This film begins with a man watching television at night when he hears a knock on the door. Upon opening it he finds a black jack-o-lantern on his porch and nobody else around. Since its Halloween he simply discards it as a prank. Minutes later he is stabbed in the head with an ice pick. Not only that, but when his daughter returns from work that night she is also killed by a shotgun rigged to go off when she opens the door. Ten years later another family has moved in with a pre-teen by the name of "Elliott Peterson" (Dogen Eyeler) and his best friend "Pork Chop" (Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick) doing some research for a school project about a supposedly haunted area near their town known as Diablo's Den. They are then warned by a man named "Alex Griffin" (Curt Clendenin) about a mysterious creature known as "Bloody Bobby" (Jo Osmond) who comes from out of nowhere and murders everyone he targets. Unfortunately, the warning comes too late as Bloody Bobby already has his sights set on certain victims. Now rather than reveal any more I kept wondering who specifically this film had as its intended audience. On the one hand it seemed geared toward a younger crowd but if so then some of the more violent scenes went a little too far. On the other hand, if it was geared toward an adult audience some of the scenes of a sexual nature were quite tame and rather uninteresting. That being said, I liked the manner in which the director (Ryan McGonagle) used suspense to sharpen the horror aspect from time to time. I also liked the addition of Ellie Patrikios (as "Laurie Peterson") who enhanced every scene she was in with her sexy demeanor. On the flip side, however, this film was plagued by slow parts and the lack of a consistent theme hampered the overall effect to a great degree. Perhaps if it had been less inconsistent I would have rated it higher.
28 Reviews
Nothing outstanding to be seen here...
paul_haakonsen9 December 2020
Well, first of all I must say that I found the movie's cover to be interesting and somewhat offbeat and funny, and that was initially what lured me in to watch this 2018 movie from writer and director Ryan McGonagle.
Granted, I had never even heard about this 2018 movie prior to sitting down to watch it late in 2020, so I wasn't really sure what I was in for, nor what I should expect from the movie. So in that aspect, director Ryan McGonagle had every opportunity to impress and entertainment.
But that he failed to do.
"Black Pumpkin" was driven by a rather slow and rather pointless storyline; one that had mundane characters and offered nothing enjoyable to me. And I must admit that I didn't even finish the movie, as there was just simply nothing entertaining enough here to keep me interested in watching.
The characters in "Black Pumpkin" were flaccid and one-dimensional, and the actors and actresses were clearly struggling with a lack of proper script and dialogue, which ultimately reflected poorly on the movie as a whole.
While "Black Pumpkin" is not among the worst of horror movies that I have seen, it is surely not a noteworthy movie, nor is it a movie that I would recommend you spend your time, money or effort on. For a horror movie, "Black Pumpkin" just failed to deliver and impress.
My rating of "Black Pumpkin" shows a generous three out of ten once the innards of the pumpkin have been carved out and peeled away.
Granted, I had never even heard about this 2018 movie prior to sitting down to watch it late in 2020, so I wasn't really sure what I was in for, nor what I should expect from the movie. So in that aspect, director Ryan McGonagle had every opportunity to impress and entertainment.
But that he failed to do.
"Black Pumpkin" was driven by a rather slow and rather pointless storyline; one that had mundane characters and offered nothing enjoyable to me. And I must admit that I didn't even finish the movie, as there was just simply nothing entertaining enough here to keep me interested in watching.
The characters in "Black Pumpkin" were flaccid and one-dimensional, and the actors and actresses were clearly struggling with a lack of proper script and dialogue, which ultimately reflected poorly on the movie as a whole.
While "Black Pumpkin" is not among the worst of horror movies that I have seen, it is surely not a noteworthy movie, nor is it a movie that I would recommend you spend your time, money or effort on. For a horror movie, "Black Pumpkin" just failed to deliver and impress.
My rating of "Black Pumpkin" shows a generous three out of ten once the innards of the pumpkin have been carved out and peeled away.
its still a halloween movie...
ops-525358 December 2020
With jumpscares, fright and blood and gore, but its made on a mediated budget, and it clearly shines through that the ability is lower than the wish of competence. its like surviving in water, having learned to float you wont drown, but it doesnt make you a gold medalist in the olympics.
which brings me to the filmographic and audiographic impression and that really sucks an ice cube. with a nonsteady cam and a sound like living in a cardboard box makes this look so homemade and amateurish. so they are still on the learning curve.its shines through that this is a local production by some teater ensemble somewhere west usa.
story, plot and themes are generic for the genre, so are much of the acting, even though there are some talent among the young ones. i can tell that this one would have benefited some extra 5 mill ekstra $ to become rekcognized, so if you want a crappyfied halloween in front of the telly ,it wont be my primary recommend, but its ok if you like turkeys. a 5 from the grumpy old man.
which brings me to the filmographic and audiographic impression and that really sucks an ice cube. with a nonsteady cam and a sound like living in a cardboard box makes this look so homemade and amateurish. so they are still on the learning curve.its shines through that this is a local production by some teater ensemble somewhere west usa.
story, plot and themes are generic for the genre, so are much of the acting, even though there are some talent among the young ones. i can tell that this one would have benefited some extra 5 mill ekstra $ to become rekcognized, so if you want a crappyfied halloween in front of the telly ,it wont be my primary recommend, but its ok if you like turkeys. a 5 from the grumpy old man.
Terrible cheesy movie
ferdmalenfant8 December 2020
Bad take on the 80s
Kremer-Thomas26 December 2020
With its soundtrack and general appearance, the film looks like a bad horror from the 80s.
The actors deliver their dialogue in a bored manner and the characters are so clichéd that they cannot be taken seriously.
Normally I watch films to the end to form a good opinion. I switched off this cheese after half an hour.
The characters were so boring that I didn't care who lived or died. No development or interesting background.
For me the film was a waste of time, only the IMDB rating of almost 5 stars made me give it a chance. I guess the 10 star ratings are bought, or given by staff of the film.
For me the film was a waste of time, only the IMDB rating of almost 5 stars made me give it a chance. I guess the 10 star ratings are bought, or given by staff of the film.
I'd laugh except it's not a comedy
meancandace10 October 2021
so uncool
trish-060279 December 2020
Well, I tried but I know from past experiences with the filming and the cheesy background music this was most likely a dud. And it was, at least what I made myself sit through. Okay, I know I didn't see it to the end but for what? I can tell a badly made flick from a good one. This one wasn't even worth the effort to watch part of it IMO. Some may like it or find it entertaining. I did not. Honestly, wth is this supposed to be? Some 80's type style? Either way....no thanks.
Slasher fare
BandSAboutMovies13 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
On Halloween, two kids in a small town have awakened a monster known as Bloody Bobby from years of sleep. Now, they must survive, if they can! Black Pumpkin is written and directed by Ryan McGonagle, who also produced Bloody Bobby, which was the start of this storyline.
It's a slasher with a synth score and allusions to Halloween. I mean, let's not hold that against it. It has a ten-year-old child as a slasher and I certainly liked that angle, especially when he's going against two other kids his same age.
Of course, there's going to be another film in this series, Legend of Fall Creek, which the end of this movie sets up.
It's a slasher with a synth score and allusions to Halloween. I mean, let's not hold that against it. It has a ten-year-old child as a slasher and I certainly liked that angle, especially when he's going against two other kids his same age.
Of course, there's going to be another film in this series, Legend of Fall Creek, which the end of this movie sets up.
It's low budget movie
shivers-6108310 July 2023
The basic premise is a kid awakened an evil sprit. The kids are trying to uncover the legend as a school project. As the title say it's definitely a low budget film. Even though its a low budget movie, I found it very entertaining but flawed in the acting department (its props are not any better). Its a typical uncork'd entertainment movie. The company is known for cheap or bad movies. It a good slasher but has some slow moments because they talk way too much. As for the choreography it's actually pretty good. The kills are basic but its nice if you've see every well know horror movie. The sound quality (other then then montone voices) are good.
Comical
rickjervis-3897116 September 2022
What a load of rubbish. Poor script, poor cgi, very poor special effects, but worst of all was the acting. The actor playing pork chops was the worst I've ever seen.
There is nothing I can recommend about this movie. It's one of them movies that all you want to do is fast forward to end to see how it finishes but once there you will wonder why you did
Think Penny on big band theory and the ape movie and the acting standards she portraits.
It would be hysterical funny if it wasn't supposed to be a authentic horror.
My advise would be to skip this and watch something like Seasame street as the characters in that are more scary and believable and act better.
There is nothing I can recommend about this movie. It's one of them movies that all you want to do is fast forward to end to see how it finishes but once there you will wonder why you did
Think Penny on big band theory and the ape movie and the acting standards she portraits.
It would be hysterical funny if it wasn't supposed to be a authentic horror.
My advise would be to skip this and watch something like Seasame street as the characters in that are more scary and believable and act better.
Enjoyable enough if somewhat flawed genre effort
kannibalcorpsegrinder21 December 2020
While filming a small documentary, a kid and his friends uncover the legend of the spirit of a young kid haunting their small town and inadvertently release it on Halloween night starting a bloody rampage throughout the town, forcing them to find a way to stop it before it strikes everyone.
This one was a pretty enjoyable effort. One of the strongest elements is the impressive setup that generates a lotto like about the small-town myth this one goes on. Offering up the local legend of the murderous kid who haunts the fabled part around the outskirts of town with a series of clues about his identity, the cause of the condition and his past antics in the opening attack that spells everything out. Given the actual documentary the kids produce and the later video report that gives the information needed for the pieces to fit together and fill in the story about the individual, this all works quite nicely. As well, the film has quite a lot to like with the actual ambush and attack scenes of the figure running around the town killing everyone. After the opening attack, nothing comes up until the massacre at the party on the grounds where he was resurrected, featuring a series of impressive attacks to knock them off one-by-one. The later scenes finishing off the friends in their home are really fun while the finale contains the massive assault on their home where everything comes to play in a series of fun stalking scenes, graphic kills and some wholly enjoyable stalking taking place. Combined with the stellar look of the killer, these offer up quite a lot to like while there are a few problems with this one. The main issue is the films' slow beginning that manages to hold off all the horror for so much of the beginning that it doesn't really register as one until it's quite a ways in. with the beginning half focused on the exploits of the kids filming their documentary and getting chased by the bullies, the backstory of the older sister and her friends with the other classmates and the general friendship between everyone, this series is quite enjoyable at immersing the viewer into their setup but otherwise not providing much else to bolster the genre feel here. The other issue to be had here is the rather overdone series of cliches and general familiarity that's featured here. The idea of the bullies tormenting the geeky kid brother, the local crazy person who spends the entire time telling crazy stories who's written off but is proven right, the dynamics between the family and the antics in the finale where it purposefully sets itself up for a sequel for no reason are all woven together into a story that's quite familiar and overdone. On top of that, the film's kills are wholly unrealistic with the graphic effects looking fake due to the bright red and unnatural blood used, rendering the effects comical as a result. These are what drag the film down as a whole.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language and a clothed sex scene.
This one was a pretty enjoyable effort. One of the strongest elements is the impressive setup that generates a lotto like about the small-town myth this one goes on. Offering up the local legend of the murderous kid who haunts the fabled part around the outskirts of town with a series of clues about his identity, the cause of the condition and his past antics in the opening attack that spells everything out. Given the actual documentary the kids produce and the later video report that gives the information needed for the pieces to fit together and fill in the story about the individual, this all works quite nicely. As well, the film has quite a lot to like with the actual ambush and attack scenes of the figure running around the town killing everyone. After the opening attack, nothing comes up until the massacre at the party on the grounds where he was resurrected, featuring a series of impressive attacks to knock them off one-by-one. The later scenes finishing off the friends in their home are really fun while the finale contains the massive assault on their home where everything comes to play in a series of fun stalking scenes, graphic kills and some wholly enjoyable stalking taking place. Combined with the stellar look of the killer, these offer up quite a lot to like while there are a few problems with this one. The main issue is the films' slow beginning that manages to hold off all the horror for so much of the beginning that it doesn't really register as one until it's quite a ways in. with the beginning half focused on the exploits of the kids filming their documentary and getting chased by the bullies, the backstory of the older sister and her friends with the other classmates and the general friendship between everyone, this series is quite enjoyable at immersing the viewer into their setup but otherwise not providing much else to bolster the genre feel here. The other issue to be had here is the rather overdone series of cliches and general familiarity that's featured here. The idea of the bullies tormenting the geeky kid brother, the local crazy person who spends the entire time telling crazy stories who's written off but is proven right, the dynamics between the family and the antics in the finale where it purposefully sets itself up for a sequel for no reason are all woven together into a story that's quite familiar and overdone. On top of that, the film's kills are wholly unrealistic with the graphic effects looking fake due to the bright red and unnatural blood used, rendering the effects comical as a result. These are what drag the film down as a whole.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language and a clothed sex scene.
It's a Fun movie.
louis-ortiz-lo11 October 2021
Obviously it's a low budget movie. That aside the movie itself was really good. Not a lot of depth as far as characters. But it's the kind of movie you could see yourself in as a kid. Not quite Stand By Me, but the kids were likeable. You've got nothing to lose but a little time.
Black Pumpkin is thoroughly rotten
natnightly27 October 2023
Not an abhorrently bad film, just nothing new. Same old curse of Ye Olde Time gets brought back on halloween and ends at midnight, ooOOOOOoOO. You've seen it a million times before, but it doesn't even try outside of that.
It has the stock standard tropes, the same character archetypes, the same ambiguous ending for a sequel, this time provided that it's funded exclusively by people who still get scared at the concept of a monster in their closet.
The violence was largely off screen, and what was shown was incredibly tame. The deaths were very plain and a lot of subplot hooks were never followed up on, so when characters died it wasn't ' oh no, not that guy ' it was ' oh, look, that one died too '.
Ironically, it showed Night of the Living Dead on TV in the background numerous times - I really wish I'd just watched that again, and I'm sure you will, too, if you watch this. Don't bother.
It has the stock standard tropes, the same character archetypes, the same ambiguous ending for a sequel, this time provided that it's funded exclusively by people who still get scared at the concept of a monster in their closet.
The violence was largely off screen, and what was shown was incredibly tame. The deaths were very plain and a lot of subplot hooks were never followed up on, so when characters died it wasn't ' oh no, not that guy ' it was ' oh, look, that one died too '.
Ironically, it showed Night of the Living Dead on TV in the background numerous times - I really wish I'd just watched that again, and I'm sure you will, too, if you watch this. Don't bother.
Terrible acting
janettejaynes17 October 2021
The plot 7. The acting though besides the kid who played Porkchop is TERRIBLE. The main character Laurie is supposed to be 16/17 in the movie, it is so laughable that the actress playing her is 28 but looks well into her 30s.
Lame movie that could have been better if better actors were cast.
Lame movie that could have been better if better actors were cast.
Not worth your time
kevin_robbins21 October 2021
Black Pumpkin (2018) is a movie I recently watched on Amazon Prime and tells the tale of Bloody Bobby who is a about to be awakened in a small town and wreck havack on the local high school kids. This movie is directed by Ryan McGonagle (Legend of Fall Creek) and stars Ellie Patrikios (Snowfall), Matt Rife (Average Joe), Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick (Bad Girl) and Dogen Eyeler (Wildness). This film has a crazy bad intro and outro song that had me cracking up. Why did they add this element? The storyline is pretty cliche, the kills are mediocre, the blood and guts aren't well done and the masks/costumes are very cheaply executed. The acting is also bad and there isn't even good nudity to get excited about. Unfortunately this is another independent horror film that's a miss and not worth your time. I'd score this a 1/10 and recommend skipping it.
You Should Always Check Your Candy.
wandernn1-81-68327430 October 2021
Diablo's Den
nogodnomasters29 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
In the town of Fall Creek there is an urban legend about Bloody Bobby (Jo Osmond ) who kills people at Halloween. In the opening scene we see a black pumpkin (never explained) kill two people. We jump to the same house about 10 years later as kids go to Diablo's Den and nail voodoo dolls to a tree, bringing back Bloody Bobby. Ellie Patrikios parading around in her panties supplies the eye candy.
The feature opens with 80's style credits to set the mood as a semi-serious tale with plot holes. It was fun to watch but not humorous.
Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity
The feature opens with 80's style credits to set the mood as a semi-serious tale with plot holes. It was fun to watch but not humorous.
Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity
A low budget horror film done right
StyxBound14 January 2021
Fun characters played by good actors
sonofgondolin19 May 2021
Yes it is a cheesy Halloween movie, yes it is made in the style of eighties movies, but it is a fun watch. The majority of the characters you like and root for. So sit back and enjoy a good popcorn flick for halloween.
Average Halloween Flick
vengeance201 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
So, I came across this randomly on this site & thought to give it a watch.
The film sees 2 pre-teens who after filming a school project a haunted location reawaken a demonic spirit who had been laid dormant for 30 years since Halloween 1988.
I found the film to be average, it's story-line isn't exactly anything special or great, but it's decent enough & the kills are pretty good & brutal which was also something else along side some slick eye candy. It's paced alright & has a runtime of 84 minutes. Not bad.
Overall, it's an average Halloween flick, don't expect anything ground-breaking, but you'll enjoy it if you can switch off for an hour or 2.
6/10.
The film sees 2 pre-teens who after filming a school project a haunted location reawaken a demonic spirit who had been laid dormant for 30 years since Halloween 1988.
I found the film to be average, it's story-line isn't exactly anything special or great, but it's decent enough & the kills are pretty good & brutal which was also something else along side some slick eye candy. It's paced alright & has a runtime of 84 minutes. Not bad.
Overall, it's an average Halloween flick, don't expect anything ground-breaking, but you'll enjoy it if you can switch off for an hour or 2.
6/10.
Great Horror Flick
Skilpatrick4020 December 2020
Goonies meets Halloween
Mr1988Morrison14 January 2021
Low budget horror with a lot of heart. Most low budget horror films go with over gore to grab your attention. Not Black Pumpkin. They used well crafted characters, a fun storyline, and humor. I felt that the film was a throw back to the 80s slasher films. At times I think the music was a little too much at times, but I don't think it took away from this entertaining little horror film.
YESSSS
mightyguitarbanger4 February 2021
Anew Halloween Classic
QueenBeeMovies15 January 2021
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