Barney, also referred to as Woof-Woof by Gizmo, is the pet dog of the Peltzer family in Gremlins.
Appearance[]
Personality[]
History[]
Gremlins[]
Prior to the gremlin incident, Ruby Deagle showed up at the bank where Billy worked and claimed that Barney broke her imported Bavarian plastic snowman the same morning. Billy tried to apologize and offered her money, but Deagle threatened Billy and claimed that if she saw Barney, she'd give him a slow and painful death. She considered putting him in her spin dryer. According to the novel, she threatened to strangle Barney. Barney then jumped on her and broke the rest of the plastic snowman's head. She then threatened Billy and the dog and told them, "I'll get you... when you, at least expect it!"
Later, Barney was with Billy and his parents to see Gizmo come out of the box. When Barney sees Gizmo for the first time, he licks his paw, head, and ear and Gizmo says, "Woof-woof? woof-woof". Barney also shared sleeping in the same bed with Gizmo and Billy that night. Later, Barney also watched Gizmo spawn the first batch of Gremlins when getting wet by Pete Fountaine, although Barney was slightly jealous of Gizmo, he cared dearly about Gizmo and Gizmo liked Barney from the start, and they both soon got along with each other. When Pete accidentally spilled water on Gizmo and spawned five more Mogwai, both Barney and Gizmo sensed they were evil and disliked them from the beginning.
According to the Novel, Mrs. Deagle later talked to Billy, and threatened to drug Barney. Back in the Peltzer home, Stripe and his " troops" (The other mogwai) felt that in order to achieve ultimate power (Figure out how to become Gremlins) and learn the secret of reproduction, they had to get rid of Barney. They framed him for a bunch of mischief that day, eventually causing Billy's mom to lock him in the basement for an hour.
Gizmo was then playing music with a trumpet for Barney. Afterwards, Stripe and the other mogwai (excluding Gizmo) tied him up in Christmas lights. Billy freed him, thinking it Mrs. Deagle that did it. Billy's father, Randall Peltzer, decided to take Barney with him to Billy's grandmother, then took Barney after he was done with the science invention convention. Barney was not seen again until the end of the film when he raced into the store where Stripe and Billy were fighting to eliminate each other. As Barney raced, he met Gizmo driving a pink Barbie car twice with Gizmo saying "Woof-woof" twice while racing to find Stripe. After Stripe was killed, Barney saw this and went back to Billy's house. When Mr. Wing took back Gizmo, Gizmo said "Bye-bye, woof-woof!"
Relationship[]
Trivia[]
- He was portrayed by a dog known as Mushroom (who Steven Spielberg stated in the original film's commentary was one of the best actors in the film).
- Barney was originally going to be eaten by the Gremlins, but both Spielberg and Dante considered that too depraved and would not allow it. Instead, the scene of Barney being strung up in the Christmas lights was used and surviving due to Billy' rescue.
- During the making of the film, Mushroom bit the animatronic Gizmo, which delayed filming for about 7 to 9 hours.
- When Rand promises to keep Barney safe to boarding him at the grandmother's home; it was never specified if this was Billy's maternal or paternal grandmother.
Gallery[]
- Main article: Barney/Gallery