The Monster Squad Review

Written by: gothiczen   

This is one of those must own, see it now,get it while you can movies. The film is a heart homage to those great black-and-white monsters of the past: Dracula, the Wolfman, the Creature, the Mummuy, and, of course, Frankenstien.

If you have ever been a little boy who loved monster movies and spent days drawing them in school, or had a clubhouse or bedroom filled with posters than this film will get you where it counts - like a stake in the heart. The monsters are truly creepy (although, interestingly enough, Dracula is the only true villian). Seems Dracula needs to get ahold of a sacred relic that will let his kind rule the earth. The only thing standing in his way is a group of young horror movie lovers, a little sister, and an old german man who has faced the horrors of Nazi Germany (thus making him an expert in real evil).

The plot is light hearted and enjoyable to watch. The kids manage to not be too bratty or too cutesy - they all play their roles exceptionally well. One of the cast, a young gentleman with a slight weight problem, earns the name "Fat Kid" from the school bullies. Near the end of the film he has one of the best lines as he cocks a shotgun after saving the bullies from untimely death: "My name is Horace". We also discover that if you kick a werewolf in the balls, he will fall down. Good stuff indeed.

The filmakers keep the comedy and horror seperate - nothing gets bogged down by attemtping any type of lame horror-comedy. There is blood, and there is death, but it never gets depressing. It as an old fashioned good versus evil tale as evidenced by the sub-plot with Frankenstein. He is not evil, but he is a monster and we are lefet to ask ourselves what truly makes something monstrous - it is how they look or how they act?

The special effects are first rate and the plot does not have too many gaping holes. I would recommend this for a first rate horror fan or as a movie you can watch with your kids or little brother or sister. The whole thing has a very pleasant vibe - it is almost like being a kid again.