On M List of Movie Reviews
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The Monster Squad (1987)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
10/07, 2/08, 3/17
10/07:
Imagine my delight when I found out there'll be a DVD release of The Monster Squad.
I remember how good the movie was, having seen it many times on HBO during the late 80's and early 90's. It's one of the
all-time great children's films. A delicious mix of horror and comedy, it's how well it bridges the gap, giving something
for everybody: horror fans, comedy fans, children, and adults.
The best part is putting together the five most famous movie monsters from Universal Studios in one film: Count Dracula,
Wolf Man, Mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. The
Goonies-like kids, with the
help of several adults, go against them in an all-out war to save the world. The results can't be any more entertaining.
The acting is natural across the board. There are some great one-liners including "Scary German Guy," "Kick him in the nards,"
and "Wolfman's got nards!" My favorite moment is when the little boy's father opened the closet door and said, "Ooh! Look
at that big, scary monster!", never looking back at it before closing the door.
Another is, which occurs at the end, when Van Helsing held Count Dracula through the time portal and he gave a thumb
up to Sean. Not to forget is when Rudy spit out the soda when he heard of the virgin question which turns out that
she wasn't. The saddest moment is when Frankenstein's Monster got trapped in the whirlwind of the time travel portal.
All in all, The Monster Squad is one of the greatest cult masterpieces.
2/08:
The Monster Squad has it all that I can ask for in a children's film.
I love the ingenuity of the plot. Even more impressive is the acting. The funniest part is when Horace the
fat boy yelled, "Wolfman's got nards!" Sadly, Brent Chalem, the actor who played him, died of pneumonia in 1997 at the age of
22. The "Scary German Guy" said he knew a lot about monsters. That's true for having survived the Holocaust. It's a great,
quiet homage to the victims.
All in all, I can't believe The Monster Squad is one of the most overlooked films of all time.
3/17:
The Monster Squad is still one of the best children's films made.
Duncan Regehr's Dracula is the best I've ever seen in any film, and I'm not kidding about it.
All in all, The Monster Squad is a brilliantly made horror film.