Brian Trenchard-Smith, the British-Australian director of such Ozploitation classics as Turkey Shoot and Dead End Drive-In, eventually made the big move to Hollywood in the early 1990s, and in due time, he was entrusted with the third installment of that decade’s most madcap horror franchise. Amazingly, Trenchard-Smith made his mark on a genre series already known for its schlocky pleasures and cheesy execution. And for those who prefer the wackier and more untamed entries in the Leprechaun universe, they really have Trenchard-Smith to thank; he steered these films in a cracked direction that still has fans talking to this day.

What better person to direct a Leprechaun sequel than the man who once said subtlety isn’t his middle name. Trenchard-Smith, a director of many self-deprecating quotes, made his Hollywood horror debut with another sequel, Night of the Demons 2, before boarding Leprechaun 3. In fact, it was his relationship...