RETRO REWIND: ‘The Monster Squad’ is still a classic for young horror fans

Growing up, there probably was no better movie than The Monster Squad. In my young, impressionable mind, I dreamed of a world where Dracula, the monster from Frankenstein and Wolfman all came together to wreak some havoc. Director Fred Dekker brought those dreams to life with this stellar horror tale that still holds up 25 years after its original release.

The Monster Squad is interesting for so many reasons, not least of which is that Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) wrote the screenplay with Dekker. These two obviously enjoyed horror movies and set out to make an homage to those greta Universal films from the early and mid-20th century.

The story surrounds a gang of nerdy boys who uncover a plot by Dracula to rise from the dead and take over the world. To help him with his diabolical plans, the blood-sucking vampire employs the help of his monster friends, and together they go after the neighborhood one house at a time. It’s up to the treehouse club to combat the nefarious villains and save the world.

Undoubtedly, the movie was influenced by E.T. and other “let’s-band-together” family films from the 1980s. What sets The Monster Squad apart is that it lovingly embraces the horror genre and all of its conventions. The movie serves as a perfect entry point for any wide-eyed child who is still too young for Freddy, Jason and Leatherface. Think the Ghostbusters, just on a tinier scale.

This is not to say that The Monster Squad is some sanitized kid’s movie that pulls its punches. The movie earns its PG-13 rating, and for the younger crowd, there will be some genuine scary moments and bawdy humor.

Can the film be picked apart by 2012 audiences? Sure, if you’re looking to critique a movie that’s simply trying to have some fun. But if you go in with no preconceptions, The Monster Squad is still a horrifyingly good time.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Monster Squad

• 1987

• Directed by Fred Dekker

• Written by Dekker and Shane Black

• Starring Andre Gower, Robby Kiger and Stephen Macht

• Running time: 82 minutes

• Rated PG-13

• Rating: