The Monster Squad (1987)

An Authentic, Exhilarating, Nostalgic, Believable Fantasy!
Six kids and their dog band together to do battle when Dracula, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and Gill-Man invade their town in search of an amulet that will let evil rule the world. Sean Crenshaw is the 12-year-old monster fanatic leader of the Monster Squad, his best friends Patrick and "Fat-Kid" Horace at his side. A junior-high Fonzie named Rudy joins the group initially to ogle Patrick's teenage sister with a pair of binoculars from the squad clubhouse. Sean's five-year-old sister Phoebe contributes to the cause as much as anyone, and we can't forget little Eugene, whose efforts are grand if a bit late. Director Fred Dekker's intention was to create a modern "Little Rascals meet the Universal Monsters" kind of film inspired by one of the greatest movies ever, "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein", and though the fashions seen in "The Monster Squad" are unmistakably '80's, the film meets its goal wonderfully and still holds up today!

"The Monster Squad" is perfectly cast and very well executed, with a troupe of classic monsters that are kept serious, dangerous, and scary, despite their comic-booky garb, resulting in a fantastic depiction of how they are seen through the eyes of a child. The kids keep it real too, which may cause some folks to declare the language a bit strong and thoroughly politically incorrect, but if you can get around that you'll find this is one supremely entertaining film for the kid in you. Unfortunately, the complications of marketing an apparent kids' film with scary monsters in the '80s caused most parents not to take their kids to "Monster Squad" and most adults not to go on their own, leaving the film viewed as a flop. Thanks to home video, however, "The Monster Squad" grew as a cult favorite more everyday, and today is highly regarded by "children of the '80s" as a true and beloved classic!

"The Monster Squad" gets a fantastic presentation in this 2-disc, widescreen DVD release from Lions Gate (not sure if it is anamorphic or not, as my TV is square, but the DVD case doesn't mention it). Disc One has two commentaries, one with the director and select cast members and another with the director and the director of photography. Disc Two includes an excellent 5 part documentary, "Monster Squad Forever", covering the making of the film and the aftermath, and it's full of great interviews with the kids, the makers, and the monsters. Not all squad members are present for interviews and commentary, however. Among the kids, we only hear from the actors who portrayed Sean, Rudy, and Phoebe. Tragically, Brent Chalem, who played Horace, passed away due to pneumonia in 1997 at the young age of 22. Other extras include an interview with Frankenstein's monster, deleted scenes, the original theatrical trailer and TV spot, and a still gallery. This 2-disc set is a goldmine of material for us "Monster Squad" fans who were denied a release for so very long!

Incidentally, before this classic 80's film there was another "Monster Squad". It was a kids' television series from 1976 about a teenager who worked in a museum and battled evil with wax likenesses of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman that came to life at night. Pretty hokey stuff, but I'd like to see it come to DVD someday too!

nostalgia must be the reason for so many 5 star ratings
I purchased this expecting to find a fun movie for my 11 year old. Reading all of the reviews I was encouraged but was ultimately disappointed. I didn't expect the move to have basis in reality but if truth is told reality didn't even visit the set of this one. Corny is the best description I can give. I love the theme behind this but the execution was bad. I could get into young boys hunting down monsters. I could even give it a series on T.V. but it would need a new crew beginning with the producers directors, AND writers.

First the reanimation of Frankenstein used ear buds from the vampire when lightening happened to strike at the opportune time. Where DID the lake monster come from? The lake I guess! How about the werewolf with a conscience. He tries to stop himself before the movie barely gets started. Why was Frankenstein on the side of good from the beginning? Just because he saw a little girl?? Frankenstein is so good he in fact is capable of taking a picture of a girl undressing by accident. It gets worse. The vampire sees the amulet that could sinch the side of evil winning but instead of getting it he hangs out with the boys in the hall with the werewolf and the three girls (also out of nowhere) whom the vampire had in his closet(literaly) They must have been in the same lake with the lake monster who by the way resembles the creature from the black lagoon but more plasticky.

The scary German guy has numbers tatooed on his arm. He shows us this with the statement " I know a thing or two about monsters" I assume he was Jewish and referring to the Holocaust. What is the purpose of doing that in this movie???

The town cops must be the dumbest men alive because they keep running into the monsters and getting their necks broken and of course shooting at the vampire who happens to get wounded while flying as a bat but can't be harmed by bullets any other time.

The final cringe that came from me was when the vampire picked up the little 5 year old girl and called her a "_itch" with a capital B.

If I were Stephen King, I would sue because his name is plastered on the front shirt of one of the boys in the beginning of the movie.

I wish someone would explain to me why this was so popular. I can only guess that if it is first viewed through the eyse of a 10 year old boy, his psyche will lock on to the girl undressing in the window and have a facination for life.

I wasted my money DONT waste yours! There is nothing to be nostalgic about with this one. It doesn't even qualify as a "B" class movie perhaps "F" class for "Forget Me PLEASE!!"

Monster Squad
I loved this movie when it came out and glad they made a DVD of it. My children loved it also. Really enjoyed the interviews with the cast now and what they are doing.