The Monster Squad (1987).

[DarthBoy]

Anyone remembers this great horror comedy? it's coming to DVD in a couple of weeks.

[Simba3]

I absolutely LOVE this movie. It's been a really long time since I've seen it, though. Thats really cool that it will be coming to DVD.

[Lazario]

I sure do. Though it's purely a longgone memory from childhood, many images from the film still pop into my mind from time to time. We had the film on a home-recorded VHS and my brother and I would watch it every few months or whatever. But I haven't seen it in well over a decade. And the VHS, as I understand it, has been out of print for almost a decade as well.

Basically, to anyone who hasn't seen the film, if you love cheesy PG / PG-13 '80s movies with a lot of one-liner spouting kids and a movie with a lot of energy, you have to see this one. It's The Goonies of horror comedy. And if you loved The Goonies, I guarantee you'll at least like this movie. Don't let the truly horrible DVD cover fool you, this is not totally lame.




The DVD from Lions Gate will be packed full of bonus features, including:

• Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Fred Dekker and "Squad Members" Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert and Ashley Bank
• MONSTER SQUAD FOREVER! - A five-part retrospective featuring new interviews with Writer/Director Fred Dekker, actors Andrew Gower, Ryan Lambert, Ashley Bank, Duncan Regehr, Tom Noonan and more!
• A CONVERSATION WITH FRANKENSTEIN - A never-before-seen classic interview with the Monster himself!
• Original Theatrical Trailer and TV Spot
• Still Gallery

[DarthBoy]

Awesome avatar, from "The Beyond" a Fulci classic.

This movie is "Goonies" meets "Evil Dead 2" don't you think?

[Lazario]

Awesome avatar, from "The Beyond" a Fulci classic.

Thank you. I'm still going back and forth about the movie myself... but Emily is awesome! "The eyes!! Her eyes, her eyes... eeeeyyyeesss"

This movie is "Goonies" meets "Evil Dead 2" don't you think?

Not at all, actually. But then I haven't seen Evil Dead 2 for about 6 years. I'll go out on a limb here and say... more like "Goonies" meets "House" :



Because House was much more in-line with the brand of humor that we saw in Monster Squad. Even the serious scenes in House felt lighter than air. And goofy too. That goofy Harry Manfredini score (equal to the silly stuff he gave to Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives) and quirky performances. In Evil Dead 2, the performers were either playing restrained, or so wacked out they were headed for the insane asylum. To which, I'd also give another nod to a movie I think must have influenced Monster Squad, Fright Night :

[DarthBoy]

If you like the movie, i suggest:

"Vamp" (a great underrated vampire movie from 1986 with Grace Jones).
"From Dusk Till Dawn".
"Stand by Me".
"The Mummy (1999)".
"The Lost Boys".

I can't wait till tommorow to get it.

[Lazario]

"Vamp" (a great underrated vampire movie from 1986 with Grace Jones)

Always quite liked that one myself. It's very stylish (great use of lighting - pink and green lights throughout the film), a great performance by Dedee Pfeiffer (yes, sister of Michelle) as Amaretto (the only stripper who doesn't strip in the movie), and a couple memorable gore moments (especially Robert Rusler's open-neck rips). The humor is extremely awkward in the film and doesn't really work (worst moment is Chris Makepeace's embarassing "having a bad day" speech). But Grace Jones' exotic, African-tinged, Lionness/cat-woman non-nude strip scene is a must-see moment for '80s movie fans. On a side note, Andy Warhol did Grace Jones' costuming in the film. And Greg Cannom (The Mask, The Howling, The Lost Boys, Thriller) did the special effects. And unfortunately, the shot of extending teeth (which should be better than The Howling, since I believe the budget was bigger) in Grace Jones' transformation scene, doesn't look so hot. The critical reaction toward the film was surprisingly positive. Variety, who famously are not fans of the horror genre, are said to have loved the film. And Siskel and Ebert claimed on their show they were both ready to give it 2 Thumbs Up until the big chase-scene finale. Which they didn't like. I have to admit liking the Elevator scene a lot myself.

"From Dusk Till Dawn"

Always liked this one. Of course, George Clooney's character is really weak from the start. His performance is cool, collected, and pretty good... But his character scenes following the big "Dinner...is served" massacre scene and before the Carlos ending are not very satisfying. His character even brings down Harvey Keitel's big mid-movie moment. Though, Harvey barely saves him during the sad "Bikers and Truckers only" Confrontation sequence. I can't say in a bad-guy role that George has very much range. But he is at his all-time sexiest in this movie. Too young and curly-haired in the '80s, too weathered and gray-haired in the new-millen. He's just-right in this movie. But, I also dug Tarantino's twisted performance of Richard, Juliette's defiantly bratty Kate, and the ungodly horrific special makeup effects. And of course, Cheech's creepy, lecherous trio of creeps.

"Stand by Me"
"The Mummy (1999)"

Hated both.

[jennydumas]

If you like the movie, i suggest:

"Vamp" (a great underrated vampire movie from 1986 with Grace Jones).
"From Dusk Till Dawn".
"Stand by Me".
"The Mummy (1999)".
"The Lost Boys".

I can't wait till tommorow to get it.

I love the Mummy!!