MONSTER SQUAD: THE COMPLETE SERIES (1976)
Directed by Various
Fabulous Films DVD
THE FILM
In 1976, wax figures of the Frankenstein Monster, Count Dracula and the Wolfman came to life and saved the Big City from Master Criminals on 13 separate occasions. They were assisted by Walt, the Wax Museum Caretaker, who had built an invaluable "Crime Computer". The Monster Squad fought Mr. Mephisto, The Tickler, The Astrologer, The Skull, Lawrence of Moravia and others. All criminals, all trouble. All easily vanquished by the Squad.
The first time I watched this show I would have described my reaction as "generally amused". I thought it was an enjoyable Saturday Morning show that had a great concept but didn't seem to have its sights set too high. The episodes moved very, very slowly. Oh, sure, things happened but it all seemed to move in a glacial manner. The characters were charming. The villains were fun. The look was great. But, it was an amusement, purely an amusement. Somewhere during my second viewing, I realized that I loved the show.
It has become a show that I would put on Play All and have running in the background of my day. Yes, there were some jokes that were corny beyond the capacity of my Groovie Goolies-loving soul. Yes, it still moved slowly. And, yes, there is a nagging feeling that, somehow, the show never reached its full potential. But, I receive such massive delectation from the show. At its base, I think it grows from the simple fact that these are the Great Monsters who have moved from terrorizing at Universal and Hammer to goofing around at Horrible Hall and countless novelty songs to actually being very productive members of society. Folks used to say that the monsters appearing in goofs like Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein was the natural end of the road for these characters. It isn't. This is. And, it's perfect. You have to have an end of the road. Better it be a strong, noble end than something pointless or nonsensical.
I could go out to dinner with these three monsters. Walt can come along if he wants but I would think he'd have studying to do. Criminologists don't just "happen". Anyways, Frank could pick me up in the kick-ass Monster Squad van. We would go to a restaurant of their choice and just talk about life. And, eventually, we'd talk about what it's like being a hero. I think they seem pretty humble and modest to me. They might be confused by my attentions. I think they probably still feel like they're making up for what they've done in the past. Yeah, they've done a lot of terrible things. But, we must forgive.
I've seen the online forums where people condemn the show for purporting to show off these "Mass Murdering Monsters" as heroes. Hey, I can alliterate with the best of them but using a literary conceit doesn't make you right. They've been bad…and they've been burnt, beaten, bruised and broken...and made into wax. So, now it is their time. I've gone down this route before but bear with me for a few lines. In that Alternate Universe I sometimes speak of, the one with the real Friday The 13th Part 3, this show ran for a decade. There were over 200 episodes. And, by the end, all evil in the world was gone. And, the Boys, including Walt, have done so much. In that world, all are happy and all is good. In that world, at one point, our Monster Squad joined The Monster Squad to stop their evil selves. This was a good place. In our world, the Wax Monsters flared up in one mid-sized city, saved the day and then they were gone.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Shot on film, this looks like Saturday Morning TV from the 70s. It sounds like Saturday Morning TV from the 70s. Frank is greener than ever so there's another reason to love life.
EXTRAS
There's a very nicely designed inner sleeve but, apart from that, nothing. You should see the Alternate Universe Season Sets. They are loaded with everything you could imagine, including Bleeding Skull commentaries from Doe and Jan. Those two are cool.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I like monsters, no matter what they're getting up to. I like super hero-type shows. So, logically, I like this one. Silliness as High and Low Art at the same time. I'm smiling over here, all set to watch it again.
— Dan Budnik, 11.03.11 |
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