Never expose them to light. Never let them get wet. But, most of all, never, ever let them eat after midnight.

E.T. goes Alien. Simple rules get easily broken in Dante's most famous horror-comedy and biggest success to date, as cuddly Spielbergian creatures turn into unbelievably vulgar, sadistic little green monsters that bring total anarchy and the apocalypse to a Capra-esque small town at Christmas time.

Kitchen appliances and toys become mortal weapons as the town folk fight off the murderous creatures, but ultimately cinema will save the day.

A manifesto of Joe Dante's love for cinema and deeply subversive spirit, which comes with Steven Spielberg as producer and a subtle question: how much are the ‘gremlins' really us?

“Joe Dante has the sensibility of a freaked-out greeting-card poet.” - film critic Pauline Kael