Gremlins

Gremlins was considered one of the most influential fantasy horrors in the world.  It showed that even a nice holiday like Christmas can have it's darker moments, and even that not everything is as seems. From the minds of Stephen Spielberg, Joe Dante and Chris Columbus (Yes that one.)  It has also been one of 4 movies to be the first to adopt PG-13 Ratings. (The others being Temple of Doom, Poltergeist, and the original Clash of The Titans.) due to it's comically over the top violence, but not so scary enough to warrant an R rating. It has spawned a sequel and various games. It even became the inspiration of a once popular thing that I will get to later.

The story goes like so Randal Peltzer, an absent minded inventor was searching all throughout Chinatown to advertise his latest invention, the bathroom buddy. A swiss army knife like device, full of various bathroom hygene gadgets.  Along the way he is trying to get a Christmas present for his son Billy, a banker who is in love with the Christmas hating, but all around nice girl Kate Beringer. As well as running a foul of Ruby Deagle the owner of the bank who loves to talk about killing dogs.  Upon searching, Randal goes to an antique store run by Mr. Wing an elderly man who owns many strange and unusual items as well as his grandson who is more in the real world and wants to help his Grandfather's store make money.  Among these items is a Mogwai, an apparent cute cuddly creature that likes to sing.  Mr. Wing of course does not want to sell him because he's afraid that Peltzer wouldn't be ready to handle the responsibility.  However his grandson sells it anyway and instructs him on how to take care of the Mogwai with 3 straightforward rules.

1. Keep him away from bright lights, flashes could scare and harm him and direct sunlight will kill him.
2. Do not get him wet.  No bathes, no water to drink. 
3. The most important rule, no matter how much they beg, or how much they cry.....never....EVER.....feed him after midnight.

Randal takes the Mogwai, now named Gizmo home and gives it to Billy as an early Christmas present. Gizmo wins the entire family over (Hell even the dog likes him.) But Billy screws up and breaks the second rule.  Discovering that getting Gizmo wet can produce other Mogwais Asexually.  These ones however, are more aggressive than the kind hearted Gizmo.  (Except the one he gives to his science teacher. He only gets mad because of the blood test.) The most aggressive being Stripe, who is known for his Mohawk like stripe on his head. The Mogwais save for Gizmo tricks Billy into feeding after midnight and he discovers to their horror that they transform into terrfying havoc wreaking reptile like creatures bent on destroying their small town.  Billy, Gizmo and Kate must stop them before they find more water and do more damage. 

Now for the fun part.  Could it Exist In Real Life?

For starters, Gremlins were based off of an urban legend based off a practical Joke in World War II in which soldiers claimed that the reason their equipment have been Malfunctioning were because of tiny creatures sent by the Nazis to trash them.  This legend has been referenced throughout the entire movie.   However there is a grain of truth to it. While most regarded as fake there was a race of creatures mostly found in South America known as Duende's small Gnome like creatures that hide in the walls of buildings, only coming out when children or young adults are at play. The most famous example is a video of two kids playing kickball before spotting and screaming at a running Duende. This type of behavior is more benevolent than the titular Gremlins in this movie, but that doesn't scrap it completely since Mogwai are benevolent creatures most of the time

Now the other example is one more practical so practical that many people already know this already.   About 8 years after the release of Gremlins 2 Tiger Electronics came up with a toy.  Sort of a mechanical pet that can talk, move and even learn from it's surroundings.  That pet was called Furby.  Now I know what you're thinking "But that's just a coincidence, they aren't mogwai." But let's break down the similarities:
1.  Both are very cute and curious.
2.  Both have their own language but throughout time gradually learn how to speak English.
3. Both have multicolored fur and beak like mouths.

Hell Tiger Electronics even caught on to the similarities and created a Gizmo colored Furby, then later on an authentic looking version of Gizmo.

The only differences is they don't turn into Gremlins....yet.  And if you dump water on them they won't make more.  They would just short out and die.......now that I taken a moment to sink in the fact that I just ruined your childhood I am off.  A certain science created pet of my own needs help.

As usual, debate, argue, and let me know what I missed.  Stay Tuned For More.

Oh one more thing. If your air conditioner goes on the fritz or your washing machine blows up or your video recorder conks out; before you call the repairman turn on all the lights, check all the closets and cupboards, look under all the beds, 'cause you never can tell there just might be a gremlin in your house.