Always Stab or Run / Always Buy a God a Drink First / Never Squeeze a Fox / Never Hug a Mogwai / Never Give Up / Never Expose Them to Bright Light

The animated prequel to the 80s movie classic drives to an exciting climax as Sam, Elle and Gizmo continue their quest to save the Mogwai (and the world).

Much as I like the sound of my own critical voice, for once I have very little to say… because Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is simply a delight from start to finish. To elaborate too much would be to spoil everyone else’s fun.

Bursting with wit and imagination – from hopping zombies; to the goddess of creation propping up the bar, drunk and disillusioned at the hopelessness of mankind; to the giant Gremlin queen developing an unhealthy infatuation with the diminutive Gizmo – it looks great, it sounds great, it’s storytelling at its very best.

If I have one minor quibble, the evil genius verbiage from Riley Greene gets a bit repetitive, but Matthew Rhys carries it off, and even if you start tapping your fingers occasionally, something fun pops up before too long.

Verdict: Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is hands down terrific. With or without children as an excuse to watch, it’s a high-end palette cleanser for anyone jaded by too many ten-part streaming slogs. Season 2 has been teed up nicely, but my one request is that Radish and all his talking radish friends make a return to the gang. Who can’t love a series featuring the funniest root vegetables on TV? 9/10

Martin Jameson

www.ninjamarmoset.com