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Pumpkinhead

Play trailer Poster for Pumpkinhead R Released Jan 13, 1988 1h 26m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After his son dies in a hit-and-run accident, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) seeks revenge against the teenagers responsible. With the help of a local witch (Florence Schauffler), 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.
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Pumpkinhead

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Henry Mietkiewicz Toronto Star 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. Aug 14, 2025 Full Review Victoria Mather Daily Telegraph (UK) The standard sort of video schlock. Aug 14, 2025 Full Review Harper Barnes St. Louis Post-Dispatch 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... Aug 14, 2025 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central 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. Rated: 3/4 Aug 14, 2025 Full Review Michael D. Reid Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada) A film that ultimately fails to deliver the goods. Rated: 1/5 Aug 14, 2025 Full Review John Wooley Tulsa World Pumpkinhead is at its best when its impressive monster is only seen in glimpses, rather than in a full shot. Rated: 3/5 Aug 14, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leprechaun K An 80's monster/horror classic, with wonderful performances by Henriksen and other supporting actors. Directed by the one and only Stan Winston. It is still enjoyable to watch almost 40 years later. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/23/25 Full Review Aldis H I've watched it three times at least. Unquestionably iconic. When the kid says, "Pumpkinhead's real!" I just about fall out of my chair. I almost put it on a t-shirt. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/18/25 Full Review Garry A There is a scary looking old lady that conjures up Pumpkinhead. It looks like an alien and nothing like a pumpkin. It's a little better than an average horror flick. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/27/25 Full Review Blu B It's not bad actually. The cinematography is good and the strongest thing about it. The lighting in this even in the dark scenes is really good. The sets are memorable and the practical effects are really good. Hats off to the creature design as well. It's really cool and is like a hybrid of the Xenomorph from Alien and a demon mixed together. It's really memorable and so cool they did it the old fashioned way. It's aged remarkably well. Everything else besides the acting is half decent about it. The biggest issue is while the story is pretty simple it lacks a focused narrative. Half the time it's Hendrickson's character in like a Pet Semetary style setup almost. Than it becomes about the stock teenagers who all blend in terribly. The characters in this are just alright honestly and easily the weakest thing. The kills are very over the top and don't really set each other apart. They all just kind of blend in. There also is plenty of over the top moments in this as well like Hendrickson's shooting himself in the head but still being alive, the acting in general is very campy, and the old witch character is so over the top too. It mixes horror, a creature feature, and dark fantasy together pretty well honestly and has good direction. But it just needed more memorable characters besides the monster, a more focused narrative, and maybe more substance or style with it's kills. If your a fan of 80's horror flicks though or any actors in this than maybe give this a watch. It's pretty quick as well and doesn't overstay it's welcome or drag at all. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Nick O Lance Henriksen really stills the show in this backwoods hillbilly revenge demon, not-so-urban legend tale. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/03/25 Full Review Farah R It’s impossible to predict that a film titled Pumpkinhead will have some of the best cinematography and atmosphere and special effects and creature design. For a B-movie, it goes the extra mile making sure every detail is taken into account and it shows in the final product. Pumpkinhead is one of the most well-made horror movies of the 80s. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Pumpkinhead

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Movie Info

Synopsis After his son dies in a hit-and-run accident, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) seeks revenge against the teenagers responsible. With the help of a local witch (Florence Schauffler), 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
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