146. Gremlins 2 (Patreon)

This week on The Rotten Horror Picture Show Podcast, Clay and Amanda are giving listeners a special sample of their Patreon sequel coverage with a deep dive into the gloriously chaotic Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Directed by Joe Dante, this sequel takes everything from the original Gremlins and cranks it to absolute cartoon insanity—mutant gremlins, fourth-wall breaks, satire of corporate America, and enough anarchic energy to short-circuit an entire skyscraper. Clay and Amanda unpack why Gremlins 2 has gone from misunderstood oddity to beloved cult comedy, and how Dante basically used a studio sequel to make fun of studio sequels.

Now, personally? I’ve always felt the Gremlins films could stand to be a little more topical. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a tiny green monster hijacking a cable access show as much as the next person, but where are the gremlins discussing modern infrastructure concerns? Where’s the scene where a gremlin spreads misinformation online? Why hasn’t there been a thoughtful subplot about housing costs? You’re telling me these creatures can genetically splice themselves into bat-gremlins and electricity-gremlins, but none of them has started an inflammatory podcast?

Honestly, the closest Gremlins 2 gets is making fun of media saturation and corporate culture, which, credit where it’s due, was pretty ahead of its time. But I’m just saying: if you’re gonna unleash chaos monsters onto society, maybe let them tackle gig economy burnout or algorithm-driven outrage while they’re at it. Imagine a gremlin testifying before Congress. That’s cinema.

Still, Clay and Amanda make a compelling case that Gremlins 2 works precisely because it’s so unhinged. It’s satire wrapped in slapstick wrapped in creature effects slime, and somehow it all holds together.

So tune in, enjoy the madness, and remember: somewhere out there, there’s probably already a cryptocurrency gremlin.

And be sure to head over to Patreon.com/thepenskyfile to follow Clay and Amanda as they dive into horror franchise sequels, and don't miss out on the special Patreon-only episode recorded at the Stanley Hotel in June!