Country: U.S.
Subgenre: Universal Monsters (monster mash)
Runtime: 79 minutes
Director: Fred Dekker
Recommending this as trip down memory lane; it's pure nostalgia indulged! It features most of the Universal Monsters (not withstanding the Invisible Man--not sure the Phantom of the opera counts), including the Gill-man. Co-written by director Fred Dekker and Shane Black (who created the Lethal Weapon franchise, and is remembered by many as Hawkins from the 1st Predator film), the film was always meant as a horror for children entry. But, I was not a child when this came out (just barely 😉) and I loved it! Still do. Any fan of the Universal Monsters is going to be hard pressed not to have some warm fuzzy feelings watching this one! It's premise doesn't differ much from other thrillers for kids; plot simple: kids are the heroes when they find out that their community/homes are under threat from something(s) grown ups can't-or refuse to--see. They then have to take matters into their own hands--usually with the help of a grown up expert. In this case that is Abraham Van Helsing (Jack Gwillman). In many ways the film is an updating of the the Universal monster mashes of the 1940s. Movies like House of Dracula and House of Frankenstein started this whole ball rolling 40 plus years before. One of the highlights of this film for me personally has always been Tom Noonan as Frankenstein's Monster. Not only is he some 6' 6" in height, but he is also a terrific actor. Not that the rest of the cast is any slouch. Canadian actor Duncan Regehr does a fine job of hamming it up as Dracula. Just all round great fun!
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