THE MONSTER SQUAD
(PG-13)
MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ***** (out of 5)
STARRING
Andre Gower as SEAN CRENSHAW
Robby Kiger as PATRICK
Stephen Macht as DEL CRENSHAW
Duncan Regehr as DRACULA
Tom Noonan as FRANKENSTEIN
Brent Chalem as HORACE
Ryan Lambert as RUDY
Ashley Bank as PHOEBE CRENSHAW
Created by: Fred Dekker
Studio: Lionsgate
BY KEVIN CARR
I was just a hair too old to be a huge fan of “The Monster Squad.” When it was released in 1987, I was already in high school, so the pre-teen appeal of the film was pretty much lost on me. It’s only years later that I watched the film and appreciated it as a classic of its time.
Now, resurrected from film ownership hell, the movie has found new life in a 20th Anniversary DVD from Lionsgate. Director Fred Dekker and the cast have been making the rounds to conventions, playing a new print of the film for sold-out crowds. If you haven’t made it to one of these (and I suggest you do if you’re a fan), you can always check the film out on this new DVD.
“The Monster Squad” tells the story of a rag-tag group of junior-high misfits who stumble into a battle with the classic monsters from the Universal horror movies. How these monsters find their way into 1987 suburbia is a little rough, but the film was made for a young audience that will accept these leaps in logic. Although the film carries a PG-13 rating, it’s something even younger audiences can appreciate. It can be a bit scary for the youngest of viewers, but it’s a fun ride nonetheless, for new and old fans alike.
The new 20th anniversary DVD includes a second disc with a “Monster Squad” retrospective that’s actually longer than the original film. Other special features include deleted scenes, two audio commentaries and the original trailer and TV spots.