Joe Dante’s horror-comedy Gremlins is a seminal film of the 1980s, striking the perfect balance between big laughs and scares. Its legacy has endured for over 40 years, with a sequel, toys, and an animated series, and a place in cinematic history as one of the films that led to the creation of the PG-13 rating.
The film follows Billy Peltzer, who receives a Mogwai named Gizmo as a Christmas gift, despite strict instructions for its care. When Gizmo spawns into other, more malevolent Mogwai, Billy must team up with Gizmo to save his town from destruction.
The novelization of Gremlins, written by George Gipe, takes many liberties with Chris Columbus’ screenplay, providing an in-depth history of the Mogwai. According to the novel, the Mogwai originate from a distant planet, where they were created to be peaceful and intelligent, and were sent to other planets to inspire peaceful coexistence.
The novel also reveals that there are two types of Mogwai: the minority, represented by Gizmo, who are gentle and intelligent, and the majority, who are less intelligent and more volatile. The minority Mogwai are the result of an accidental mutation, and Gizmo is one of the lucky ones.
Joe Dante, the film’s director, has publicly stated that the novelization is not canon and has his own theory about the origin of the Mogwai, stating that they came from China, the result of the mating of a dragon and a panda.
Despite the filmmakers’ disagreement with the novel’s mythology, it provides an interesting perspective on the characters and their motivations. The book is a must-read for fans of the franchise, offering a wealth of new information and insights into the world of Gremlins.