THE FILM
There are few things more reliably entertaining than an outlandish ’90s horror film that knows exactly what it is, and wears that knowledge proudly. Rumpelstiltskin is a chaotic, irreverent riff on a beloved fairy tale, and it’s this reckless embrace of absurdity that makes it such a delightful ride. A curious and often overlooked piece from an era of horror that has unfairly been written off as a low point in the genre’s history, the film’s self-aware silliness ensures that it remains an oddball gem.
The premise is preposterous enough; after spending 500 years imprisoned in a stone statue at the bottom of the ocean, the titular demon Rumpelstiltskin is released by a grieving mother who stumbles upon the statue in an antique shop. Naturally, he is intent on stealing her baby in order to achieve immortality. But the film quickly establishes that this isn’t a serious, brooding horror story. No, this is B-movie gold, a tongue-in-cheek thriller that doesn’t aim for scares as much as it does high-octane, laugh-out-loud ridiculousness.
Much of the movie’s appeal lies in Max Grodénchik’s (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) portrayal of the titular villain. His Rumpelstiltskin is an unrelenting, wisecracking fiend who makes every scene his own. Each line is a gaudy one-liner, delivered with relish. At one point, he shouts out a line verbatim as Col. Hannibal from The A-Team by saying, “I love it when a plan comes together,” while cruising behind the wheel of a Class-A recreational vehicle, cigar in hand. A move only Arnold Schwarzenegger would enjoy. It’s one of the many absurdities that gives the film its charm; who would have thought a 15th-century demon would reference George Peppard? But this is a world where logic is an afterthought and the absurd is God.
Speaking of the absurd, the real joy of the film comes in its unrestrained absurdity. Early on, the young mother, Shelley (played by Kim Johnston Ulrich), is portrayed as a demure, almost passive character. But when it comes time to protect her baby, she quickly transitions into a fierce warrior. In one scene, she delivers a line like something out of a playground argument, telling Rumpelstiltskin, “When you take one more step, I’ll rip your head off and shove it up your ass!” It’s that perfect blend of outrageous dialogue and determined physicality that makes her character so entertaining. She kicks the demon in the groin, stabs him in the forehead, and even shoves a broomstick down his throat. If that doesn’t make you smile, perhaps nothing will.
Rumpelstiltskin follows the tried-and-true formula of ’90s horror, blending supernatural terror with a hefty dose of humor. The film’s pacing picks up after an initially somber start, as the tale of Shelley’s loss gives way to an increasingly wild chase movie. At times, it even feels like a road movie, a genre hybrid that injects a fresh energy into the proceedings. And while the budget may have been modest, Kevin Yagher’s special effects are impressively effective. Yagher, known for his work on Child’s Play and The Bride of Chucky, brings a level of craftsmanship that elevates the movie’s supernatural elements from the realm of schlock to something genuinely enjoyable.
And yet, in some ways, it’s the ’80s that hover over this film, whether due to its retro vibes or its undying commitment to delivering a product that feels born of a different time. The film even seems to defy the era in which it was made. Watching it, one can’t help but wonder how it missed the height of ’80s horror, though, in truth, it arrived just a little too late. Nevertheless, its tone is silly, over-the-top, and more concerned with providing campy thrills than any sense of realism; where it feels right at home in the goofy horror landscape of the late ’80s.
Mark Jones, the director behind the equally offbeat Leprechaun, clearly had a knack for taking fairy-tale archetypes and twisting them into terrifying, and often hilarious, villains. After the success of Leprechaun, Jones brought his mischievous sensibilities to Rumpelstiltskin, a film that, like its predecessor, gleefully subverts expectations. The film’s campiness is neither smug nor self-congratulatory. It’s as if Jones knew exactly what kind of absurd ride he was offering; one that embraced its own ridiculousness without apology.
If there’s any doubt about the film’s tongue-in-cheek nature, one need only look to the climactic scenes, which inject moments of pure lunacy, such as Rumpelstiltskin’s ridiculous pursuit of his infant quarry across the California desert. As if straight out of a lost Terminator sequel, Rumpelstiltskin chases Shelley and her baby with all the determination of an unstoppable force, and, of course, an excellent sense of humor. The film’s shifts between horror and absurdity become its greatest asset, making Rumpelstiltskin both a time capsule of ’90s horror and a delightful testament to how the genre could indulge in excess without losing sight of the joy it could bring.
It’s easy to dismiss such films as relics of a bygone era, B-movie curiosities from a time when horror movies didn’t take themselves too seriously. But as Rumpelstiltskin demonstrates, the best of these films are immortal in their own way. They provide pure, unfiltered entertainment without ever apologizing for their oddities. If you’re looking for something that combines the bizarre with the charming, this piece of cinematic madness is worth revisiting. After all, what could be more fitting for a tale of a mischievous imp than a film that doesn’t take itself seriously for a second?
PURCHASE THE RUMPELSTILTSKIN 4K HERE
THE VIDEO
Terror Vision is, without question, a purveyor of cinematic curiosities, those titles once confined to the dusty aisles of video stores, often relegated to obscurity, now gleaming once more in their highest resolution. Their latest offering, Rumpelstiltskin, has long lived in the shadows, its previous VHS and DVD releases mere echoes of a work yet to be truly seen. That changes now. For the first time ever, the 1995 fantasy-horror film is presented in high definition, and, more remarkably, in UHD with a carefully curated HDR10 color grade approved by none other than the director, Mark Jones.
It’s no small feat to say that Rumpelstiltskin has never been truly restored in HD, its earlier iterations have often left fans longing for something more. Yet here, for the first time, the film emerges with a visual clarity that showcases its many practical effects: grotesque monster makeup, gory wounds, and prosthetic creations in full, grotesque glory. The HDR10 color grade allows the palette to breathe, with blacks that are inky and deep, and skin tones rendered with startling naturalism. This is a colorful film and all of the nuanced highlights are on display in this beautiful horror-comedy masterpiece.
Indeed, this is a labor of love by a boutique label that recognized something in Rumpelstiltskin, perhaps not an instant classic, but certainly, a peculiar gem deserving of its day in the sun. The original aspect ratio is maintained, an attention to detail that further elevates this release. Whether or not it will change the minds of skeptics, one thing is undeniable: this is the best Rumpelstiltskin has ever looked, and in a world of endless reboots, remakes, and reimaginings, such efforts to preserve and honor the unique oddities of our cinematic past should be celebrated.
THE AUDIO
If the new 4K restoration of Rumpelstiltskin serves as a masterclass in upgrading a 1995 relic into a stunning visual artifact, the accompanying DTS-HD 2.0 audio mix is equally impressive in its own right. While the absence of a 5.1 surround or Dolby Atmos track might be a disappointment for those who expect their B-movie nostalgia served with a booming bass line and cinematic heft, the stereo mix here carries its own surprising weight. It’s not an overblown, bass-heavy spectacle, it doesn’t need to be. The film’s auditory world, from the screeching of vehicles to the squelchy sounds of supernatural mayhem, feels appropriately calibrated to the lo-fi grandeur of the original.
Every explosion, each gooey death rattle, and even the more subtle magical effects are rendered with a clarity that ensures no detail is left behind. The dialogue is crisp, free from the tinny reverberations that often plague lesser audio transfers, and always intelligible even as the soundtrack swells with chaos. In the world of Rumpelstiltskin, where gory fun and quirky monster antics reign, the 2.0 mix succeeds by being in tune with the film’s modest roots, leaning into its B-movie charm rather than aspiring to Hollywood grandeur of a Michael Bay warship. It’s a fitting choice for a film that’s never pretended to be anything more than a rollicking, weird ride. The mix, much like the film itself, knows its place and excels there.
THE EXTRAS
This Limited Edition Includes a ton of fun promotional items, t-shirts, booklets, sunglasses, stickers, and more.
- Commentary – Writer & Director Mark Jones and Producer Michael Prescott
- Making of Rumpelstiltskin (30 Mins.) – Mark Jones, Max Grodenchik, Kim Ulrich, Tommy Blaze, Michael Prescott (Producer), Charles Bernstein (Composer), Ivo Cristane (Production Designer), and Lisa Buono (Key Makeup Artist)
- Remembering Rumple (27 Mins.)
- Never Before Seen BTS Raw Home Movie Footage (Shot on VHS) from the set on Rumpelstiltskin (88 Mins.)
- Baking w/ Kaci Hansen, The Homicidal Homemaker: Rumpelstiltskin Edition
- Still Gallery (17 Mins.)
- Trailer (2 Mins.)
- Rigid Box with art by Ghoulish Gary Pullin
- Slipcover by Chloe Manon
- UHD and BD of Rumpelstiltskin
- Perfectly Bound Booklet
- CD of the Rumpelstiltskin Score
- 11×17 Poster
- 4×6 Postcard
- T-Shirt
- Stickers
- Candy
- Sunglasses
THE ULTIMATE WORD
Rumpelstiltskin may never find itself among the ranks of cinematic masterpieces or winning an Oscar. But that’s not to say this little horror-comedy gem is never-the-less a surprising home run in B-Movie mythology. The film, a madcap blend of horror and dark comedy, is far more entertaining than its critics and box office would suggest. Fast-paced, gory, and consistently self-aware, it thrives as an unabashed farce. The newly remastered 4K transfer enhances the film’s visual appeal, while the DTS-HD 2.0 audio brings its visceral thrills to life. A wealth of bonus features and exclusive promotional items rounds out the package, making this a surprisingly delightful watch. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those in search of a guilty pleasure that doesn’t apologize for its own bizarre existence.
