Sometimes, films are unjustly judged. Other times, popular opinion needs to be challenged. Either way, our review of Leprechaun will almost definitely be Unpopularity Content.
It’s fair to say that the horror-comedy genre isn’t exactly flush with titles. It takes a lot to strike the delicate balance between scares and laughs without letting either cancel the other out. The risks of such movies often outweigh the potential rewards (for studios, at least). It When it comes to cautionary tales, it seems there are few better than Leprechaun.
The film has since garnered something of a cult following thanks to stars Jennifer Aniston and Warwick Davis. Naturally, Davis plays the titular creature, who effectively hunts Aniston’s character and her friends in search of his gold, which was stolen from him years before. Pretty simple premise, no?
In truth, Leprechaun is an uncomplicated film. It takes a bare-bones horror premise and applies a heavy dose of pseudo-folklore, and in many ways, it’s probably only remembered decades later due to its main actors. However, it actually does much more than just play fast and loose with mythology.
Leprechaun’s Charm Stems Solely From Its Smallest Star
If you want us to say it’s a clever movie, you’re going to be disappointed. Leprechaun‘s story is about as shallow as they come, and its narrative developments are telegraphed and clichéd. However, it actually manages to be a far better movie than its horrific critical reception would suggest. Ultimately, that’s all down to Warwick Davis’s performance.
Davis is excellent as the eponymous magical being, balancing malevolence with a flair for comedy. The design and writing also cater to this: while the creature manages to send the occasional shiver up our spines, he’s also making us laugh consistently through bizarre set pieces that keep Leprechaun feeling playful.
It’s in this levity that the film finds its saving grace. Without such unexpected moments of comedy as the skateboard scene, the tricycle, or the pogo stick, it would play out like every other by-the-numbers horror of the ’90s. But by embracing the sheer ridiculousness of its own premise, it manages to be every bit as wacky as one might hope (while still offering enough tension to see us enjoy the film to the end).
Rating: 55%
Summary: Leprechaun may not be the most competent horror (or the most competent comedy), but it’s still a lot of fun. It’s silly, campy nonsense that revels in being exactly that.
Highlight: The scenes in which the leprechaun welds a makeshift car out of scrap metal, rides a skateboard back and forth across a hallway, and chases Jennifer Aniston in a full-sized wheelchair all stand out. It’s utter madcap nonsense, and it’s quietly brilliant.