Hidden Gems : The Frighteners (1996) & Small Soldiers (1998)

The penultimate Retro Spectacles series opener “Hidden Gems” episode is here with a bang! But what’s a hidden gem? We think you’ll agree with our picks today, but we define them as art (in this case movies) that we think got lost in the shuffle but are much better than the lackluster fanfare they received at the time and continue to have today.

First up is the last film Peter Jackson made before he became THE Peter Jackson, household name and still-current keeper of the Lord of the Rings big screen adaptations : the dark horror-comedy “The Frighteners”. Starring Michael J Fox in an out of character grifter jerk who wrangles his ghost buddies to help him pull easy scores on residents until Death Itself comes to town to wreak havoc.

Then, we close out with a wild ride in the form of 1998’s “is it a kid’s movie?” Joe Dante helmed “Small Soldiers”. When a small town (probably criminal, let’s be honest) kid gets his hands on the latest prototypes of toys equipped with military grade microprocessors and a directive for destruction, all hell breaks loose and it’s mayhem in the streets as the titular small soldiers bring all the Ruckus with a capital UCKUS.

Links

• Where to watch The Frighteners
• Where to watch Small Soldiers
• 1998 LA Times article about New Line striking LOTR deal with Peter Jackson
• “That Guy! Dick Miller” Documentary
• Burger King puts contingency plan into action over Small Soldiers push back (Variety)
• Small Solders and the Burger King last-minute overhaul (WSJ)