Tuesday, October 17, 2023

170) Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)

Halloween 2023's Somehow Leprechauns are Scary... Extravaganza!  (Part 4)
 


Director
Brian Trenchard-Smith

Cast
Warwick Davis - Lubdan The Leprechaun
Rebekah Carlton - Princess Zarina
Brent Jasmer - Staff Sergeant "Books" Malloy
Jessica Collins - Dr. Tina Reeves
Guy Siner - Dr. Mittenhand
Geoff Meed - Private Kowalski


I've mentioned the ridiculous tone of each "Leprechaun" film in my last three posts. Just when I thought it couldn't get any campier, it gets even campier.
As soon as I finished watching "Leprechaun 4: In Space" I couldn't tell if it's worse than part three or not.
This is certainly the most outlandish scenario for a series about a killer leprechaun. Lubdan, played again by Warwick Davis, is now wreaking havoc in space sometime in the future. At least the series is taking an avenue no other movie has. Chalk one point for originality as I think it's safe to assume there are no other movies, horror or otherwise, about leprechauns killing people in space far into the future, but not too far.
The movie takes place in the year 2096. Somewhere out on a remote planet called...who even cares?...
Lubdan is trying to wed Zarina (Rebekah Carlton), the princess of this unusual planet.
His intention is really to take over as king of her planet.
While Zarina and Lubdan agree to marry one another, they're both secretly plotting to kill each other.
Little do each of them know of the other's murderous intentions. Of course, Lubdan plans to enjoy the perks of their wedding night before he does the princess in.
Meanwhile, a platoon of space marines (I guess), led by Staff Sgt. 'Books' Malloy (Brent Jasmer) is heading for the planet to take down Lubdan who has been interferring with their mining operations.
They find the Leprechaun's lair, and his pot of gold.
One of these marines called "Lucky" (Ladd York) tries to steal some of the gold, but Lubdan kills him with what looks like an Irish lightsaber. I'm guessing that's what it is as one of these movies has to have a Star Wars nod considering Warwick Davis's role in the Star Wars universe. 
One of the marines hurls a grenade, and Lubdan jumps on it to protect his bride.
He blows up into pieces. and everyone rejoices.
One of the marines, Kowalski (Geoff Meed) celebrates by suiting himself to a pee over the pieces of the Leprechaun.
When he urinates, Lubdan's spirit enters into him.
Everyone returns to the ship with the injured body of Zarina. They intend to return the princess to her home planet and establish peaceful relations.
However, Dr. Mittenhand (Guy Siner), the ship's cyborg captain, has other plans for Zarina. He wants to use the princess's regenerative DNA to recreate his own body. Meanwhile, Lubdan reemerges from Kowalski's body, and the hunt is on for the marines to find him as he sneaks about their ship. 
Warwick Davis returns once again as Lubdan in "Leprechaun 4; In Space."
I don't know where to begin commenting on this movie.
To begin with, the set is laughably low budget. Normally, I don't like to critique low-budget films too harshly. I'm breaking my personal guideline with this movie. 
Lubdan's lair looks like the art directors used paper bags, spray paint, and bargain props from a Spirit Halloween store to design his lair. This movie's budget, by the way, was $1.6 million. This is the best they could do?
Anyone can have a crazy enough story for a movie. And it's easy enough for an audience to buy into silly and absurd premises as long as the movie is entertaining to some degree. With "Leprechaun 4: In Space" I was left asking myself, "Why is this a thing?" The whole movie is gimmicky as hell.
Warwick Davis is about the only fun thing in the entire experience. He still goes with the role, and has fun with it. Otherwise, to say it's all over-the-top is a big friggin' understatement. At least Brent Jasmer puts in some effort and energy into his role as the sergeant. Half of his head is a glossy metal plate which certainly gives him a unique look. Another sizeable portion must have gone to Dr. Mittenhand's cyborg appearance. He turns into a spider in the final act. So, all that must have really eaten up the budget. Yeah! The cyborg turns into a big giant spider because the movie, I guess, wasn't ridiculous enough.
Guy Siner puts in some over-the-top acting as the villainous mad doctor. He has to put that kind of energy into such a character, really.
No doubt these makeup effects ate up a sizeable portion of the budget. Otherwise, the acting is as shamefully scripted and dull just like the performances in part three.
Still, I have to conclude that between part three and part four, "Leprechaun 4: In Space" is better by default. It has a more creative premise. That's not saying much, if anything. 
"Leprechaun: In Space" is just a campy comedy film with an outlandish Sci-Fi twist. There's a little gore just for the sake of classifying the movie as horror. It's the bare minimum. As far as I'm concerned, it's anything but a horror film.
Otherwise, it's just as much of a cash grab as the third one. The only difference is part four has a little more imagination about it, but I'm being really generous.  

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