Pumpkinhead

1988 Directed by Stan Winston

For each of man's evils a special demon exists...

A man conjures up a gigantic vengeance demon called Pumpkinhead to destroy the teenagers who accidentally killed his son.

Lance Henriksen Jeff East John D'Aquino Cynthia Bain Kerry Remsen Lee de Broux Peggy Walton-Walker Chance Michael Corbitt Dick Warlock Devon Odessa Mayim Bialik Tom Woodruff Jr. George Buck Flower Kimberly Ross Joel Hoffman Florence Schauffler Brian Bremer Matthew Hurley Joseph Piro Jandi Swanson Robert Fredrickson Greg Michaels Madeleine Taylor Holmes Mary Boessow

Alternative Titles

Pacto de Sangre, Held der Gnome, Vengeance: The Demon, Pacto del demonio

horror fantasy

86 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Rafael Jovine ★★★ 4

Well, that was kind of disappointing. Due to the high-caliber talent behind the camera, and the numerous references by horror fans, I expected a much greater horror movie experience.
That’s not to say it’s a total loss as the Alien-like demonic title character was a real treat. The cinematography of Bojan Bazelli really worked -though I missed his famous green-ish tone -, especially the scenes in the cemetery with the fog and the angles used made for some of the most spooky imagery in the picture. All things considered, the performances are okay with Lance being the standout as he does a great job conveying all these different emotions, especially of grief and anger.
All in all, while its story…
Review by Hollie Horror ★★★★ 12

Pumpkinhead is the directorial debut of the late FX-guru Stan Winston, setting the precedent for other FX-artists to follow suit, with Tom Savini firmly placing himself in the director's chair on the remake of Night of the Living Dead in 1990 (although, Savini did have a bit more experience directing as he did a few television episodes of Tales from the Darkside before NOTLD '90, which was his feature film).
Both films set themselves apart in the fact that everything else in the film takes a backseat to the love and care applied to the special effects.
Besides the obviously amazing creature effects (one of the most arresting scenes had the vengeance demon perched at the top of a tree),…
Review by Ian West ★★★★½ 12

American rural folk jam taking place in nowheresville USA completely shrouded in atmos of the highest order courtesy of thick fog and the glimmering beautiful colors seeping through it—making the setting seem like some backwoods nightmare that’s completely shut off from the rest of the world.
Steeped in dust on the Harley Homestead, an overgrown with plant life shanty house with skulls/owls/rodents owned by an old witch, Buck Flower, the incredible animatronics and creature design of our dark magik vengeance beast who lays in wait in a pumpkin graveyard, and Lance as Ed Harley—giving it all he’s got in a damn fine/touching story of revenge and it’s intertwined consequences. I wish Stan Winston directed more movies because seeing Pumpkinhead illuminated…
Review by matt lynch ★★★½ 3

If this is anything, it's gorgeous. What truly lovely photography...golden candlelit backwoods cabins, steel blue nighttime wilderness, captured either in long, fluid crane shots or backlit, smoky tableaux. Not to mention the really staggering creature effects (unsurprising given Stan Winston at the helm, but still). And unlike other supernatural revenge horror this strangely doesn't take glee in having a monster wipe out a bunch of teenagers. The deaths here have weight, and everyone is a victim of impulse and anger.
Review by Coolnilk ★★★½

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Solid film about revenge with top notch practical effects on Pumpkinhead himself. I liked the struggle with Lance Henriksen's character and how he wanted to avenge his son's death from some ruthless teenagers who innocently killed his boy and he did that by going over to a witch letting a demon onto himself. It really took a toll on him once the demon Pumpkinhead begins killing those teenagers and taking over Ed's body throughout the film.
The teenagers themselves could've been fleshed out more, but I was glad that some of the likable teenagers from the group survived in the end. The atmosphere here was also impressive especially how the moon shines light onto the woods themselves. Kind of wished…
Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★ 10

Hoop-Tober 2.0, Film 30 of 31:
guys are you proud of me I watched this movie when I was like nine at my grandparents house because I randomly turned on the SyFy channel and it was on and it literally haunted my dreams for at least four years afterward I kept having this reoccurring nightmare that Pumpkinhead was chasing me down my block and my legs felt like they were wading through tar and Pumpkinhead kept getting closer and closer and anyway I re-watched it tonight for the first time in over a decade and managed not to soil myself are you proud of me
Review by Lou (rhymes with wow!) ★★★ 12

Man.. Bishop from Aliens can't seem to catch a break..
After his disastrous encounter with the Xenomorph, he is reassembled and decides to retire. He even starts a family. It's pretty cute, to be honest. Too bad a bunch of asshole teenagers need to ruin his quiet, little life.
And what does Bishop do next?
He summons the Xenomorph's hillbilly cousin, that's what!!
I think we need to schedule a maintenance check on your logic circuits there, bud..
Review by Biscoito18 ★★★★ 8

*Part of HOOPT🎃BER 5.0: “You don’t believe in the Boogeyman? You should.” challenge.
2/33
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"PUMPKINHEAD" looks like a dark fairy tale, which, for my surprise, doesn't happen during Halloween.
During most time, a thick atmosphere engulfs the characters either with constant gales, thunders, heavy fog or indirect lighting forming beautiful godrays in an endless twilight, creating a claustrophobic feeling, as if it were isolated from the rest of the world.
I also liked Lance Henriksen's commitment to the character, Ed Harley, a simple, hard-working man who raised his young son by himself. This little boy and his dog called Gypsy (played by a dog actor called Mushroom, cited in the credits, that also played Barney in "Gremlins") are the…
Review by Tony the Terror😼🏳️‍🌈 👻 ★★★★ 3

I was looking for something that had that wonderful fall/woods in the fall vibe to it and then I thought “oh what I really need to do is make a list of movies like that” and I haven’t gotten around to doing that yet because ugh thinking, but when I do this movie will definitely be on it. Anywho, this is pretty great stuff. Pumpkinhead is a total badass demon with a beautifully ridiculous name. The cast is good, the kills are great, and the dark atmosphere is so good you can almost feel that nip in the air.
Also, totally random thought I had that may or may not have had something to do with a couple of Rusty…
Review by jjennings85 ★★★★

Cross another one off my list of movies I should have seen already. Not going to lie it’s pretty pathetic it took me this long to watch this.
What a great character and the effects used for Pumpkinhead are just amazing. It was nice to see they didn’t keep the monster or the kills off screen, too many of these movies are scared to show you anything.
I also found the movie did a great job of really making you feel for the dad and son (obviously).
I really hope we don’t get a remake of this movie because they’ll just CGI the crap out of it and take away from what made this special.
Review by Cinemonster ★★½ 6

Hoop-tober 3.0
Other reviews: #1 | #2 | #4
'What I really want to do is direct'.
The want and sentiment occupies every department and field of the motion picture industry. Some people luck into it, some 'come up through the ranks' and others achieve a level of success in their field that allows them to leverage that notoriety for a crack at directing. Stan Winston had ascended to the highest level of respect and adulation in his field when he began his Pumpkinhead chapter. An effects and makeup resume with Predator, Aliens, Starman, The Thing & The Terminator can do that for you.
P-head is a hillbilly parable dealing with revenge and the existence of that monster within us, as…
Review by CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️ ★★ 2

You’ve seen him go against Terminator, Predator and Aliens. Now watch Lance Henriksen fight a sluggish pumpkin patch demon.

Recent reviews

Review by JacobMaxKelly ★★★★

What a fucking belter! Stan Winston is the man. That monster is a bloody beauty! Some critics were saying it descends in to just being a typical slasher. What a strange, derogatory and unfair reaction.
Be normal, praise the director for his suspense and atmosphere. Found it well tense and scary like Alien. Had a revenge angle to, which is always good. We love revenge in this house. Lance Henriksen is on point as per and really gives it some emotion. Absolutely classic creature feature that deserves some respect beyond cult status.
Winston did great here and our well respected effects dude should have been given a lot more chances to direct. As they say on fifa, "shot close enough to suggest have another go son!".
Review by Jordan DiDomenico ★★

Fifteen minutes in, I thought I was gonna love this movie: rambunctious young adults driving to the country for a weekend getaway, to the chagrin of the local yokels; the kind of over-exerted bad acting I like (although Lance Henriksen was good as the affectionate father); a motorcycle-riding bad-boy douchebag. But once the plot kicked in, it really slowed down. The creature looked great though. Lots of stuff I liked about this movie, but the plot was basic and the deaths were underwhelming.
Review by Kerry_M ★★★

Lance Henriksen’s performance as the grieving father elevates this film.
Review by DaveD ★★★

Mal ein Revenge Slasher bei der die Jugendlichen die "Bösen" sind und sich so sich so der Film von normalen Slasher differenziert.
Als Rache wird ein Monster auf die Jugendlichen losgelassen, ist eigentlich echt kreativ. Aber logischerweise wird versucht dies wieder rückgängig zu machen und endet somit auch unspektakulär.
Effekte sind ganz gut.
Aber ja der Film an sich ist eigentlich trotzdem nichts besonderes und höchstens ordentlich.
Review by goldstar_chili ★★★★

Remember watching this one projected against a barn then sleeping in a hammock
Review by jesia5 ★★★★★

My favorite horror movie.
Review by jennyezell ★★½

The titular character did not, in fact, have a pumpkin head.
Review by Steph ★★★½

I really enjoyed this movie. Good effects and genuinely creepy.
Review by kobee ★★★★

im sorry y’all but i eat this shit up ugh just an underrated favorite
score and sfx are VERY 80s which i love. rip king stan winston
bunt carried this film on his back idc what u say
Review by rachwood01 ★★★½

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

joel got what he deserved so i’m happy <3
however jack-o’-lantern scalp had no respect for hot people
80s movies spend two minutes on an ending im begging
Review by Robb Pastor

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 pumkinhead' – a monstrously clawed demon which, once reborn, answers only to Ed's bloodlust. But as the creature wreaks it's slow, unspeakable tortures on the teens, Ed confronts a horrifying secret about his connection to the beast – and realises 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: Freddy's Revenge), this 'atmospheric, moralistic tale' (TV Guide) delivers demonic horror at its blood-drenched best.
Review by Robb Pastor

Carve into the core of one of the most 'vivid, stylish, atmospheric' (The Hollywood Reporter) thrillers of all time! With commentary and six pulpy behind-the-scenes featurettes, you'll learn how some of hte diabolical effects were created, and you'll even get inside the mind of the creators of this freakishly frightening film!; ; When a group of rambunctious teenagers inadvertently kill his only son, Ed Harley (Lance Henricksen) seeks the magic of a backwoods witch to bring the child back. But instead, she invokes 'the pumpkinhead' -- a monstrously clawed and fanged demon which, once reborn, answers only to Ed's bloodlust. But as the invincible creature wreaks its slow, unspeakable tortures 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 it forever!