With a $1.5 million budget, Leprechaun 2 made $2.3 million at the box office, significantly less than its predecessor. Despite the low profit, Trimark Pictures decided to move forward with the franchise, but in direct-to-video rather than theatrical. Producer Jeff Geoffray contacted David DuBos, whom he had bought a spec script from, to write the sequel. Though he hadn’t seen the first two films, DuBos took the job after hearing the tagline “Leprechaun in Las Vegas.” To direct the film, Trimark hired Ozploitation filmmaker Brian Trenchard-Smith, whose credits include Stunt Rock, Turkey Shoot, and BMX Bandits. Filming lasted for two weeks in Los Angeles, mostly in the abandoned Ambassador Hotel, with one day in Vegas. Aside from the returning Warwick Davis, most of the cast included either relative newcomers or established character actors. Roughly one year after its predecessor, Leprechaun 3 hit video store shelves in June 1995.
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Synopsis
Young Scott McCoy (John Gatins) drives through Las Vegas on his way to college when he meets Tammy (Lee Armstrong). He agrees to take her to her workplace, the Lucky Shamrock Casino, on the condition that she sneaks him in. Tammy urges him not to gamble, but Scott decides to gamble his $23,000 tuition funds on roulette, losing everything. He goes to a nearby pawn shop to sell his grandpa’s watch and finds a gold coin. While holding it, Scott wishes he were on a winning streak, which comes true, and he wins his money back. Little does he know that Lubdan the Leprechaun (Warwick Davis) wants his gold back and starts tracking him down. The coin is passed among casino owner Mitch (Michael Callan), employee Loretta (Caroline Williams), and magician Fazio (John DeMita). Each makes a wish that ends up in disaster as Lubdan goes on a Vegas rampage.
Review
After the dismal second entry in the series, Leprechaun 3 is a breath of fresh air. This film is where the franchise finally found its footing, taking full advantage of the fantastical subject matter. It’s also worth noting that Warwick Davis has said that this was his favorite film in the series. He claimed that director Brian Trenchard-Smith made a lot with very little and “really got the humor.” Admittedly, the film’s low budget is apparent from the cheap sets and minimal filming in Las Vegas. That said, Trenchard-Smith makes the most of the minimal funds to deliver a fun, if nonsensical, movie. Everyone involved with this movie knew what they were making and had fun with the material. Granted, some of the jokes don’t land as well as others, but even those moments have their charm. It’s not Oscar material, but it doesn’t have to be.
As with the first two films, Warwick Davis is easily the highlight, spouting off some great one-liners and limericks. However, unlike the abysmal first sequel, the rest of the cast delivers rather than drags the movie down. John Gatins is a fun lead, possessing an innocent boyish charm that makes him likable and worth following. There’s also a nice subplot where Lubdan bites him, transforming him into a human-leprechaun hybrid, which opens tons of opportunities. He develops a hunger for potatoes, gradually looks more grotesque, and even adopts an Irish accent. It’s unfortunate that Lee Armstrong retired from acting, since she’s gorgeous, charismatic, and has great chemistry with Gatins. John DeMita, Caroline Williams, and Michael Callan all excel at playing sleazy con artists who get their just desserts. It’s fun seeing these selfish people get their wish, only for it to backfire horribly for them.
On that note, there are some great gags courtesy of makeup effects artist Gabe Bartalos. One of the most memorable involves Caroline Williams’ Loretta getting inflated to cartoonish extremes before exploding. There’s also a ridiculous scene where a robotic woman comes out of a TV and electrocutes Mitch to death. We even get a scene of someone literally being sawed in half, complete with their organs spilling out. Plus, the makeup used for Scott’s gradual transformation is cool, especially as it further develops. At roughly 90 minutes, the film flies by without much filler, which would otherwise drag the pacing down. Granted, your mileage may vary, but if you know what kind of movie you’re getting into, you’ll have fun. Overall, Leprechaun 3 shines above its predecessors thanks to its well-placed humor, solid cast, and inventive gags.
Buy Leprechaun 3 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bPFTzB.
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Where to watch Leprechaun 3 (1995)
