I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Please don't spend money on this.

Best movie ever!

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

I have actually never heard of "Hobgoblins" before 2016, when I happened to stumble across the movie by sheer random luck. And being a fan of creature features and horror movies in general, of course I gave "Hobgoblins" a chance, well knowing that I most likely wasn't in for something grand.And I should have taken heed to the low rating of "Hobgoblins" on IMDb and stayed well clear of the movie. Yes, this movie is every bit as to be expected given the synopsis and the rating it has received.The story is about some aliens who are confined to a facility, where they are accidentally released from captivity as a new security guard opens a vault that is supposed to be off limits.This is from the late 1980's, so of course expectations should be set accordingly. But even for a movie from this age then "Hobgoblins" was pathetic.The acting in the movie was amateurish at best. I am not sure if it was because of the lack of having a proper script to work with, or if it was because they had opted to go with talents not really up for the task of acting.And the creatures, well let's just take a moment here to talk about them. While they did have some good conceptual ideas for their appearances, then the creatures just didn't work out so well on the screen, especially since it was so obviously clear that they were just puppets without movable parts. It was embarrassing to witness.Before I forget, I should also mention the editing and cutting of "Hobgoblins". Wow, that was just abysmal to watch. This was probably some of the worst movie editing that I have ever seen.I didn't last through the entire movie here, because I just gave up on it before even reaching the half way point. And I have no interest in finishing the movie. And I just found out that there apparently is a sequel to this abysmal movie; but again, I have no interest in watching that, not after having seen enough of part one to see what it was.I can't find any reason for why anyone should take the time to sit down and watch "Hobgoblins", much less actually invest any money or time in doing so.

Hobgoblins (1988) * 1/2 (out of 4)A group of young adults are doing young adult things when they must battle a group of small alien creatures known as hobgoblins. It turns out that these hobgoblins lure their victims by making their fantasies come to life and then they kill them. HOBGOBLINS was just one of many GREMLINS rip-offs that took place during the 80s and it's rather amazing to think that there was an actual market for stuff like this, TROLL and GHOULIES. This film here got more attention than it probably deserved after appearing on Mystery Science Theatre 3000 but this film has enough bad laughs on its own to where you don't have to watch it with the show.If you're going to watch this movie then you should obviously know that you're not getting some sort of masterpiece. The film can certainly fit into the "so bad it's good" style of picture because there's really nothing overly good here, although the entire idea is just campy. I mean, you've got a phone sex addict whose fantasy comes to life when the girl of his dreams knocks on the door. What follows is what you'd expect from an 80s film like this.The performances are decent for the most part but at least the cast are interesting and keep you entertained. The special effects are certainly laughable as the hobgoblins are just hairy little creatures that are certainly never scary. It seems whenever they attack someone the actor just wiggles them around ala Bela Lugosi and the octopus in BRIDE OF THE MONSTER. Still, HOBGOBLINS has some mild charm as long as you don't take it too serious.

A basic gremlins ripoff, this film is trying and failing one to be of those "so bad it's good" films. It's not. At all. It's just plain bad. Eye-bleedingly bad.The movie hangs around an abandoned warehouse and shows an old man/security guard go through a couple employees and end up hiring a whiny do-nothing, or something. Then some things happen, some plush toys are bandied about the screen, then some other things happen. A guy catches on fire, and then some more things happen, end credits.The puppets are not one one hundredth as scary as the acting and direction. The creatures are cute little plush toys that get thrust up against the "actors" and wiggled to and fro. The human beings at which the camera is pointed try plaintively to convince us that something scary is happening. The film's attitude towards women (or all human beings for that matter) is beyond reprehensible. Every last character is suicide-inducingly annoying. Every single line of dialog is either wooden or whiny, or both.I could go on, but in the immortal words of Todd Barry, "This is like shooting fish in a barrel. No, it's like looking at fish in a barrel. No... it's like BEING SOMEWHERE NEAR A BARREL."In short, this film is a train wreck. You don't want to stare but you can't look away. It just sinks lower and lower and you're so stunned and amazed, you want to see how the next 5 minutes can suck worse than the previous five.There are not, in fact, more than 2 consecutive frames that don't induce cringes.Now, it's been brought up that this film actually competes with Manos for "worst film in history," or at least MST history, but it is noteworthy that this film technically has a plot. Technically.My recommendation: view with Mike & the Bots. Only way to stay sane through this one. (Even they try to escape... you'll love it.) For a great chuckle, search through the IMDb reviews and sort by "Loved it."

I really don't have anything new to add but I just felt like I had to comment on this sack. So here goes:Atrocious. I'm running through my MST3K DVD collection again and I just watched Hobgoblins for about the 10th time. It's really, really painful but it was next on the list... You can see that there is a tiny kernel of an actual movie buried under all the crap that is "Hobgoblins" but it just couldn't get out. Everything about this movie is 4th rate. The story, the acting, the effects, the women, the "action scenes", the... ahhhh forget it. I can watch a piece of crap like "The Bloodwaters of Dr. Z" (aka "Zaat") over and over and over with hardly any ill effects (I like it in fact- btw, it will be on TCM later this month- October, 2009) but "Hobgoblins" is a whole 'nother ballgame.The worst part of it all may be that it's now about 12 hours after the movie ended, I had a good night's sleep, some coffee and some dry toast, my medications, and yet the ersatz "New Wave" dance music that Amy, Red Shorts, and Laraine Newman were frolicking to in the living room is STILL RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD. This torment will last for days. Good luck, won't you?