Pumpkinhead

Play trailer

Pumpkinhead

R

1988

1h 26m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After his son dies in a hit-and-run accident, Ed Harley seeks revenge against the teenagers responsible. With the help of a local witch, Ed summons the vengeful demon Pumpkinhead to hunt and kill the group of friends. But when Ed discovers a bond between himself and the creature, he begins to have second thoughts about employing the vicious monster, and he fights to end Pumpkinhead's murderous rampage before it is too late.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

With effects work and solid direction from Stan Winston -- and Lance Henriksen adding welcome gravitas -- Pumpkinhead is a creature feature that stands a cut above.

Read Critics Reviews

Henry Mietkiewicz

Toronto Star

Aug 14

Who could have guessed that, despite its gruesome moments, this low-budget thriller would turn out to be a surprisingly satisfying little morality tale in the best horror tradition.

Go to Full Review

Victoria Mather

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Aug 14

The standard sort of video schlock.

Go to Full Review

Harper Barnes

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Aug 14

If you are looking for gore, you are going to have trouble with Pumpkinhead because almost all the action takes place in very dim light...

Go to Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

Dec 17

3/5

Winston's creature is as awesomely frightening and brilliantly constructed and offers more than enough feral scream-lined chills to thrill along to.

Go to Full Review

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

Aug 14

3/4

Pumpkinhead is literally about the impossibility of objective violence–every action, no matter how intimate or remote, has a spiritual impact on both victim and perpetrator. It’s a surprisingly rich vein for something like this to mine, and it resonates.

Go to Full Review

Michael D. Reid

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

Aug 14

1/5

A film that ultimately fails to deliver the goods.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Dec 5

Pumpkinhead turned out to be a far better horror film than expected, especially considering its cheesy cover and old-school reputation. Instead of relying on cheap jump scares or excessive gore like many modern horror movies, it builds tension through atmosphere, shadows, and strong emotional stakes. The screenplay isn’t perfect, but it delivers a cohesive story that keeps the creature frightening and unpredictable. Pumpkinhead’s design is genuinely unsettling, and the director uses him sparingly enough to keep viewers on edge, never quite sure where he’ll strike next. The performances are surprisingly heartfelt, grounding the supernatural horror in real human emotion. With its practical effects, moody cinematography, and slow-burn suspense, Pumpkinhead becomes a compelling creature feature that holds up decades later. It’s a perfect pick for Halloween season and a reminder of how effective classic horror can be when built on tension instead of CGI.

See more

Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 27

I enjoyed Pumpkin Head, because I was curious about it for a long time. When I got around to it, I wasn't disappointed. Only watch in October or November.

See more

V P.

@DoubleEvent Oct 22

This has been a long time favorite since childhood. It’s a good creature feature that actually tells a lesson to it’s audience.

See more

Lucas T.

@LukkenHadduken Oct 19

It’s kinda bad, but in an enjoyable way. The creature is great, but the acting is pretty rough.

See more

Daniel G.

@Danthemoviebuff89 Oct 18

Such an underrated Halloween Horror Flick with fantastic special effects from Stan Winston and a great performance from Lance Henriksen.

See more

Robson C

@RT82519826 Oct 7

Quando um grupo de jovens mata acidentalmente o seu filho, Ed Harley é tomado por um sentimento de vingança e vai até uma bruxa, que desperta um ser do inferno para vingá-lo. Típico filme de terror dos anos 80, ele foi dirigido por Stan Winston, um famoso mestre dos efeitos visuais. E isso é bem valorizado aqui. O filme não tem muito orçamento, mas a criatura é bem assustadora e bem feita. O filme não perde tempo e vai direto ao assunto. E é mais valorizado pelo trabalho de Lance Henriksen, que se sai muito bem como o pai vingativo. Boa diversão.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Stan Winston

Director

Lance Henriksen

Ed Harley

Jeff East

Chris

John D'Aquino

Joel

Kimberly Ross

Kim

Joel Hoffman

Steve

Maximum Overdrive

14%

50%

Maximum Overdrive

Watchlist

Child's Play

64%

66%

Child's Play

Watchlist

Friday the 13th Part VII -- The New Blood

31%

37%

Friday the 13th Part VII -- The New Blood

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Friday the 13th Part VII -- The New Blood

Phantasm II

33%

57%

Phantasm II

Watchlist

Child's Play 2

50%

54%

Child's Play 2

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After his son dies in a hit-and-run accident, Ed Harley seeks revenge against the teenagers responsible. With the help of a local witch, Ed summons the vengeful demon Pumpkinhead to hunt and kill the group of friends. But when Ed discovers a bond between himself and the creature, he begins to have second thoughts about employing the vicious monster, and he fights to end Pumpkinhead's murderous rampage before it is too late.

Director: Stan Winston
Producer: Howard Smith, Richard Weinman, Bill Blake
Screenwriter: Mark Patrick Carducci, Gary Gerani
Distributor: United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: De Laurentiis
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 13, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.0M
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround