Year: 1988
Runtime: 92 mins
Language: English
Director: Rick Sloane
When a shipment of mischievous hobgoblins breaks free from a studio vault, they grant anyone who wishes a tempting fantasy—only to turn it into a deadly trap. A night‑shift security guard, his skeptical girlfriend, and a few friends scramble to survive the night and stop the creatures before sunrise.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Hobgoblins (1988), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
The film opens with a security guard named Dennis investigating a deserted film vault at an old movie studio. Inside, his dream of becoming a rock star briefly comes true as he performs on a stage, but he dies at the moment of triumph. His boss, Mr. McCreedy, James R. Sweeney, closes the door upon discovering the body and quietly guards the secret of what lies inside.
A young man named Kevin, Tom Bartlett, takes the vacant job to impress his girlfriend, Amy, Paige Sullivan. After his first shift, he arrives home to find his two friends, the sex-crazed Daphne Kelley Palmer and the nerdy Kyle Steven Boggs, waiting with Amy Paige Sullivan. Also present is Nick Billy Frank, Daphne’s Army boyfriend, who adds to the rowdy dynamics. The group teases Kevin with a long, silly contest in which he spars with a rake and a garden hoe; Kevin loses, Amy berates him for his weaknesses, and Daphne and Nick retreat to Nick’s van for a private moment, leaving Kevin to feel the sting of insecurity and the pressure to prove himself.
The following evening, while pursuing a burglar, Kevin stumbles onto the vault’s hidden contents: a small group of hairy, demonic hobgoblins that escape into the night. Mr. McCreedy explains that these beings crash-landed on the studio lot decades earlier and have been closely guarded by him ever since. The hobgoblins possess a hypnotic power to turn a person’s deepest fantasies into reality, but those fantasies come with a deadly price as they recoil against their host.
The hobgoblins waste no time and head straight to Kevin’s house, where his friends are partying and the lights draw them in. The creatures grant their hosts’ fantasies, but the results are chaotic and dangerous. Amy’s fantasy pulls her toward the gleaming, sleazy Club Scum, where she reveals a hidden desire to shed her sexual inhibitions and become a stripper, and Kevin and the others follow in pursuit, curious and alarmed about what this power can do to their lives.
As the night spirals, Nick is granted a heroic fantasy of leading a commando raid. In the ensuing chaos, he is cast onto fire by a hand grenade thrown by his own commanding officer and appears to be killed—only to return later, bandaged and on crutches, seemingly unharmed but deeply altered by the experience. Kevin manages to kill the hobgoblin controlling Amy before she can become involved with Roadrash, the scruffy bouncer from Club Scum, Duane Whitaker. Amy returns to her original self, though the night leaves her with a new sense of freedom and reduced inhibition.
Believing the danger is over, Kevin, Amy, Kyle, and Daphne return to the studio lot to report to McCreedy. The burglar from earlier reappears as another phantom, and McCreedy shoots the controlling hobgoblin, saving Kevin’s life. The remaining hobgoblins retreat to the vault, which McCreedy seals with explosives. The creatures are blown to pieces, ending their immediate threat. In the aftermath, Amy promises to share a night of intimacy with Kevin, Nick returns to Daphne, and Kyle, the outliers, asks to use McCreedy’s phone, signaling that the night’s strange events may not be completely over.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:34
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Zany and absurd monster movies where survival is a slapstick affair.If you liked the zany, campy chaos of Hobgoblins, you'll enjoy these movies. This list features similar low-budget horror comedies and sci-fi thrillers with mischievous monsters, slapstick survival antics, and a general sense of B-movie fun. Find more creature features with a fast pace, light tone, and absurd sense of humor.
These stories typically follow a simple, straightforward plot: a dangerous creature, often with a gimmick like wish-granting, escapes and wreaks havoc. A small group of protagonists, usually young adults, must survive a single night of escalating, chaotic encounters, leading to a final confrontation that resolves the immediate threat.
Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared low-budget aesthetic, fast-paced and silly tone, and focus on survival against absurd creatures. They prioritize campy fun and chaotic action over deep emotional stakes or complex plots, creating a consistent, light-hearted B-movie experience.
Creatures that tempt characters with fantasies that turn into deadly traps.Love the premise of Hobgoblins, where monsters grant tempting but deadly fantasies? This list finds similar movies where creatures play on human wishes and inhibitions. Discover more horror comedies and sci-fi stories about deceptive entities, wish fulfillment gone wrong, and the chaotic results of getting what you asked for.
The narrative pattern involves a force—be it a creature, genie, or cursed object—that tempts characters by manifesting their fantasies. These fantasies quickly reveal a sinister twist, forcing the characters to confront the hollowness or danger of their desires and work together to undo the chaos they've unleashed.
These films are connected by the central theme of dangerous wish fulfillment, often used as a satirical tool to explore themes like sexual inhibition or teenage ambition. They blend horror and comedy by presenting life-or-death stakes in an absurd, cartoonish manner, creating a unique mix of temptation and slapstick.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Hobgoblins in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hobgoblins is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Hobgoblins with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Hobgoblins. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Hobgoblins that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hobgoblins: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Hobgoblins that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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