Watching this, it is hard not to think of Hobgoblins being a Gremlins, Ghoulies or Critters rip-off, and it is, but that does not stop it from having just a bit of charm as it goes about its business.  Clichéd to be sure, as there is only so much one can do with tiny little monsters, yet still sort of fun when all is said and done.

It does, of course, feature some diminutive creatures, called hobgoblins, as told by the old security guard Mr. McCreedy. It was he who discovered them all those years ago, and it is as good a name as any, considering that they came from outer space. Said hobgoblins are attracted by bright lights and like to kill through the granting of one’s heart’s desire. Having been locked up for decades at a now-abandoned movie studio, new guard Kevin must do whatever he can to capture or kill them before his friends become their next victims. It is, as they say, easier said than done.

There is nothing overly complicated about this movie, and the plot is a familiar if simple one, but it is tested and true, and while it ultimately works for writer and director Rick Sloane, it does not stand even close to being as good as other movies of its ilk. Sloane tries to go for laughs during much of the film, but none of it actually works, and it is doubtful that it did so when first released, much less decades later. There is nothing as bad as watching a comedy that falls flat or a horror movie without anything to be scared of. The script, as it is, is simply not as good as it should be, but Tom Bartlett, who plays lead Kevin and Jeffrey Culver, who stars as McCreedy, do a decent job with what is provided to them, though that cannot be said when it comes to the rest of the cast. The special effects are ridiculous to say the least, the creatures are nothing more than stuffed animals, and the poor quality spills over into multiple scenes. While some might say it hampered the movie, those who went into this with open eyes knew that it was not going to be a masterpiece by any means, and even so, it still manages to disappoint on one level while pleasing on another. Overall, everything from top to bottom could have been far better than it was, but as it is, it was not the worst film ever made, as some might claim it to be.

The best thing about all of it was probably the hobgoblins themselves, as their performances were better than most, and they essentially were teddy bears. They may not have looked as good as previous mini-monsters, but they were adequate and accomplished what was needed. With all of that being said, there are other films similar to Hobgoblins that are far better, and they are worth seeking out over this one.

2 out of 5