History Film / Hobgoblins

This movie is probably best known for being featured on [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E07Hobgoblins a particularly memorable episode of]] ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. Rick Sloane, the movie's director, actually ''requested'' that the film be featured on the show. Despite this, Sloane and his film suffered some of the harshest riffing that the show ever dished out. Series writer Paul Chaplin commented that the film "[shot] right to the top of the list of the worst movies [they had] ever done". Nonetheless, the choice of this film led to the creation of an episode that many fans of the show consider to be one of the best. For more information on that episode see ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E07Hobgoblins here]]''.

This movie is probably best known for being featured on a particularly memorable episode of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. Rick Sloane, the movie's director, actually ''requested'' that the film be featured on the show. Despite this, Sloane and his film suffered some of the harshest riffing that the show ever dished out. Series writer Paul Chaplin commented that the film "[shot] right to the top of the list of the worst movies [they had] ever done". Nonetheless, the choice of this film led to the creation of an episode that many fans of the show consider to be one of the best. For more information on that episode see ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E07Hobgoblins here]]''.

Slightly dorky [[TheEveryman Everyman]] Kevin gets a job as a security guard at an abandoned film studio mostly to impress his cold and domineering girlfriend Amy. One night, he chases a burglar into an old film vault which his boss, [=McCreedy=], warned him not to enter. By doing so he releases the titular hobgoblins, little furry aliens who have the power to [[LotusEaterMachine make any person's deepest fantasies come true]] and then use those fantasies to kill said person. Kevin, along with the help of WellExcuseMePrincess Amy, the slutty Daphne, Daphne's obnoxious Army boyfriend Nick and [[IntimateTelecommunications phone sex]] obsessed dork Kyle, sets out to capture the hobgoblins before it is too late.

''Hobgoblins'' is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. The haircuts, fashions and generic music showcase most of what was wrong with [[TheEighties the '80s]]. The plot is completely uninspired, the monsters are [[FollowTheLeader blatantly ripped off]] from ''Film/{{Gremlins}},'' the [[SpecialEffectsFailure "special effects"]] are completely atrocious and the soundtrack contains one of the most incomprehensible--''and'' catchy--songs ever "sung" (which, despite this, the movie actually ''grinds to a hard stop'' to show the band performing in its entirety).

This movie is probably best known for being featured on a particularly memorable episode of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. Rick Sloane, the movie's director, actually ''requested'' that the film be featured on the show. Despite this, Sloane and his film suffered some of the harshest riffing that the show ever dished out. Series writer Paul Chaplin commented that the film "[shot] right to the top of the list of the worst movies [they had] ever done". Nonetheless, the choice of this film led to the creation of an episode that many fans of the show consider to be one of the best.

For more information on that episode see ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E07Hobgoblins here]]''.

And twenty years later, Rick Sloane ''made a sequel''. [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962728/ Yes, really.]] To this day, it is one of two movies ever covered on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' that had a sequel released after it was featured on the show (the other was ''Return of Film/TheKillerShrews'').

** The DrillSergeantNasty also mentions he plans to "ship Nick off to some third world country." It goes without saying, Drill Sergeants do not hand out combat deployments.
*** This is possibly {{Justified|Trope}} as the Sergeant was actually a fantasy created by the hobgoblins, who probably don't know how the US military works.

* MildlyMilitary: While minor in the grand scheme of ''gaping'' plot holes this movie has, Nick has an incredible amount of hair for someone a) in the Army and b) just out of boot camp.
** Mike seems to lampshade this, "Time for my hourly shave..."
* TheMockbuster: As noted, the film is an obvious ripoff of ''Film/{{Gremlins}}''.

And twenty years later, Rick Sloane ''made a sequel''. [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962728/ Yes, really.]] To this day, it is the only film ever covered on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' that had a sequel released after it was featured on the show.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hobgoblins_1655.jpg]]

* AllWomenArePrudes: Amy in the first half of the film. Though certainly averted with Daphne.

* BadGuyBar: Club Scum, though once we see the interior we learn it's an InformedAttribute.

* UnfortunateNames: Road Rash, the bouncer at Club Scum. ''Road Rash''.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The hobgoblins purposefully corrupt their victim's fantasies to kill them.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The hobgoblins purposefully corrupt their victim's fantasies to kill them.

* IndecipherableLyrics: Iced Chicken? Pig Sticker? Pig Liquor? FISH PICKER! [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0DPvBFqBPg Kiss Kicker '99]] The mysterious lyrics are finally revealed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kspr_19zgl4 here]] (see video description)

* UnfortunateNames: Road Rash, the bouncer at Club Scum. ''Road Rash''.

* WithFriendsLikeThese: With so little in common, it's sort of baffling to wonder how this group of kids came to be friends. Even without the hobgoblins drawing their latent fantasies to the surface, they don't seem to really trust each other or have much fun being together. The one thing that seems to be holding them together is the hope of sex.

* DontComeAKnockin: Nick and Daphne's van start's a-rockin' in a FunnyBackgroundEvent. Twice.

* {{Badbutt}}: The Hobgoblins are built up as a threat, but only kill a single person in the whole movie. Nick comes off as this at several points.

* BroomstickQuarterstaff: "I can teach you all about hand-to-hand combat!"

%%* CovertPervert: Amy.
%%* DeathByFallingOver: Dennis.

* UsefulNotes/TheEighties: Oh yes...
--> '''Mike''': ''(singing)'' "It's the 80s, do a lot of coke and vote for UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan."

* AffectionateParody: The movie was clearly meant to parody ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'', ''Film/{{Ghoulies}}'' and other 80s little monsters movies. However, it is so unfunny that the result is that it is utterly terrible.

--->'''Servo:''' ''(After witnessing Nick retrieve a grenade from his van)'' "So, the army just hands out grenades, huh?"

* AutoErotica: With a side order of {{Squick}}. Nothing happens in the car, mind you, it's just that the fantasy-woman is rather trashy, husky/nasally-voiced and repulsive.
** That earlier bit with the van, on the other hand...

* CovertPervert: Amy.
* DeathByFallingOver: Dennis.
* DevelopingDoomedCharacters: Hahahaha... '''you wish.''' It sure does take a while for the title creatures to show up on-screen, and by then you '''want''' them to murder the whole cast.
-->'''Mike:''' "Ah, Hobgoblins, four hours in."

** Crow lampshades this. "Nick's a smoking husk right now, he wouldn't mind if we take his van!"
* DontComeAKnockin: Nick and Daphne, in a FunnyBackgroundEvent. Twice.

-->'''Servo:''' ''(dully)'' "Ah, hah, oh no."

** Kyle bouncing around all over the place during the impromptu at-home dance party during while Amy & Daphne are arguing outside (Kyle's still in the house & you see him goofing via the window behind the two girls). Crow supplies Creator/JerryLewis noises.

* InsecuritySystem:
-->'''Mike''': Tell me again why they have an elaborate security system but they don't ''lock'' anything.

* ThreeChordsAndTheTruth: Club Scum.
* TitleDrop: During [=McCreedy's=] narration during his flashback sequence, "... out emerged a strange creature... a sort of... ''Hobgoblin''..."

* UnfortunateNames: Road Rash. ''Road Rash''.

* WellExcuseMePrincess: Amy. Just watch the "rake fight" sequence.
** '''Crow (as Kevin):''' "ALRIGHT! GRAB A RAKE!"
* WithFriendsLikeThese: It is sort of baffling to wonder how this group of kids came to be friends.
* WhyDontYaJustShootHim: [[spoiler:Why didn't [=McCreedy=] blow up the hobgoblin's vault in the ''first place''?]] It makes a "bit" more sense in the uncut version, as [=McCreedy=] uses the opportunity to screw his boss over on not being able to file an insurance claim because said boss never believed [=McCreedy=] about the Hobgoblins. Of course, Kevin is almost certainly going to be fired too, but the movie never really addresses that.

* YouCanLeaveYourHatOn: [[FanDisservice And the rest as well, please.]]

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
--> '''The Goofy Effete Emcee:''' I'm sorry. The Donkey Mud Wrestlers are supposed to use the ''rear'' entrance.

** Lampshaded by Daphne when she sees him in uniform.

** Nick salutes his Sergeant. Saluting is normally reserved for dealing with officers.

Slightly dorky [[TheEveryman Everyman]] Kevin gets a job as a security guard at an abandoned film studio mostly to impress his cold and domineering girlfriend Amy. One night, he chases a burglar into an old film vault which his boss, [=McCreedy=], warned him not to enter. By doing so he releases the titular hobgoblins, little furry aliens who have the power to [[LotusEaterMachine make any person's deepest fantasies come true]] and then use those fantasies to kill said person. Kevin, along with the help of WellExcuseMePrincess Amy, the slutty Daphne, Daphne's obnoxious Army boyfriend Nick and phone sex obsessed dork Kyle, sets out to capture the hobgoblins before it is too late.

** Crow lampshades this, "Nick's a smoking husk right now, he wouldn't mind if we take his van!"

* InsecuritySystem

* {{Jerkass}}: Amy, so very much. Not only does she treat Kevin like shit but in one scene, [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext he has a fight with someone using rakes]] and is defeated. Rather than ask if he is ok or anything she immediately [[ItsAllAboutMe starts berating him for "humiliating" her by losing]]

* {{Jerkass}}: Amy, so very much. Not only does she treat Kevin like shit but in one scene, [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext has a fight with someone using rakes]] and is defeated. Rather than ask if he is ok or anything she immediately [[ItsAllAboutMe starts berating him for "humiliating" her by losing]]

** Nick had just gotten back from several months of basic training, yet he clearly has a full-head of hair. It should be basic knowledge that, in any kind of military setting, soldiers are required to have their hair cut to reduce the chances of contracting diseases and prevent enemies from grabbing soldiers by their hair. [[note]]In the case of women, unless they're in the Nacy, they typically have to have their hair tied up in a manner that doesn't go past the bottom of their collars.[[/note]]

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The hobgoblins purposefully corrupt their victims' fantasies to kill them.

* MadeOfPlasticine: Apparently Dennis was killed by attempting to crowdsurf when nobody was actually there to hold him up. His fantasy appears to have been "to perform a rock concert from a really, really tall stage to an empty room," though this may just be the Hobgoblins' use of artistic license, as it's hard to imagine Kyle's fantasy was a slutty woman who would actively try to murder him.

** At the end of the movie, the hobgoblins return to the studio on their own, which makes the main characters' pursuit of them them throughout the film completely pointless. They could have just sat around and waiting for the hobgoblins to come back.

* WhyDontYaJustShootHim: [[spoiler:Why didn't [=McCreedy=] blow up the hobgoblins' vault in the ''first place''?]] It makes a "bit" more sense in the uncut version, as [=McCreedy=] uses the opportunity to screw his boss over on not being able to file an insurance claim because said boss never believed [=McCreedy=] about the Hobgoblins. Of course, Kevin is almost certainly going to be fired too, but the movie never really addresses that.

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: Nick salutes his sergeant, and apparently didn't get a regulation haircut at boot camp. Honestly, just about everything with Nick qualifies.
-->'''Servo:''' (After witnessing Nick retrieve a grenade from his van) "So, the army just hands out grenades, huh?"