THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987) – Episode 282 – Decades of Horror 1980s

“One hundred years before this story begins, it was a time of darkness in Transylvania, a time when Dr. Abraham Van Helsing and a small band of freedom fighters conspired to rid the world of vampires and monsters and to save mankind from the forces of eternal evil. … They blew it.” Will the Monster Squad blow it, too? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they follow the battle between the young monster fighters and the pseudo-Universal Monsters in The Monster Squad (1987).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 282 – The Monster Squad (1987)

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Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A group of 12-year-olds form a Universal Monsters fan club called The Monster Squad and have to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters when they show up for real.

• Directed by: Fred Dekker
• Writing Credits: Shane Black & Fred Dekker
• Special Effects by: Stan Winston Studio
  • Stan Winston (monster creator)
  • Alec Gillis (head monster maker: Dracula and bat transformation)
  • Shane Mahan (head monster maker: Mummy)
  • Matt Rose (head monster maker: Gillman)
  • Steve Wang (head monster maker: Gillman)
  • John Rosengrant (head monster maker: Wolfman)
  • Tom Woodruff Jr. (head monster maker: Frankenstein)
• Monster mechanical department: Steven James, David Kindlon, Richard J. Landon, Dave Nelson, Wayne Sturm
• Monster art department: David LeRoy Anderson, Eric Fiedler, Emilio M. Gonzales, Leonard MacDonald, Lindsay MacGowan, Dave Matherly, Steve Patino, Anton Rupprecht, Shannon Shea, Brian Simpson, Michiko Tagawa, Jackie Tichenor
• Selected Cast:
  • Andre Gower as Sean (as André Gower)
  • Robby Kiger as Patrick
  • Stephen Macht as Del – Sean’s Dad
  • Duncan Regehr as Count Dracula
  • Tom Noonan as Frankenstein’s Monster
  • Brent Chalem as Horace
  • Ryan Lambert as Rudy
  • Ashley Bank as Phoebe
  • Michael Faustino as Eugene
  • Mary Ellen Trainor as Emily
  • Leonardo Cimino as Scary German Guy
  • Jon Gries as Desperate Man (as Jonathan Gries)
  • Stan Shaw as Detective Sapir
  • Lisa Fuller as Patrick’s Sister
  • Jason Hervey as E.J.
  • Adam Carl as Derek
  • Carl Thibault as Wolfman
  • Tom Woodruff Jr. as Gillman
  • Michael Reid MacKay as Mummy (as Michael MacKay)
  • Jack Gwillim as Van Helsing
  • David Proval as Pilot
  • Daryl Anderson as Co-Pilot
  • Robert Lesser as Eugene’s Dad
  • Gwil Richards as Mr. Metzger (as Gwill Richards)
  • Ernie Brown as Night Watchman
  • Sonia Curtis as Peasant Girl
  • Charly Morgan as Vampire Bride with Possom
  • Mary Albee as Pantry Girl / Vampire
  • Brynn Baron as Pantry Girl / Vampire (as Joan-Carrol Baron)
  • Julie Merrill as Pantry Girl / Vampire
  • Marianne De Camp as Mrs. Carlsen

The Monster Squad (1987), underappreciated at its release, has, nonetheless, risen to become a fan favorite over the years. With effects provided by the Stan Winston Studio and dialogue from the pens of Shane Black and Fred Dekker, the film follows the proven template used in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), i.e., the copies of Universal monsters are deadly serious while the youthful monster fighters provide humor. In light of current events, it is an excellent time to revisit this horror comedy with a heart and a happy ending. And while you’re at it, take in Wolfman’s Got Nards (2018), the documentary about the film and its growth in popularity. It might bring a tear or two to your eyes.

At the time of this writing, The Monster Squad (1987) is available to stream from Hoopla, PlutoTV, Prime, and several PPV sources. It is also available on physical media as a 3-disc set that includes a 4K UHD disc, a Blu-ray disc, and Wolfman’s Got Nards (2018) Blu-ray disc, from KL Studio Classics.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Bill, will be Critters (1986), another franchise-starting film showcasing the effects work of Chiodo Brothers Productions (Killer Clowns from Outer Space, 1988) and an experienced cast featuring Dee Wallace and M. Emmet Walsh. The Grue Crew is excited about discussing this one.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [e-mail].