“Pumpkinhead” is a surprisingly great movie that stands the
test of time! It’s been over twenty years since I last saw it from beginning to
end, but watching it last night made it feel like I was seeing it for the first
time. As a teen, I could care less about the setup in the beginning, all I
wanted to see was Pumpkinhead killing people and seeing who lived and who dies
and how. Now, I see a movie that is about a man’s journey and the choices he
makes and how he’s forced to live with them. From the heart wrenching tragedy, to
the wicked agreement to summon a demon to kill those responsible, and finally
to the turning point when he realizes that what he did was wrong and takes the responsibility
to end his agreement with the demon. I can only wonder if he would have had the
moment of change if he didn’t know exactly what was happening to the teens as
they died; would he have still felt the guilt or would his vengeance be satisfied?
This film has very little to do with the teens that are chased and killed or
the demon Pumpkinhead, it’s all about Ed Harley and that’s a wonderfully
refreshing change.
Lance Henriksen shines as Ed Harley, a famer and store owner
who lives alone with his young son and dog. He loves his son dearly and is
devastated beyond belief when his son dies in a careless accident. In his grief
and rage, Ed makes a pact with a witch and summons the local demon of vengeance,
Pumpkinhead. The demon goes straight to work and begins killing the teens that
were with the man responsible for the accident. But with every death, Ed takes
a step closer in becoming one with Pumpkinhead, first by seeing what the demon
sees, and then finally a physical resemblance between the two appears as the
deal comes near its end.
Ed Harley and his son Billy
Pumpkinhead, who reminds me of a xenomorph from "Alien"
Pumpkinhead turning into Ed Harley
Ed Harley turning into Pumpkinhead
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