Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is a prequel to Gremlins. The dark comedy horror film from the 80s, and its sequel, centered on a small adorable furry creature called a mogwai. While taking care of one, three simple rules must be obeyed or you risk them turning into dark green reptilian monsters that wreak havoc wherever they go.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai takes place in 1920s Shanghai, China and tells the story of how Sam Wing, the owner of the antique store from the original, first met Gizmo. The pair, along with a young street smart tough named Elle, embark on a magical adventure to bring Gizmo back home. On their tail is a foreign industrialist who has his own nefarious plans for the little furry guy.
One of the main draws of the series is following along Sam’s hero’s journey as he grows from a sheltered timid boy into the courageous protagonist. Much of his transformation is fueled by the closely developing bond he forms with his companions, particularly with Elle. They are two completely opposite people and the show effectively conveys the doubts and reservations they have in each other. As they progress on their travels the hardships only strengthen their friendship.
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai has great representation. Because of its setting, we receive a largely Asian cast with good guest performances from the likes of Randall Park, Sandra Oh, George Takei, and Amy Hill. What’s more interesting is the inclusion of Chinese culture and mythology. It does follow a monster of the week format for a time and it does spark curiosity into learning more of these creatures and legends. The whole supernatural element nicely complements the mogwai/gremlin theme.
Speaking of the characters, Matthew Rhys is terrifying as the villain, Riley Greene. His vocal performance will send shivers down your spine. Pair that with some of his visuals and you have a truly disturbing character.
Don’t let the animation and the overly adorable mogwai fool you. Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is in the same vein as its predecessors and isn’t really geared towards young kids. It leans into the horror elements, and has a twisted feel. It is surprisingly violent, minus the gore, and the sound effects can be delightfully disgusting. At least some of that is offset by the dark humor. The musical score along with Gizmo’s singing are also a nice nostalgic callback.
Storywise, the show has good pacing following along the previously mentioned monster of the week format. It does lose some of its steam towards the end where it makes way for the chaos and anarchy of the gremlins gone wild. Things also become a little too ridiculous considering the gremlin leader’s interest in Gizmo. By going back to the origin, there are answers to some of the questions from the film such as the whole eating after midnight thing. But it also adds greater insight to the importance of the mogwai. Though the naming of the “gremlins” seems forced and almost a throwaway line.
The series does have a distinct aesthetic and animation style. The artists make the mogwai even more adorable, and we see a whole village of them. The shading adds to the dreamlike fantasy tone of the story while also playing with the duality of the titular creatures.
Overall, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is a good addition to the franchise with a fantastical adventure that keeps the energy of the films while providing key insight to their unanswered questions.
The two-episode series premiere of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is Tuesday, May 23, on Max.
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