March is a time best known for St. Patrick's Day, a holiday celebrated by the Irish community and many others that look to have good times with good friends. But the fun that is often had during the month isn't only relegated to those that lead a mostly social life. Those who wish to celebrate could also find more creative means, whether with house parties or movies. And for those that want a St. Patrick's Day inside, there's no better franchise to enjoy than the Leprechaun films. Since the first film, the series hasn't been nearly as beloved as other famous slashers like Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for it among horror fans.
No matter where these films have taken place, the storyline remained the same. The Leprechaun was an ancient magical creature that wanted nothing more than to enjoy his pot of gold. However, like clockwork, a group of people stumbled upon it, forcing the Leprechaun to go out of his way to retrieve his property. But rather than terrorize them with pranks or games, this Leprechaun has resorted to murder nearly every single time, leading to a variety of kills that made him a standout among his peers.
However, unlike Chucky or Pennywise, Leprechaun was a horror-comedy that leaned more into comedy rather than horror. While this isn't a bad thing, the films are often marketed to audiences as being a horror series first, despite Warwick Davis' role as the Leprechaun undoubtedly being played more for laughs. In fact, his turn as the character has helped the series spawn six sequels. While he hasn't been in the more recent entries, his impact remained, and even when the franchise took a darker route with Leprechaun: Origins, it only proved that humor is key for the series.
Since the first film, the Leprechaun has been everywhere from the hood to outer space. But because his main goal was to obtain his gold, it allowed him to exist in any world or community because his entire reason for being is so simple. Furthermore, since he has had such a simple storyline, it allowed him to be portrayed however the creators wanted, including giving him nigh-omnipotent supernatural powers that let him unleash absurd yet terrifying kills. Some highlights included making a pot of gold erupt from a man's stomach and comically flattening another man's head.
While most slasher franchises have changed their tone on at least two occasions, the Leprechaun franchise has remained a horror-comedy more often than not. Because of this, the series has been able to thrive in a genre that isn't often explored and has given the character room to evolve in his cleverness and absurdity. He may not be for everyone, but there's no denying that he's scratched a particular itch for the horror community.
Unfortunately, the Leprechaun franchise has remained dormant for a few years. For now, there hasn't been any confirmation of more projects on the horizon, but even if this was the end of the series, it still bolsters an impressive list of films. Rather than rely strictly on scares, the Leprechaun films have proven that it's best to play to its strength and nothing is more entertaining than a quippy Leprechaun out for revenge.