The 1980s were an incredible time to be a horror fan. So many of the most iconic horror films of all time came out of the decade, such as Aliens, Hellraiser, The Shining, The Evil Dead, and The Thing, to name just a few. With all of these hugely successful horror movies releasing within 10 years of each other, it’s only natural that a handful of others were going to slip through the cracks and be relegated to video store obscurity. One such flick that is not nearly as celebrated as it should be is Stan Winston’s Pumpkinhead.

Pumpkinhead tells the story of Ed Harley, a widower who seeks revenge against the teenagers who killed his son in a dirt biking accident. He enacts his revenge by working with a witch to summon a huge demon called Pumpkinhead, and sends the beast after the reckless teenagers. Plans change when Ed realizes that he and the monster are connected, and are gradually metamorphosing into one being. Ed decides he has to stop Pumpkinhead before it eliminates all the teenagers and consumes him totally. It is a captivating horror story and a thoroughly stirring tragedy, vividly brought to life with practical effects from special effects wizard-turned-director Stan Winston. Let’s take a look at what makes this underrated horror gem so special.

Stan Winston: Special Effects Extraordinaire

Special Effects in Pumpkinhead
United Artists

A pioneer of modern special effects, Stan Winston made a name for himself as the go-to guy for creature effects in the 1980s and 1990s. From assisting with the terrifying effects on John Carpenter’s The Thing, bringing the Terminator to life, and creating Academy Award-winning effects on Aliens, to his jaw-dropping work on Jurassic Park, Winston was constantly at the cutting-edge of his field. According to Wired, “Winston won the visual effects Oscar in 1986 for Aliens, then bagged back-to-back wins for 1992's Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the 1993 dinosaur epic Jurassic Park. He also won an Oscar for makeup work in 1992's Batman Returns, and was nominated many other times.” Less often discussed than his award-winning effects, however, is his directorial debut Pumpkinhead.

The film is directed with style and precision, and the practical effects, naturally handled by Winston himself, are marvelous. The story is very simple, and the script is lean, so as to provide the perfect template for Winston and company to populate the screen with dazzling and horrifying creature effects. Made for a lower budget than many of his other projects, Pumpkinhead is a testament to Winston’s ability to craft convincing effects regardless of budgetary restraints. It also proves his resourcefulness and flair as a director, and makes one wish he had gotten the chance to direct more films.

Related: Best Special Effects in '80s Sci-Fi Movies, Ranked

An Unlikely Leading Man

Lance Henriksen in Pumpkinhead
United Artists
​​​​​​​Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

One of the best things about Pumpkinhead is the tragic character at the center of it all, Ed Harley, played to perfection by the great Lance Henriksen. Before acting, Henriksen had a tumultuous life, growing up in and out of foster care and suffering abuse from many of his family members. According to Den of Geek “He didn’t learn to read until he was nearly 30 years old,” though you’d never guess it from how intelligent, grateful, and skilled the veteran actor is today.

Despite his stellar acting chops, Henriksen is an unlikely choice for the leading man given that his career leading up to Pumpkinhead saw him mostly playing supporting roles. Throughout the late ‘70s and most of the ‘80s, Henriksen played FBI agents, police officers, and other supporting roles, with one of his most memorable characters being the helpful android Bishop in Aliens. Having both just come off the set of Aliens, Winston decided to cast Henriksen as the tragic anti-hero in Pumpkinhead, and it was certainly the right choice. One of his best performances, Henriksen brings a sensitivity and a sense of deep, underlying sadness to a character that otherwise could have been portrayed as a simple, angry old man. Just as he brought wit and warmth to the robotic role of Bishop, Henriksen makes a complicated character out of Ed Harley, and classes up this tale of monster mayhem.

Folk Horror Perfection

Pumpkinhead
United Artists
​​​​​​​Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Pumpkinhead is steeped in a rich, gothic atmosphere, presenting a slimy, boggy horror story with a convincing and well-developed folklore all its own. Despite being filmed in California, the film is a shining example of Southern Gothic, fusing elements of hillbilly horror and folkloric legends in an Appalachia-meets-Cajun swampland nightmare-scape. While the legend of Pumpkinhead and its associated bayou-based witches and such are not based on any pre-established myths, the film treats it all so seriously that it feels authentic. The foggy graveyards, bubbling bogs, and creaking cabins in which the action is set create an atmosphere of palpable dread, immersing the viewer in a world perpetually beset by a legendary curse. For these reasons, Pumpkinhead should not be missed by fans of folk and gothic horror.

Related: Best Folk Horror Movies, Ranked

A Legacy of Terror

Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings
Live Entertainment
Motion Picture Corporation of America

Despite lukewarm critical reception and disappointing box office returns, Pumpkinhead has garnered a cult following that continues to grow today. In fact, continued interest in the film has led to numerous home video remasters and re-releases, as well as a handful of direct-to-video and made-for-TV sequels. Proving Pumpkinhead’s enduring legacy, a remake that has been planned since 2017 is reportedly moving forward and will hopefully see a release from Paramount Players in the near future. Until then, we implore you to take the time to revisit the underrated classic that started it all – it just might become your new favorite horror flick from the ‘80s.