's it's cool his dad showed up it's i think it's gonna fine it's it'll be alright Yeah, I'm like, how old is Steve? He does not recognize the the daggers being stared at him. Well, he does say, like, and then, like, Joel's like, are you, like, really? That's how it went? He's like, well, it looked like, he of looked like he wanted to murder us.
Speaker: Okay, so he's just, like, comfort line and, you know, realize that what he he did worse. But, yeah, from there on, the movie just, like, it's just a fast-paced hour,
Speaker: Yeah. Very efficient. like doesn that stopping Doesn't really stop for anything. you' just like yeah Everyone just gets like, started getting taken out by Pumpkinhead. good But almost, like you could tell they could have paced this section better, where Lance Anderson pops back up after just the three original survivors are left.
Speaker: Yeah, because because Kim also gets killed. Kim is another pumpkin that drops her from like a crazy height, like like a really high like just spot, and like that's like what kills her. She like ends on a rock and like snaps her neck, snaps her back.
Speaker: yeah He climbs like a giant tree. Yeah. And it's a good it's a great visual shot. And then he drops her like it's an amusement ride where it's like, you have the sling or something, like the bungee.
Speaker: Yeah. Except she has nothing, so she just does a swan dive onto a rock. Because I'm like, oh, okay, wo tall tree, maybe she'll break her leg. No, oh no, don't know. It's like perfectly like on her spine.
Speaker: And yeah, that point, it's just... Okay, well, we got no weapons. well joel Joel's machete, he's trying fight Pumpkinhead with a machete, but he just gets swatted away eat like like a bug. and then but You figure Joel's specialty you would be riding his motocross bike into it or something.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah like well, the dirt bikes pay off a little bit at the end, but like there's yeah Joel's not trying to do like a wheelie and like hit Pumpkinhead with a bike or anything, which would have been kind of awesome, but...
Speaker: But yeah, but Ed shows up, shoots his pumpkin head. And then, i mean, i I think maybe the best kill is Joel, because he he also brought a rifle, which is like another thing you like. it be His introduction is like he has a rifle. yeah He's always bringing a rifle with him anywhere he goes.
Speaker: Like his girlfriend's like, why do you have a rifle with you? He's like, I don't know. You never know when someone's going to pop off.
Speaker: that's like the excuse to bring that. But this is also the of like country. So everyone has has a gun. Yeah.
Speaker: But he has the like classic mistake of like, oh, I'm going to go i'm gonna go kick Pumpkin in the head and make sure he's dead. And then Pumpkin grabs him by the like the leg and knocks him down. And then picks up his rifle. And it looks like, oh, is Pumpkin going to shoot him? It's like, no, he's going to stab him with a gun.
Speaker: it spears through him. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Because, yeah, I guess Pumgaddy can't kind comprehend like how to shoot a gun, but it's just like, oh, it's it's a a stick thing. I can stab it into him.
Speaker: So then, yeah, so then Joel's dead, which is... is I feel like he like he should have been kind of like the last person killed. Well, I guess yeah i guess he technically he is, because it's like you have like the final... There's not there's like a final girl, but there's also like a final guy.
Speaker: yeah that a final couple, which is a...
Speaker: shocker because they have they had nothing to do whatsoever with the the the bike yeah there yeah they were just there was like tried along like like these two brothers on their dirt bike trip yeah it's not like they were mean to like any of the the townspeople and if if anything they wanted to call the cops and report like you know joel yeah and They got locked in a closet, so... As if the movie's preparing them to be a backup protagonist.
Speaker: I don't know. i was kind of shocked that like it was just down to those guys from the original group. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: and well trace tracy Tracy feels like a final girl. yeah. which As soon as she's like, oh, that's the final girl. Well, she's the one that has like the 80s hair and is the like is slowly getting more calm with what's going on.
Speaker: So that's the indicator that you're going survive until the end. is You can scream a bit which when appropriate, but when you start like looking around and you're trying to find objects,
Speaker: But yeah, but they're trying to get help. they get they They end up in like the Wallace clan compound, and they're like the Wallace's aren't letting them in And then that's when like Bunch is like, hey, I'm going to sneak of room and now I'm going to help these guys, because I i can see if Pumpkinhead's actually real or not. And it's like, oh, yeah, he is. he's going to try to murder you, too.
Speaker: And they go to that, they there's like an abandoned church that like, they think it's like, oh, it's holy ground. Maybe he won't, maybe he won't like, want to be here. It's like, oh he's fine. but get get He's not worried about that. He'll just like crash to his church.
Speaker: Yeah, I like that Bunt's move is like, this is holy ground. Like, this isn't Highlander. yeah I mean, it kind of makes sense because it's it's like a demonic entity, but like... it's I guess it's i mean it's not really like satanic. It's like magical. like It's like... i It's bayou magic? magic.
Speaker: That's another thing. We have to realize that this is like a voodoo movie more than a Christian-themed monster or anything. you know It's just...
Speaker: For whatever reason, this is an American monster. It's not like the demon showed up and started speaking ancient Italian or something. Yeah. Or some, like, like Carpathian narration. it just It shows up and it tries to morph. That's another thing.
Speaker: As Lance Henderson is experiencing Pumpkinhead. Pumpkinhead, I guess, is experiencing Ed Hardy. Like, like it it's slowly morphing.
Speaker: Yeah, like Pumpkinhead's becoming more human-like. Because like his it like his face is like very like demonic, kind of like alien. like it's And then by the end of it, it's like... i think it's supposed to like it look like Lance Henderson's face a little bit.
Speaker: And then Lance Hanks, his eyes are becoming like monstrous. like He's becoming more of like a monster and the pumpkin's are becoming more of like a a human. because Because they're like becoming more and more like of each other.
Speaker: I wonder how he's going smarter, too. Because he's getting more and more of Ed's human brain. like so he's like, oh, I can like i can like come up with like more complex plans now.
Speaker: Because that is that's what I kind of like so like my theory about it is like he's like because he's like transforming into becoming more human or like gaining like more human characteristics. Like that's how he is able to like cope with like his crazy like dirt bikes scheme or trap.
Speaker: We're like. he Like, Public Guy puts like one of the dirt bikes at the end of like this bridge. And then Chris is like, oh, hey, this dirt bike, illll I'll jump on it and like get help right away and help on this dirt bike. And then turns out Public Guy took the chain off the dirt bike. He like holds it up is like, ha ha, I got you. That's true. you like That's where I thought that was just the...
Speaker: the the writing just sort of like he now becomes more of a Freddy Krueger type villain. Yeah, because that's like his like most complicated, like like he's taunting them. It's like like he's set up a trap. like It's like his most complicated like attempt to like kill someone.
Speaker: But then he just like throws Chris on the bike, like throws against a tree.
Speaker: And then... Yeah, the Tracy, Bunt, Ed, they'll they'll run to Ed's house because Ed's like, has like some sort of like final plan of like, I'm like i'm gonna kill Pumpkinhead. Which, it's Chekhov's flamethrower because he, like, he's introduced, his introduction this movie like, he's shirtless with a flamethrower like burning stuff with like outside his house.
Speaker: And then, puts the flamethrower away and then like, at end of the movie, it's like, oh yeah, he's a flamethrower. i forgot that. I wasn't paying attention to the beginning where he's using a flamethrower.
Speaker: I guess, I mean, yeah, yeah you're you're in the middle of a desert. You can just, I guess you you just have a flamethrower. Just like, just like burn stuff. You want to what do you want. Who's going to call the cops? Mm hmm.
Speaker: But then it's like, it's like, but it's it's the big, like, big fight conflict, like, battle. And then when and when when when Ed, like, so comes out, the like, he's in his barn, like, working on, like, some sort of like, way to kill Pumpkinhead. And then when he comes out, he accidentally stabs himself with, like, on, like, a pitchfork.
Speaker: And then Pumpkinhead also, like, reacts like he got stabbed. So then, like, Ed kind of, like, finally puts together, like, oh, whatever happens to me happens to Pumpkinhead. We're, like, basically the same person now. which she which I feel like should have realized that earlier because like he like something happened to him and Pumpkinhead reacted the same way. like He got shot and Pumpkinhead... He got hit by something or did something Pumpkinhead was like, ow! He like reacted.
Speaker: But then this is when he finally realizes that, like that oh, if if whatever like i can like I have to kill myself. That's the only way killed Pumpkinhead.
Speaker: I thought maybe he would remember his son and then Pumpkinhead gets emotional or something. Yeah, that would have been a good twist. If you think positive things and stops his rampage, he just goes away. Yeah, like the vengeance part is sort of like dissipates because love conquers all. apparently it's a bullet.
Speaker: Yeah. Which, I mean, it's nuts because Ed shoots himself in the head, but apparently, like, it's, like, it didn't work, or he missed, I mean, he didn't miss, but like he's still, like, he's still going.
Speaker: i guess it's, uh, it's, like, not enough. Yeah, he he missed, like, a vital part of his brain or something, I know. assuming maybe it's, like, because there's more Pumpkinhead in Ed now.
Speaker: Yeah. he He has supernatural, like, like stamina now, too.
Speaker: But then... so then Tracy, like, being the final girl, or the part of the final couple, like, she has to get the gun and just blast Ed away with, like, all the rest of the bullets, like, shoots him, like, in the chest, like, five times, and he's finally... Then he dies.
Speaker: Pumpkinhead dies, and Pumpkinhead, like, burns up. Yeah, the the Pumpkinhead burning is such a late delay effect. Like, it like yeah it's funny, like, he catches him off guard, like, oh, oh fire! oh Look out!
Speaker: Because Chris is like trying to crawl over to them, and like he's like barely away from like the pumpkin corpse, they catch in the fire. like, oh, jeez!
Speaker: And then we get like the like last quiz like, at some point, I guess Haggis came and got Ed's corpse, and and then turned him into...
Speaker: the next but whenever she summons pumpkin head again and it'll be ed because it's like they show the body with like his necklace that son made for him around his neck so it's like he's getting buried in the pumpkin patch right it's like the next cycle continues ed's vengeance is this is his like consequences yeah that's your price for your vengeance
Speaker: Although, do you think i mean do you think if he had just let Pumpkinhead go through his normal course and like kill kill them all, like would he still have like died to become the next Pumpkinhead? Or like would Pumpkinhead just, when he dug up, would just go back to like the cemetery? No, I think it's like an exchange.
Speaker: like Maybe the other one burns and goes away, and then... he has Yeah, he has to be... the That was used up, now you you're the next one? Yeah, I could see that.
Speaker: It's probably more explained in the comic that came out like years later. Yeah, there's there's a like surprising amount of like additional media for Pumpkinhead. There's a book series, there's three sequels, there's a video game, like a Doom-style first-person shooter. There was supposed to be a remake in 2021, that was in pre-production, but who knows where that goes.
Speaker: The Misfits had a song called Pumpkinhead. Which is a good song.
Speaker: i The Famous Monsters is all these songs based on movies that they saw. But I feel like Pumpkinhead... I'm more familiar with post-the movie and all that. like When it was just on TV a lot and and you hear the songs and the people reference it. But Pumpkinhead is not exactly...
Speaker: it's It's not exactly a mainstream monster. No, it's like it's like a deeper cut cult. If you're in 80s horror, you're like staying with and stuff, then it's like, oh yeah, Pumpkinhead.
Speaker: It's a cool design, but it's not as iconic the Predator a Terminator or an alien something. like a terminator like an alienliator or something
Speaker: like it's yeahs It's lacking a complete theming because the head is like an alien. The whole body looks like a pale xenomorph.
Speaker: but there's no theming where he turns people to a pumpkin or he hangs on only in a pumpkin patch.
Speaker: And then if anything, it's the Bayou, which is like the Appalachian mountains, which is not what I think about pumpkins. Yeah.
Speaker: If he was like moonshine based something, then yeah. Moonshine, maybe like a cougar. Or a... A
Speaker: dirt bike? I don't know. I just... I can't get over the fact that this is really just like a dirt bike incident that goes wrong and then Pumpkin gets summoned.
Speaker: Because a couple of jackasses were just like jumping around on dirt bikes. Like right behind a Gabin store, they couldn't go further away. that's what Yeah, it's like, because Joel's like, i can't I can't wait anymore. I gotta rip up. I gotta rip these doing this hills up on my du dirt bike.
Speaker: It's like, I'm tired waiting.
Speaker: You can't wait until you get to the cabin and drive around there where there's no one else around. It's safe. Nope, gotta do it right here, right now. In front of this kid.
Speaker: I got my sweet moves, kid. I gotta show this little kid how awesome I am on this dirt bike. and nothing says like a stable adult that's trying to impress a kid
Speaker: check check out this uh no hand can can this super was this is like no anime invented yet like the motocross that like x game style Oh, this is not even X Games yet. This is just... Look at how much air I got. That's like it that it's all that matters is the air. These are people that saw the movie Rad and we were just like, we could do this.
Speaker: But dirt bikes, it's it's cooler.
Speaker: but was there like a i' heard Was there like a dirt bike... the like equivalent of like rad or like you know like we had like for skateboarding there's like thrashing like mean there probably was I just can't name it
Speaker: cause it's like yeah we saw we we saw that movie we bought dirt bikes and there's no training just go and do this do do it while you're drunk too that's the other thing I mean, what's more cooler?
Speaker: Because he's like, I've been drinking.
Speaker: gotta get out of here
Speaker: Don't tell my mom.
Speaker: Yes, he's like, I'm gonna call i'm gonna call mom. She'll come and get us.
Speaker: But yeah, Pumpkinhead, super fun. and i mean, it's super quick, too. like this is is like this It breezes by. I mean, it's it's like... By the time you like you realize that it's over.
Speaker: So, a nice, quick, fun way to kick off the Halloween season. Yeah, it's just like a simple, almost Tales from the Crypt-style story. Yeah. Extended effects and backstory. But you don't really need that much of the This is a demon. You make a deal with the witch who doesn't tell you that it's let's like this revenge is way rougher than and it is. And that...
Speaker: Yeah, like once you start this path of revenge, you're pretty much stuck on it.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah does yeah does does no mention about how you'd be psychically linked to like this monster and see all the murders.
Speaker: Which, you if you're actually going after one person, probably five like you're probably like, alright, that was rough, but now it's done because I just wanted to kill that one person. But Lance Hargors is like, I'm going to kill like six people. And he did not want to be part of that ride.
Speaker: But yes, I think they'll do it for this week. Come back next week. We're going experiencing Hell on Earth and talking about Hellraiser 3 because it's kind of a Hellraiser like renaissance right now. we got Hollywood Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood have big Hellraiser mazes this year. And next week is Hellraiser... What is the... is it What's the name of the game? Hellraiser... The game? revival Oh, Hellraiser Revival is out.
Speaker: which actually I played a demo, and actually it's it seems like a pretty cool game if you're into... It's a little bit like Outlast, little bit like Resident Evil 7, kind of, or the Resident Evil first-person ones. from From the same team that made the Robocop and Terminator Resistance games.
Speaker: So that's also out. So yeah, we'll be diving into the the big, splashy 90s version of Hellraiser, where they got like a... I think it made the biggest biggest biggest budget one.
Speaker: So they had like tons of Cenobites, tons of like... It was like outside in Los Angeles, like them just going on a rampage.
Speaker: So we'll dig into all that next week. And head over to all of our users up there. We got news reviews, trailers. We actually have our commentary up for September. If you want to check that out, it's Masterminds, the 1997 Patrick Stewart takes over a school movie.
Speaker: so you can check that out with us.
Speaker: And also our monthly video game review, GameBox 2.0 should be up as well. as you can check out what games we played for September. And all your usual reviews, shows all your other stuff that goes up on the site is up there, never checking all stuff out.
Speaker: And yeah, so for Chris, I'm Zach, and we will see you next week.
