GREMLOIDS / HYPERSPACE. Star Wars according to Monty Python

We enter the world of Gremloids (also known as Hyperspace) in a similar way to how we entered A New Hope. We step right into the middle of the action, into the fourth episode, and captions inform us about earlier events displayed at an angle that makes them difficult to read. However, it doesn’t matter because the story is very simple – the evil empire rules the entire galaxy and does everything to crush the resistance movement. The latter, with Princess Serina at the forefront, has obtained secret plans that can change the course of history… In short, exactly the same introduction as in George Lucas’ 1977 film, but the development is completely different.

Just a few seconds into space, we are transported into very down-to-earth realities where two mustached men, dressed in characteristic vests with a million pockets, fish with dynamite and drink beer (as they claim, “two, to thirty-three”). No, this is not Poland. It turns out that these local realities will be the backdrop for the battle for the fate of the universe, which is understandable because it’s a low-budget film, so it’s easier to bring aliens to Earth than to create an outdoor setting imitating a fictional planet. It’s also easier to organize a chase in jet-powered shopping carts (yes!) than in elaborate spacecraft. Lord Buckethead and his minions (resembling more Ewoks than stormtroopers) stand against ordinary people whom they perceive as leaders of the planet, and everything is laced with humor in an extremely “dry” style.

Todd Durham – the director and screenwriter of Hyperspace / Gremloids – hails from New York, but his roots must be British because almost every scene exudes a Monty Python aura. However, it is a rather awkward imitation, and lines like: “Hey, why don’t you break an egg on your head?” are funny only in that, contrary to intentions, they are absolutely not funny. This, in fact, determines the greatness of the “bad” movie – it cannot be so in its original intention. Buckethead himself looks more like the Black Knight from the Holy Grail than Darth Vader.

Durham’s quirky idea followed the traditional path for cult films – almost no one noticed it at first, and those who decided to write about it spared no words of criticism. Later, however, dedicated fans appeared, and screenings during special shows for B-movie enthusiasts. This did not bring much success to Durham; he worked on various projects for years until fate finally smiled at him – his idea for Hotel Transylvania turned into a box-office animated film for children in the hands of Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Two Stupid Dogs), despite all the criticism.

Nevertheless, the British appreciated Hyperspace / Gremloids and formed a political party with the same name, led by Lord Buckethead himself. This is not a joke; the leader of the empire tried three times to get into parliament – in 1987 (three years after the film’s premiere), he received… one hundred and thirty-one votes in the fight against Margaret Thatcher. In 1992, the result dropped to one hundred and seven votes, and this year it rose to two hundred and forty-nine, thanks to widespread youth opposition to Theresa May’s conservative policies. Moreover, Lord Buckethead also appeared at the Glastonbury Festival, announcing a concert by the duo Sleaford Mods, and although he never got a cinematic sequel, he is now more recognizable than ever, and on his YouTube channel, you can find out his opinions on Brexit, hunting, or nationalism.

Hyperspace / Gremloids is one of those films that, depending on the perspective, can be rated as both a “one” and a “ten.” Some will find it boring, while others will burst into laughter every few minutes. I – of course – belong to the second category and without hesitation give it a high rating (especially for the ending). If you like absurdity, parody, kitsch, and tackiness with subtle references to pop culture, you couldn’t have found anything better.