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From the fellas that brought you Leprechaun, comes Rumplestiltskin, a mid-90s horror-comedy that, though direct-to-video, still retains the feeling of a movie that was intended for the big screen. Now, don't get me wrong, that does not mean that the movie has any of the panache of a studio flick. No, in fact, it unabashedly revels in plot-hole ridden, campy mayhem. If you're looking for a fun romp then look no further. If you're easily derailed by nonsense then maybe keep away.
Like any good horror flick, your villain has to shine in order for you to make a lasting impression. I'm glad to say that ol' Rump does just that...in spades. First off, the makeup and design from industry legend Kevin Yagher is pretty great! Leaning on the actor's unique features and striking the right balance between outlandish and feasible, the creature looks fantastic. Good makeup can only do so much, however. What of he performance? Fret not, Max Grodenchik is a hoot and a holler as ol' Rumpy! From his obviously taxing performance to his relentless one-liners, the ol' guy ends up being a charmer no matter what tonal whiplash the movie takes you through.
Our heroes are played by a duo that play off each other extremely well. Much like the movie itself they are from two different worlds, making their dynamic that of a straight man (or woman, in this case) and an insufferable doofus. Credit where credit is due, the film somehow manages to make the arrogant and annoying lead into one of its best elements. Don't expect any star-turning roles but do expect serviceable people doing better than expected jobs and clearly having fun doing it.
And, really, that's the name of the game with this picture: FUN. No one had delusions of grandeur, they merely set out to make a wild romp and logic be damned! I can dig it and lovers of movies that are so bad their good will too. This is how its done! Want a ghoul riding motorcycles and semis in a hunt for a baby's soul for....reasons? Cool, let's do that and throw all the camp and craziness we can into the mix!
Rumplestiltskin is what Leprechaun could of (and should have) been. No hate on the Lep but his first outing, though memorable, was tame compared to the crazy fun that followed. Rumple starts off crazy and makes sure that, if you're never going to see him again, you sure as hell will remember him.
Openly flawed, gleefully self-aware, devilishly delirious, and a time capsule of a long gone era, Rumplestiltskin is exactly what a good trashy movie should be.
