Leprechaun is one of those classic horror movies that is so bad it's good. The plot is insane, the acting is over-the-top, and the special effects are laughably bad. But somehow, all of that comes together to create a fun and entertaining film. Warwick Davis does an amazing job as the leprechaun, and Jennifer Aniston is surprisingly good in her film debut. If you're a fan of campy horror movies, then Leprechaun is definitely worth checking out. Just don't expect to be scared - this movie is more likely to make you laugh than scream.The depiction of a malicious leprechaun that was done by Warwick Davis has become the stuff of legends. In the movie, the leprechaun is under the impression that a group of people have taken his pot o' gold. He gathers all of his wits and resources to pursue and capture them in the act of hunting. In the meanwhile, the family is looking far and wide for the gold in an effort to appease the leprechaun and prevent him from causing them any more trouble. Davis's portrayal is scary and memorable, making Leprechaun one of the finest horror flicks of all time.
Davis added a comedic element to his portrayal, despite the fact that the film Leprechaun was supposed to be more of a straightforward horror thriller.
Plot of the Leprechaun film:
Dan O'Grady returns to North Dakota after visiting his birthplace Ireland in 1983, where he abducted a leprechaun and stole his pot of gold. After concealing the wealth, O'Grady finds that the evil leprechaun has followed him down and murdered his wife. O'Grady subdues the leprechaun's talents and imprisons him in a four-leaf clover-encased receptacle. He died of a stroke before he could burn him.
Ten years later, J. D. Redding and his teenage daughter Tory rent the O'Grady farmhouse for the summer. With the aid of contract workers Nathan Murphy, his 10-year-old brother Alex, and their dimwitted friend Ozzie Jones, the farmhouse is being repainted. While scouring the basement, Ozzie overhears the leprechaun's cry for help and misidentifies him as a child. By pulling the four-leaf clover from the box, he unleashes the leprechaun. Ozzie is informed by the leprechaun that he is an Irish cobbler who emigrated to America in quest of his riches. After failing to convince others that he had seen a leprechaun, Ozzie spots a rainbow and follows it in hopes of finding a pot of gold. Alex follows Ozzie out of worry for his well-being. A bag holding 100 gold coins magically appears before Ozzie. After Ozzie examines the gold and mistakenly swallows a coin, they conceal it in an ancient well in an attempt to cure Ozzie's brain.
The farm leprechaun fools J. D. by pretending to be a cat and biting his hand. Tory and the others transport the leprechaun to the hospital. Alex and Ozzie visit a pawn shop to inspect the gold's purity. The leprechaun kills the owner, Joe, for stealing his gold and polishes his shoes before departing. On his way home, the leprechaun constructs a go-kart and gets caught for speeding. Leprechaun chases policeman into woods and murders him. The leprechaun returns to the farmhouse and shines every shoe he sees. After dumping off J. D., the group returns to the farm. Nathan is injured by a leprechaun-set bear trap after discovering the house ransacked. The gang beats the leprechaun with rocks and clubs outside.
When they find a gun in the house, the leprechaun is shot many times. They try to leave the property when it doesn't work, but the leprechaun has broken the truck's engine. After crashing the car with the go-kart, the leprechaun scares the group until Ozzie says that he and Alex found the pot of gold. Tory gets the bag out of the well, and then he gives it to the leprechaun. They go to the hospital because they are sure that the worst is over. As the leprechaun counts his money, he realizes that Ozzie ate his last coin. He threatens them because he thinks they're trying to trick him, but Ozzie tells them that O'Grady had a stroke and was taken to a nursing home. The group gets the leprechaun's attention by throwing dirty shoes at him. The leprechaun has to go shine the shoes while Tory gets in her jeep and drives away. Tory goes to the house to find out how to kill the leprechaun.
Leprechaun impersonates O'Grady at nursing home. Leprechaun chases Tory to an elevator and throws O'Grady's body down as Tory flees. Before dying, O'Grady tells her the only way to kill a leprechaun is with a four-leaf clover, which grows outside the property. Tory returns to the farmhouse to get a clover, but the leprechaun attacks. Nathan and Ozzie rescue her. Leprechaun is badly injured while trying to get the final gold coin, which Ozzie ate. Alex ties Tory's four-leaf clover to gum and launches it into the leprechaun's mouth, melting him before he can kill Ozzie. The leprechaun's skeleton says, "I want my gold" despite tumbling into a well. After Nathan pushes the leprechaun into the well, he lights both with gasoline. When police arrive, Tory is reunited with her father, marries Nathan, and has a kid. Leprechaun vows to recover every piece of his money as cops explore the well's ruins.Does anybody know how the 1993 film Leprechaun fared at the box office?
The film Leprechaun was released in 620 theaters on January 8, 1993, and grossed $2,493,020 in its debut week, eventually grossing $8,556,944 in the United States. In April 1993, Vidmark published it on VHS, and over 100,000 copies were sold.
Leprechaun debate explained:
Was Leprechaun reinvented?
Did Leprechaun have any cinematic sequels?
The Leprechaun travels to Los Angeles in pursuit of more riches in the sequel, Leprechaun 2, which was released the following year. Leprechaun 3 is set in Sin City, and it's here that the Leprechaun finally gets his hands on the wish-granting coin. Leprechaun 4: In Space is a break from the other films in the series since it is set on a spacecraft and the Leprechaun fights aliens. In the fifth and final installment of the franchise, titled Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood, the titular character goes back to his urban Los Angeles neighborhood. Despite the franchise's generally unfavorable reviews, Leprechaun has proved to be a hit with audiences and has become a cult favorite.Leprechaun facts
Several scenes had to be re-shot after the producers insisted that the film be made gorier to appeal to older audiences.
George Lucas is well-known for his involvement in the casting of Warwick Davis in Willow. The reason why is less well-known. Davis was reportedly under contract to Lucas, and Lucas had to grant him permission to participate in the film. As a consequence, towards the conclusion of the film, he was granted a "special thanks" credit. This little-known truth adds to the film's appeal among horror lovers. It's simply another illustration of Lucas's cultural effect.
At first, the leprechaun was intended to run away and return to Ireland. However, Warwick Davis, the Irish actor cast in the role of the leprechaun, was unable to begin filming because he lacked the proper work visa. Davis required a visa in three days to shoot the last scene, which is a very unlikely occurrence. (click here) Davis was able to wrap up shooting on time because to the efforts of Vice President Dan Quayle's staff. For all his hard work, Quayle was given a "special thanks" credit at the film's conclusion.
Warwick Davis regretted creating the picture, but Anniston's TV popularity led to more rentals and a lengthy series of sequels. Warwick reportedly liked it.
Leprechaun was Jennifer Aniston's first full-length movie.
Leprechaun is a must-see for every aficionado of the horror genre. Warwick Davis and Jennifer Aniston provide outstanding performances in what is perhaps one of the few horror flicks that manages to be both hilarious and spooky at the same time. In spite of its derivative narrative, the film is entertaining. Look into Leprechaun if you need a good fright. In other words, you won't be let down.