272: Rumpelstiltskin (1995) ft. We Hate Movies

June 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“I only want the baby John.” That line, repeated roughly 1,500 times by a five-and-a-half-foot hobgoblin in a medieval hat, is the beating heart of Rumpelstiltskin (1995), a movie that feels like it was beamed in from a dimension where the Leprechaun franchise never happened. The Dead Meat Podcast, joined by the We Hate Movies crew, celebrates the late Mark Jones by dissecting his failed attempt to launch a second horror franchise. The episode is a loving autopsy of a film that is equal parts baffling and charming, a low-budget Terminator riff where the relentless killer is a fairy-tale creature who just wants to steal a baby.

The Leprechaun Template, Reused and Repurposed

The throughline of the conversation is that Rumpelstiltskin is essentially a carbon copy of Jones’s own Leprechaun, but without the secret sauce. As the hosts note, Jones turned down directing Leprechaun 2 to make this, essentially saying, “I’ll do it again, just with a different short king.” The setup is identical: a prologue in 15th-century Europe where the creature is defeated and turned to stone, followed by a jump to present-day Los Angeles where a grieving widow, Shelly, buys the cursed rock on an impulse. Her tear lands on it, and Rumpelstiltskin emerges, demanding her baby. The key difference is the monster’s motivation. While the Leprechaun is a perv, Rumpelstiltskin is a baby-eater. “H

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Advertisements and Intro** - Hosts James and Chelsea welcome guests from We Hate Movies (Steve, Eric, Chris) to discuss the 1995 horror movie *Rumpelstiltskin*.
2 (06:08) **The "Shock Jock" Character and 90s Relic Vibes** - The group dissects the sleazy radio host Max, a character who feels like a mashup of Howard Stern and Jerry Springer.
3 (10:02) **Rumpelstiltskin's Design and Performance** - The group critiques the look and voice of the monster, noting its similarity to a hobgoblin and the actor's familiar performance.
4 (13:30) **The Fairy Tale Setup and Plot Mechanics** - The hosts explain the movie's premise, where Rumpelstiltskin wants a baby to consume its soul, and the convoluted rules for defeating him.
5 (21:00) **Present Day LA and the Cop Opening** - The film shifts to modern-day Los Angeles, introducing a cop with a pregnant wife who is tragically killed during a carjacking.
6 (28:00) **The Widow, Her Friend, and the Magic Rock** - The widow, Shelly, and her man-crazy friend Hilda visit a New Age store where Shelly is magically compelled to buy a strange rock.
7 (38:00) **The Monster Reveals Itself and the Chase Begins** - Rumpelstiltskin reveals his true form and demands the baby, leading to a violent confrontation in Shelly's apartment.

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Show Notes

Chelsea and James are joined by We Hate Movies to discuss Rumpelstiltskin, from Leprechaun director Mark Jones. This episode is sponsored by Brooklyn Bedding! Go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use our promo code DEADMEAT at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. This episode is also sponsored by Liquid I.V.! Go to https://liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first purchase with code DEADMEAT at checkout This episode is also sponsored by Remi! Go to shopremi.com/DEADMEAT and use code DEADMEAT at checkout for 50% off with Remi Club Subscribe & Save Order the Dead Meat 2026 desk calendar here! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Golden-Chainsaws-and-Dull-Machetes-2026-Calendar/Dead-Meat-Productions-Inc/9781524892418 MERCH! https://deadmeatstore.com Website: https://deadmeat.rip WATCH OUR PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR OUR MOVIE, “Pre-Game”: https://youtu.be/o__XhcFS5Nc Get the Full Podcast RSS Feed! ► https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/deadmeat Dead Meat on Social Media: Twitter ► https://twitter.com/deadmeatjames Instagram ► http://instagram.com/deadmeatjames Tiktok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@deadmeatjames Reddit ► https://www.reddit.com/r/deadmeatjames/ Chelsea Rebecca on Social Media: Twitter ► https://twitter.com/carebecc Instagram ► http://instagram.com/carebecc James A. Janisse on Social Media: Twitter ► https://twitter.com/jamesajanisse Instagram ► http://instagram.com/jamesajanisse

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