R. L. STINE’S PUMPKINHEAD (2025)

4 stars

Signature Entertainment. Digital DVD Blu. 17th August.

Here’s a fun, kid friendly, gateway horror based on the 1999 short story from R.L. Stine – best known for the ‘Goosebumps’ books.

13 year old Sam (Bean Reid) and his older, about to turn 18, brother Finn (Seth Isaac Johnson) have moved to the small town of Redhaven with their Mum Cassie (Kendra Anderson) following the death of their Dad.

The town sign proudly announces it is a place ‘Where the Harvest Never Ends’. Which, of course, we know any prosperity will because of sinister goings on. Sam is not exactly keen about the move. Though he meets Becka (Adeline Lo), who soon becomes a friend, and her father Sheriff Buckley (Bob Frazer).

They have arrived just in time for the town’s traditional Harvest Festival – with much carving of pumpkins and other exciting activities. Weirdly, out in the field several townsfolk seem to be praying to the harvest.

Sam is resistant to the charms of these community entertainments and wanders off to explore. In a barn he finds an odd pumpkin on a pile of branches and vines – which appears to briefly have a face. He is told off by Farmer Palmer (Kevin McNulty), who is considered the town’s benefactor and responsible for the town flourishing.

Becka fills Sam in on the history of the farm run by Palmer and how they now have perfect harvests. Each year Palmer grows a prize pumpkin – but what is the secret behind all of this?

Then Finn goes missing – and Sam’s mother and other people can’t remember him…

Writer/director Jem Garrard has made an engaging and entertaining horror with a genuinely creepy scarecrow creature. The two kid actors are good without being annoying. Some scenes might be too intense for some youngsters. It even has EVIL DEAD vibes with its Necromicon style book and creeping vines. The music is a bit on the nose and the film has a surprisingly downbeat ending.

Steve Kirkham