Fiction vs Fiction: Gremlins (1984)

 A late Christmas gift for all of you!

The 1984 Film Gremlins is a Christmas Classic a la Die Hard, Reindeer Games and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Did you know that it had a Novelization?
Well, you do now....

***VS***

What's the Same?

The Plot doesn't change here.  Like most Novelizations, the core Story is untouched.

That said, there are many, MANY little tweaks and/or additions.

What's Different?

Right on Page 1, we get a big addition- the origin of Gizmo and the Mogwai.

They are Aliens!
No, really.

The Book tells you about the race that created them, why and how they got to Earth.
We also learn that their brains work 'faster than their mouths,' so they can't talk like we do.

Gizmo also has many inner monologues in this one.
In addition, we 'hear' him and Spike 'talk' to each other in their crazy Mogwai voices.

It sure is easier and a bit less silly than watching the two wag at each other with Subtitles on the screen though, right?

The Town's local DJ gets WAY more focus in the Book as well.

We 'hear' him explain a TON of events that we actually just see in the Movie.
He's also not attacked by the Gremlins in the Book (which we hear in the Film).

Was Don Steele too busy to actually appear on camera?

In the Book, the Gremlins frame the Dog for making a mess in the House, which is why the Dad takes him away with him.
In the Film, they tie it up with the Christmas lights (off screen) and that's...enough for the Dad.  Okay...

The oddest change- we don't get to 'see' the famous, over-the-top death of Mrs. Deagle (whose Deleted Scene motivations are also in the Book) in the Book.

The Movie shows her booby-trapped Electric Stair Car launch her up the stairs, through a wall and in front of the Cops.

The Book goes from the setup to...having the DJ explain how the Cops found her.  WTF?!?

Poor Judge Reinhold was mostly cut out of Gremlins.
In Deleted Scenes, we see him scheme and later hiding out in the Bank Vault.

In the Book, he went a bit crazy after the Bank Manager was killed (off screen) by the Gremlins and is 'turning this into a Bank for Little People.'

The Book has other minor tweaks here or there that were likely adjustments made on-set.
Like how the Cops crash their car via Gremlin sabotage in the Film but run into a 'sea of concrete posts' put up by the Gremlins in the Book.

Lastly the Chinese Shop Owner (Keye Luke) is much nicer in the Book.  He says that 'they accomplished a great deal' as he leaves, as opposed to telling him that 'mankind is not ready for the Mogwai' in the Film.

Final Thoughts

The Book is a fun adaptation.  It gives background to the Story that is nice (but not needed).
It has the same charm of the Film, minus a few baffling omissions.

As a reminder, VHS tapes were SUPER expensive in this Era, so this was a MUCH cheaper option than spending say $80 to own the Film back then.

Anyone still have these?

What is Better?

As fun as the Book is and how silly the explanation of them being Aliens is, there's no replacing...

The Film.

Seriously, I'm glad I found this Book.
That and the Sequel Book- see you in 2026, Mister!