Pumpkinhead returns with a new 4K scan from the original camera negative!

What a sad, sad story of one man’s tragic revenge.  Another viewing of Stan Winston’s Pumpkinhead, newly remastered and released from Shout Factory, confirms this for me.  This cult classic and its following seems to get more reputable every single year that passes and for good reason; there is not a lot inherently wrong with this movie.  Shake it down to the foundations and still Pumpkinhead stands tall atop the mountain of gore.

Starring Lance Henriksen, Jeff East and John D’Aquino, this is the tale of a father mourning the sudden killing of his young son.  Henriksen plays Ed Harley, a soft-spoken and protective shop owner in the country, and Ed, as he battles through the woeful grief he feels once his young son is accidentally killed by a group of snot-nosed teenagers, has a secret weapon.  He knows of an ancient ritual that may help him through his grief.

The witch (Florence Schauffer) he seeks out warns him of the powers he is meddling with.  Ed won’t listen.  He is blinded by his hate and grief and loss.  Unfortunately, his vengeance will come at a terrible price once Pumpkinhead (Tom Woodruff, Jr.), the eight-foot tall demon, climbs out from the earth to follow Ed’s orders.  The fine line reads that Pumpkinhead cannot be stopped unless the one who summons him is silenced forever.

Directed by Stan Winston, Pumpkinhead is a seriously great morality tale that is rich in setting and mood.  Winston may allow for some camp to bleed through from time to time in some of the performances but that just adds to the overall feel of the 1980s production.  It certainly doesn’t detract from its charm.  There is a knowing guide behind this production that knows enough about human beings to psychologically stir them.

Pumpkinhead, inspired by Ed Justin’s poem of the same name, has a wicked design.  While the demon never gets the credit he deserves as a monster killer of typical slasher-genre proportions, the pronounced look to the overall design is sweet.  Winston and his team apparently used unused design ideas from Predator and gave the monster something of a facelift.

Both terrifying and tragic, the film is a conceptual gem and Scream Factory absolutely delivers in their handling of Winston’s film.  Try as you might, there’s no keeping away Pumpkinhead.

SteelBook / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on4K - December 3, 2024
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

When a group of teenagers inadvertently kill his only son, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen, Aliens) seeks the powers of a backwoods witch to bring the child back to life. But instead, she invokes "the pumpkinhead" – a monstrously clawed demon which, once reborn, answers only to Ed's bloodlust. But as the creature wreaks its slow, unspeakable torture on the teens, Ed confronts a horrifying secret about his connection to the beast – and realizes that he must find a way to stop its deadly mission before he becomes one with the creature forever. Also starring Jeff East (Deadly Blessing), Joel Hoffman (Slumber Party Massacre II) and Kerry Remsen (A Nightmare On Elm Street 2) delivers demonic horror at its blood-drenched best.

VIDEO

Proudly released from Scream Factory, the newly minted transfer is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic ratio.  The high-resolution transfer brings out the beauty in the set design and in Stan Winston’s creature design.  Black levels are strong throughout.  Colors are a bit dull and autumn-like but that is more in keeping with the overall design of the film. 

AUDIO

The audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and 5.1. The 5.1 mix spreads out the sound so you hear more creaking.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• Includes effects creators Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis along with co-screenwriter Gary Gerani.  Interestingly enough, the guys admit that some of Pumpkinhead’s creature effects were unused in Predator.

Special Features:

Once again, Shout Factory delivers the goods when it comes to providing exquisite supplemental material.   We get a tribute to Stan Winston, a look at the creature on location, the toy of Pumpkinhead, and a look at some of the script issues that plagued the shoot.  We also get two really nice interviews, a gallery of stills and promotional offers, and the theatrical trailer.

DISC ONE (4K UHD):

• NEW 2023 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative
• In Dolby Vision (HDR-10 Compatible)
• Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Audio Commentary With Co-Screenwriter Gary Gerani And Creature & FX Creators Tom Woodruff Jr. And Alec Gillis, Moderated By Filmmaker Scott Spiegel

DISC TWO (BLU-RAY):

• NEW 2023 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative
• Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Audio Commentary With Co-Screenwriter Gary Gerani And Creature & FX Creators Tom Woodruff Jr. And Alec Gillis, Moderated By Filmmaker Scott Spiegel
• Remembering The Monster Kid – A Tribute To Stan Winston – Featuring Interviews With Actors Lance Henriksen And Brian Bremer, And Special Effects Artists Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. And Shannon Shea
• Night Of The Demon – An Interview With Producer Richard Weinman
• The Redemption of Joel – An Interview With Actor John D’Aquino
• The Boy with Glasses – An Interview With Actor Matthew Hurley
• Pumpkinhead Unearthed (In HD) – A Five-Part Documentary On The Making Of Pumpkinhead
• Demonic Toys
• Behind-The-Scenes Footage
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Alternate Title Card – Vengeance: The Demon

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 107 mins
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: William Goldman
Cast: James Caan; Kathy Bates; Richard Farnsworth
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Tagline: This Christmas there will be... Misery.
Memorable Movie Quote: "You want it? You want it? Eat it! Eat it till ya choke, you sick, twisted fuck!"
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: November 30, 1990
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 12, 2021.
Synopsis: After a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.