THE MONSTER SQUAD 20th Anniversary Edition
© Lionsgate
Mania Grade: A+
Maniac Grade: A
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Duncan Regehr
Writer: Fred Dekker
Director: Fred Dekker
Distributor: Lionsgate
Original Year of Release: 1987
Extras: Two audio commentary tracks, a five part documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, a never-before-seen interview with the Frankenstein Monster, original trailers, and still gallery.
Buy it now!
Maniac Grade: A
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Duncan Regehr
Writer: Fred Dekker
Director: Fred Dekker
Distributor: Lionsgate
Original Year of Release: 1987
Extras: Two audio commentary tracks, a five part documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, a never-before-seen interview with the Frankenstein Monster, original trailers, and still gallery.
Buy it now!
THE MONSTER SQUAD 20th Anniversary Edition
By: Tim JansonDate: Thursday, August 02, 2007
As I watched Monster Squad for the first time in close to twenty years, I was struck by how much it reminded me of a modern day version of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein. Little surprise then that Director, Fred Dekker, in his commentary, points to that Universal Films classic as one of the inspirations for this film. In fact, Dekker notes that he was going for a Little Rascals meet the Universal Monsters theme with his film. Twenty years after premiering to little fanfare or critical acclaim, Monster Squad is back with an all-new 20th Anniversary two-disc DVD collection loaded with special features. This is a true testament to how big a cult favorite that film has become, especially to fans of classic horror of the 30’s and 40’s. While Stephen Sommers failed miserably with his monster film Van Helsing, Dekker, with a fraction of the budget, gives a wonderful tribute to those great monsters: Dracula, the mummy, the wolfman, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Frankenstein’s monster. Ironic that Universal passed on the film.
Dracula (Duncan Regehr) is seeking a magical amulet that can allow him to cause evil to cover the world. He’s enlisted the aid of all the above monsters to seek out the amulet which has somehow found its way from Europe to an average American suburb. The kids of this ‘burb are ready though. The monster fans have created the monster squad with members Sean, Patrick, Eugene, Horace, and Rudy. They are the only ones who know that real members are stalking their neighborhood. Sean has come into possession of Abraham Van Helsing’s journal but it is written in German. They work up the courage to visit the home of the old recluse they call the ‘scary German guy’ (who turns out to be pretty nice) who translates the journal. There is a incantation that can create a vortex that will send Dracula and the rest of the monsters to limbo but it must be read by a virgin.
Dracula sends Frankenstein’s monster out to retrieve the journal from the kids but he ends up befriending Sean’s little sister Phoebe, and eventually becoming the squad’s mascot. Dekker manages to give a nod to the famous scene from 1931’s Frankenstein where the monster comes upon the little girl throwing flowers into the lake. The fate of the world is up to Sean and his friends to stop Dracula before midnight or else.
Monster Squad is a terrific little film because it is so genuine in its homage to those great horror films of decades past. Rather than trying to re-imagine the monsters the way Sommers did, Dekker sticks to what works. Regehr doesn’t try to be Bela Lugosi, but rather borrows Lugosi’s look to go along with the sinister evil of Christopher Lee. Tom Noonan plays an updated, but still a very childlike Frankenstein’s monster. Noonan was so into his role that he refused to let the children in the cast see him without his makeup so it would not detract from their reactions onscreen.
One can pick the movie apart plot-wise if you’re so inclined. Dracula really didn’t need the aid of the other monsters…the mummy does little except shamble around but who cares. At it’s core this film is just like those old monster mash movies of the forties like Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman. Dekker carefully balances the comedic elements with the kids with the horror elements of the monsters and while there is a lot of humor, it never comes across as campy.
What will really delight fans of the movie is the great special features. There are two different commentary tracks. One features Dekker along with cast members Andre Gower (Sean), Ryan Lambert (Rudy), and Ashley Bank (Phoebe). And it’s a blast listening to these now adults talking about their experiences in making the film. The second commentary features Dekker and Director of Photography Bradford May.
There is a five part documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew including Noonan and Regher, deleted scenes, a never-before-seen interview with the Frankenstein Monster, original trailers, and still gallery.
This is the kind of film that DVD’s were made for…a great film, loaded with features.
THIS is going to be a must buy for me! Now where can i get it? Will Walmart and its evil minions sell it to me? Or do I have to search the Evil Web for an overpriced delivery charge. . :-)