By The Luck of The Irish!: Leprechaun (1993)

Leprechaun (1993)
Rating: ***
Starring: Warwick Davis, Jennifer Aniston and Ken Olandt

One part slasher movie, one-part monster flick, this cult-fave can be best remembered as post-FRIENDS Jennifer Aniston's debut film. Well, they do say start small and what can be smaller than a low-budget, super campy, miniscule budget indie Leprechaun (1993)?! (*Insert rimshot here*)

Ten years ago, an evil leprechaun (cheekily played by Warwick Davis) follows home one Dan O'Grady after the man took his gold. After killing Dan's wife, the creature threatens to end him too unless he returns the gold but, unbeknownst to the Leprechaun, O'Grady knew the creature's weakness and has armed with a four-leafed clover, rendering the Leprechaun powerless before trapping him inside a box. 

Cut into the present and O'Grady's son JD, along with JD's daughter Tory Redding (Jennifer Aniston), move in to the old house in hopes of restoring it. Although Tory isn't all too excited with all this and is more eager to move back to the city, she eventually decided to stay after she finds out their hunky neighbor Nathan will be helping with the renovations. Along with Nathan are his friends, the mentally handicapped Ozzie and his younger brother Alex, both to give a hand on the chores and, as luck would have it, an escapade in a basement accidentally releases the trapped Leprechaun after it tricked Ozzie into setting him free.

Now hunting down his gold and those responsible for taking it, the Leprechaun eventually sets his sights on Tory and the gang knowing one of them has the rest of his beloved treasure and he's not shy on ripping a few faces off to get back what belongs to him.

While not exactly the best in the series, Leprechaun (1993) is a horror-comedy with much intended bad cheese all over it, counting the movie off as a fun bad flick to watch and enjoy at a rainy day or as a late night popcorn munchie. The kills are low in count but splatters enough blood to cake them mauled flesh and torn ears, accompanied with B-movie scares that are cheap but effective in some angles, as well as stalk and chase antics that are sugar-coated with workable camp.

The Leprechaun himself boasts some fair looking make-up work and a personality modeled after Freddy's bad habit of one-liners (done in rhymes!), thanks to a memorable performance by Warwick Davis who would later play the evil dwarf with much joy and maliciousness in five sequels. Though his silly and cartoonish character often leads him to be anything but completely horrifying, even more so when he's riding tricycles, scooters, and a toy cars to give chase, or clean shoes even if means letting his victims escape, but his indestructible and maliciously magical nature does factor in a level of menace and threat, deadly even whenever he takes himself seriously.

Leprechaun (1993) is a fine example of camp and horror fused together, something those swimming in beer or have a good (or fair) sense of humor would enjoy both alone or with friends. Watch if you're interested in tiny monsters, little people in costumes, see Jennifer run around being chased by said little person and don't give a crap about logic!

Bodycount:
1 female falls down the stairs, broke her back
1 male had his chest crushed with a pogostick
1 male got his face mauled to ribbons, neck broken
1 male found mauled, bled to death from injuries
Total: 4

Oh Right! HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!