Pumpkinhead

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Year:	1988
Country of origin:	USA
Director:	Stan Winston
Genre:	Vengeance demons ahoy
Starring:	Lance Henriksen, Jeff East, Kimberly Ross, John D'Aquino
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095925/
Tagline:	Cruel, devious, pure as venom. All hell's broken loose.
Favourite line:	"God is the only thing that can stop what's out there…"

Directed by special effects guru Stan 'Aliens' Winston, this is a straight horror tale with real atmosphere.

Ed Harley (Henriksen) loses his young son in a motorbiking accident and vows revenge on the culprit, a drink driver evading the law, and seeks the assistance of an old woman, allegedly a witch, who agrees to help him but warns him there will be a price.
A monstrous vengeance demon known as Punpkinhead (!) is summoned and sets about righting the wrong, as only vengeance demons know how.

Whilst the plot is at best vaguely amusing, the atmospherics and dynamics of the visuals elevate this tale from the humdrum.
Lance Henriksen is always watchable, a genuine screen presence, and the supporting cast do a decent enough job too.
With Winston at the helm, you would expect the effects to be top notch and indeed they are, proper old school physical effects that have gravity and substance.
Whilst hardly contender for movie of the decade, this is nevertheless a satisfyingly spooky affair that should entertain most blood ghouls out there.