In this episode of VHS Therapy, Mary and Teddy revisit Gremlins (1984), the genre-bending Christmas movie that confused parents, traumatized kids, and helped create the PG-13 rating. What starts as a seemingly cute holiday film quickly turns into chaotic horror-comedy, complete with impossible pet rules, wildly inconsistent adults, and some of the most memorable practical effects of the 1980s.

We break down why Gremlins never felt like a Christmas movie to us as kids (but absolutely does now), how Steven Spielberg’s involvement shaped the film’s tone and merchandising legacy, and why Gizmo remains an enduring pop-culture icon 40 years later. Along theway, we question the logic of the Mogwai rules, celebrate the unsung heroes of the movie (Billy’s mom, obviously), and reflect on why this movie still makes us uncomfortable… yet weirdly nostalgic.

• Why Gremlins helped lead to the creation of the PG-13 rating
• Whether Gremlins is actually a Christmas movie (and why our opinions changed as adults)
• The intentionally vague and impossible Mogwai rules
• The bar scene, the movie theater scene, and how eight-hour-old Gremlins somehow have full personalities
• Why this movie made us uncomfortable as kids… and why we still watch it every Christmas