January 13, 1988 - Pumpkinhead Premiered in Theaters

[Pete]

​

On this day, January 13, 1988, the cult horror classic Pumpkinhead premiered in theaters. Directed by legendary special effects artist Stan Winston, the film marked his directorial debut and featured a chilling tale of vengeance and the supernatural.

Starring Lance Henriksen as Ed Harley, the movie follows a grieving father who summons a vengeful demon, Pumpkinhead, to exact revenge on a group of teenagers responsible for his son’s death. As the carnage unfolds, Ed is forced to confront the moral and emotional cost of his actions.

While it had a modest budget of $3.5 million and earned $4.4 million at the box office, Pumpkinhead became a cult favorite, praised for its atmospheric storytelling, practical effects, and Winston’s creature design.

Fun Fact: Stan Winston used his experience in special effects to create Pumpkinhead’s hauntingly memorable design, which remains one of the most iconic monsters in horror history.

Trivia Question: What mythological figure is said to have inspired the design of Pumpkinhead in the film?

 

[Linda Ann]

This was scary! I remember watching it years ago.

 

[MagicMan]

That thing looked nothing like a pumpkin.

 

[Pete]

I still remember my father renting it out for me on vhs. I was lucky that he always let me watch horror films when I was a little kid.