Monster Squad [20th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

A group of adolescent monster movie enthusiasts form a club that meets in a treehouse in this pre-teen horror feature. When Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein, and The Wolfman are joined by Gill-Man in the search for a magic amulet, the boys form the Monster Squad to battle the forces of evil. The boys get unexpected help from Frankenstein when the monster grows tired of being continually bossed around by Dracula. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Cinemascope)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Fred Dekker and "Squad Members" Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert and Ashley Bank
  • Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Director Fred Dekker and Director of Photography Bradford May
  • "Monster Squad Fever!" - A Five-Part Retrospective Featuring Interviews with Co-Writer/Director Fred Dekker, Actors Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Ashley Bank, Duncan Regehr, Tom Noonan
  • "A Conversation with Frankenstein" - A Classic Interview With the Monster Himself
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Animated Storyboard Sequence
  • Stills Gallery
  • Original Theatrical Trailer and TV Spot

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Andre Gower - Sean
       Robby Kiger - Patrick
       Stephen Macht - Del, Sean's Father
       Duncan Regehr - Count Dracula
       Tom Noonan - Frankenstein
       Brent Chalem - Horace
       Ryan Lambert - Rudy
       Ashley Bank - Phoebe, Sean's Sister
       Michael Faustino - Eugene
       Mary Ellen Trainor - Emily
       Adam Carl - Derek

• Director:

  Fred Dekker

• Producer:

  Jonathan A. Zimbert

• Screenwriter:

  Shane Black, Fred Dekker

• Cinematographer:

  Bradford May

• Composer (Music Score):

  Bruce Broughton

• Editor:

  James Mitchell

• Production Designer:

  Albert Brenner

• Art Director:

  David M. Haber

• Co-producer:

  Neil Machlis

• Executive Producer:

  Keith Barish, Rob Cohen, Peter Hyams

• Set Designer:

  Harold L. Fuhrman, Roland Hill

• Costume Designer:

  Aggie Lyon, Michael W. Hoffman

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Richard S. Church

• Makeup:

  Katalin Elek, Papp Zoltan

• Special Effects:

  Philip C. Cory, Stan Winston

• First Assistant Director:

  Richard Luke Rothschild

• Stunts:

  William R. Perry

• Casting:

  Penny Perry

• Visual Effects Producer:

  Richard Edlund

• Stunts Coordinator:

  John Moio

• Supervising Sound Editor:

  Norval D. Crutcher Jr.

• Assistant Sound Editor:

  Norval D. Crutcher III

REVIEW:

• The horror comedy is usually a contradiction in terms but The Monster Squad is a rare successful example of the format. The secret of its success is Shane Black and Fred Dekker's script, which blends homage and lampoon in a way that sees humor in the horror genre without ever disrespecting it. Dekker carries that approach over to his work as the film's director, giving the film a light-hearted 'pop' feel during the segments dealing with the young heroes but creating a convincingly spooky atmosphere for the monster sequences. His work in both areas is aided tremendously by slick cinematography from Bradford May and a rousing orchestral score from Bruce Broughton that hits all the right emotional notes. It's also worth noting that Dekker maintains a tight pace throughout and weaves in some unexpectedly affecting moments of pathos between the scares and laughs. Finally, it's the acting that completes the film's crowd-pleaser appeal: everyone acquits themselves well but the real scene-stealers are Duncan Regehr's regal yet nasty turn as Dracula, Tom Noonan's appealingly childlike take on Frankenstein and Leonardo Cimino's subtle and dignified work as Scary German Guy, the one adult who immediately understands what the kids are up against. In short, The Monster Squad is a smart, fast-paced delight that horror fans of all ages can enjoy and appealing enough to cross over to viewers who aren't genre fans. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi