The Racially Charged PUMPKINHEAD Reboot We’d Like to See
Nick Taylor
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With the release of Blumhouse’s Halloween, fans everywhere are wondering which iconic horror property is going to get the reboot treatment next. Having just celebrated it’s 30th anniversary, Pumpkinhead is a franchise we’d particularly like to see a fresh take on. After recent news of Peter Block’s reboot receiving a writer, we heard little else and naturally began wondering what a new Pumpkinhead series could look like.
Legendary practical effects company, Studio ADI co-founder, Tom Woodruff Junior, not only designed Pumpkinhead, not only built Pumpkinhead but the man FREAKIN’ PLAYED PUMPKINHEAD! That’s right, Tom was the actor in the suit in the original movie. Being so close to the character naturally prompted Tom to conceive of his own concept for a story within the Pumpkinhead universe which he crafted into a treatment that’s fresh, relevant, and something we’d love to see get made!
Tom stated: “Pumpkinhead has been with me for the last 30 years … I’m passionate and compelled to look at what Stan Winston created and turn the clock back to see from where this demon was spawned.”
Set in 1937 Pennsylvania, Pumpkinhead Origin (treatment title) includes themes of racial tension, voodoo, and multiple demonic Pumpkinhead-like creatures. It tells the story of a black man and his white wife who escape the racism and hatred of the south and travel north into the woods of Pennsylvania to settle in a small peaceful community. The appearance of the interracial couple outrages a local gang who sets off a slew of horrific hate crimes, including the brutalization of his wife and community elder. To put an end to the racially driven violence, the man utilizes his Voodoo practitioner skills to summon everyone’s favorite revenge demon, Pumpkinhead!
The most sentimental element of Tom’s Pumpkinhead concept, is his ambition to hand the reigns of the creature performance over to his own son who is following in his footsteps.
“My son, Connor, has been developing a character suit performing style of his own and has the right physical presence and physique to take on this creature, like father like son, keeping it in the family.”
Father and son, Tom and Connor Woodruff on set
Now that is our definition of heartwarming! Would you like to see Tom Woodruff’s Pumkinhead a reality? Let us know in the comments below and check out Tom’s early animatic he did to capture to the mood of the film!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CzDlbzsiTk]
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