Every genre has cliches, but has well does Leprechaun 4 in Space follow the slasher film rules?
Leprechaun 4 in Space (1996) is the Leprechaun series trying to do Aliens.
The following analysis may contain spoilers for
Leprechaun 4 in Space (1996)
Rule #1
Unheeded Warning.
"As Shakespeare said, shit happens." ~ Leprechaun.
1a. Warnings will not be believed... - No warnings.
1b. Happened before - Yes, but not in space.
1c. General eeriness - None.
RULE #2
Sex & Nudity.
"Don't get too excited, boys. On the planet Dominia, when a woman of royal blood shows you her breasts, it's a death sentence." ~ Tina.
2a. Nudity -
i. Female Nudity - Delores is shown wearing a bra. The Leprechaun appears as naked Tina. Princess Zarina exposes her breasts. Due to acid and grabby monsters, real Tina ends up in her underwear.
ii. Male Nudity - What's left of Dr Mittenhand is naked, but he is mostly robot. Brooks ends up shirtless.
iii. Nudity Equals Death - Literally in the case of Dominian custom it seems (but of the viewer).
iv. Public vs Private Nudity - Both women shown in there underwear doe so publicly and don't seem concerned by it. One survives and the other dies much later. The woman who flashes her breasts at people survives.
2b. Sex -
i. Death - Almost sex kills Kowalski.
ii. Random Sex - Delores and Kowalski are about to have random sex. It kills Kowalski.
iii. Relationship Sex - None.
iv. Rape - None.
RULE #3
Death will be a punishment for...
"You don't think Kowalski's gettin' killed was my fault, do you?" ~ Delores.
"What do you mean?" ~ Hooker.
"Well, I mean, I'm the one who gave him the boner and all." ~ Delores.
...Transgression.
Again, obstensibly, it's about the Leprechaun wanting to reclaim his bride and his gold, but really about him killing off as much of the cast as he can. (Multiple characters try to bargin with him but he refuses.)
3a. Sex - Kowalski is literally killed when his erection turns into the Leprechaun. Delores is responsible for Kowalski's erection in a very hands-on way, but her death it long removed from the act.
3b. Nudity - As noted nudity isn't punished.
3c. Drinking - Most of the characters are shown drinking, including all four survivors.
3d. Drugs - Not shown.
3e. Hitchhiking - Not applicable.
3f. Other Criminal Behaviour -
3g. Being annoying/being cowardly/being a sleazy guy
- Harold (sleazy) killed because he lets the Leprechaun in thinking he's naked Tina.
- Danny (coward) killed soon after gaining a personality, that of a coward.
3h. Being a bystander - Most of the characters.
RULE #4
People will die when they go…
"'Hold it right there, pilgrim. I'm not gonna hurt ya. Naw, I'm not gonna hurt ya.' The hell I'm not!" ~ Leprechaun.
4a. Down to the Basement - No basements, but areas like the waste disposal chamber count. Someone does die after going in there.
4b. Upstairs - No upstairs. Applying the bridge to this rule, there's some danger
4c. For a Shower - Doesn't happen.
4d. Into old sheds or out buildings - Perhaps the air-lock. That is actually very safe.
4e. Running off to the “safety” of the forest - Not applicable.
4f. Anywhere alone - Some are endangered, some aren't.
4g. Anywhere Remote, Isolated or Confined - There's in space, it's all that.
4h. Any Old, Abandoned or Presumably Haunted Buildings - Not applicable.
RULE #5
The Order of Death
"One more thing, if I lose any more of my men, your ass is grass! That is, if you've even got an ass!" ~ Hooker.
5a. The First Person on Screen - The first death (Lucky) is the fourth or fifth character to appear on screen. He is the first named, though.
5b. The Black Man dies First - The one black marine (Sticks) is one of the last killed.
5c. The Stoner - Not applicable.
5d. The Bimbo - Delores and the Princess, partially.
5e. The Nerdy/Funny Guy - Harold.
5f. Macho jerks - The marines. Because marines. Even Delores just before she's killed.
5g. The Strong Female Character - Delores.
5h. The Protector - Brooks. Literally put in charge of protecting
5i. The Sensitive Guy - Brooks.
5j. Children and Animals - None.
5k. The Final Girl - Tina. Although it was Brooks who killed the Leprechaun.
- (1) Lucky [F]
- (2) Kowlaski [F]
- (3) Mooch [F]
- (4) Danny [F]
- (5) Delores [D+F=G]
- (6) Harold [E]
- (7) Hooker [F]
- Mittenspider []
RULE #6
Especially When They Are Most Needed, The Following Things Cannot Be Relied On…
"We signed on for 30 days. Legally, we are free agents as of midnight tonight." ~ Hooker.
"No one leaves this ship unless I so say... say so." ~ Dr Mittenhands.
...Anything. But especially:
6a. Communications devices - Not a real issue.
6b. Lighting - Partial.
6c. Vehicular Transport - There is a shuttle, but they can't get to it.
6d. Your Own Legs - A little.
6e. The Authorities - Not applicable, unless you count Dr Mittenhands.
6f. Weapons - No.
6g. Escape Routes - No.
RULE #7
The Final Girl
"Listen, Tina, you're in the way here. You can't shoot a gun. You're not trained for combat. You'll get us both killed." ~ Brooks.
"I can assure you I am quite capable of taking care of myself." ~ Tina.
Tina
7a. Final - Yes, but with Malloy and Sticks, as well as the Princess.
7b. Girl - Yes.
7c. Boyish.
i. Uni-sex name - No.
ii. Masculine dressing - Does dress as a marine for a portion of the film, otherwise no.
iii. Flat-chested - Less than Delores, more than the Princess.
iv. Short-haired - No.
7d. Well Drawn.
i. Intelligent - A scientist.
ii. Curious & vigilant - Mostly.
iii. Talented - I guess.
iv. Has a dark past - Not covered.
v. Have/gain inner strength - A bit.
7e. Virginal & innocent - Not covered. Doesn't seem to mind standing around in his underwear.
7f. Will be reborn - Yes.
RULE #8
The Killer has a Connection to…
"Your shrieks, my dear, provide a perfect accompaniment to this romantic evening." ~ Leprechaun.
Leprechaun #4
8a. The Location - No. Maybe the rock at the beginning.
8b. The Final Girl - No.
8c. The Protector - No.
8d. The Other Victims - Very connected to one.
8e. Femininity - No.
8f. A Specific Look - Yes, looks like the first 3 Leprechauns.
8g. A Specific Weapon - No, anything that comes to hand.
8h. The Camera - Once or twice.
RULE #9
Evil Never Dies
"The King is dead. Long live the Queen." ~ Princess Zarina.
9a. You Always Have to Kill the Bad Guy Twice - Blown-up early in the film. Shot to pieces by Delores.
9b. Even then the Bad Guy lives on - Came back both times.
9c. Evil is Immortal - Shot into space and exploded. Still able to give the finger.
RULE #10
The Sequel Will Be Bigger/More Formulaic
"What did you shoot him with, steroids?" ~ Brooks.
10a. They will follow the rules more - No.
10b. They will be more formulaic - No, more a rip-off of Aliens.
10c. There will be more T&A - Slightly because there are not only breasts but a naked back.
10d. There will be more and bigger deaths of the victims - About equal.
10e. The killer’s death will be bigger - Another explore, but an explosion in space so, OK.
10f. The killer will be less realistic - Yes.
Results
The following rules are followed: 10.
The following rules are partially followed: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8.
The following rules are not followed: 1, 6.
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