Monster Summer

Greetings again from the darkness. A fun-filled film meant only to entertain is always welcome. Traditionally these show up during the summer months, but timing this one closer to Halloween makes complete sense. Written by Bryan Schulz (the grandson of the late Peanuts creator Charles Schulz) and Cornelius Uliano (his collaborator on THE PEANUTS MOVIE, 2015), the film is directed by David Henrie, best known for his role in "How I Met Your Mother". It's his first feature film gaining distribution, and it doesn't disappoint.

It's 1997 on Martha's Vineyard (although it's filmed in Southport, North Carolina) and budding journalist Noah (Mason Thames, THE BLACK PHONE, 2021) is desperately trying to follow in his recently deceased father's footsteps. However, the local newspaper editor (Kevin James) wants nothing to do with the kid's ideas. Noah suspects an evil presence in town at just about the same time Miss Halverson (Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos") arrives for an extended stay at the B&B run by Noah's mother (Nora Zehetner, BRICK, 2005).

Not to give anything away, but witchy things start happening. Noah's baseball teammate Ben (Noah Cottrell) is night-swimming with a lady friend (Lilah Pate), and a fright leaves him "with the lights on and no one home" (as it's described). It's summertime, so baseball is a recurring theme for Noah and his friends Eugene (Julian Lerner, the new "The Wonder Years") and Sammy (Abby James Witherspoon), with familiar face Patrick Renna (THE SANDLOT) as the league umpire. The three friends begin their own investigation, but soon enough, Noah is on his own ... at least until he joins forces with retired detective Gene (2-time Oscar winner Mel Gibson). Gene has long been the subject of local rumors and mostly keeps to himself; but Noah's work piques his interest, and the two share a form of grief.

Bits and pieces of IT (2017), THE GOONIES (1995), and more recently, "Stranger Things" all play a role, and we have references to Mulder and Scully from "The X-Files", as well as a nostalgic feel that gives this more the feel of a childhood adventure than a true horror story. However, the creep factor is strong enough to earn the PG-13 rating. It should also be noted that Mel Gibson has been 'canceled' in some circles, yet he brings the necessary gravitas to elevate the film. It also seems safe to predict that young Mason Thames has a nice acting career ahead of him. Stories revolving around neighborhood legends and myths are quite common, and this one chooses to blend the supernatural with local police cases. So, if you are up for some cinematic fun times around Halloween, director David Henrie is all about treats, not tricks.

Opening in theaters on October 4, 2024.

I was surprised with some of the really negative reviews and remarks of, 'for kids only'.

I viewed the trailer for this movie and I wasn't sure if it was a horror flick or a "scary" kids movie. I really appreciate Mel Gibson's work and I love horror flicks.

I never watched Sandlot, but I know the guy in it is the ref in Monster Summer. I kept thinking, it's similar to Sandlot, only because he's in it.

I would say this movie gave me vibes of Monster Squad and Stranger Things. I didn't think of it, but a few mention Goonies (and I agree).

This movie also reminded me of the Mel Gibson flick where he's a burned victim and befriends a younger boy (The Man Without a Face). A great movie that showcases a heartwarming and unexpected friendship with no age boundaries.

Monster Squad has evil, but it was a fun flick with meaning. Monster Summer has evil, kids have died (but in the past and this is not shown). Yet it has an inspiring creative lead young boy. Who has a strong friendship with a talented young athlete. There's jokes, creativity, kids being kids, and kids experiencing something scary and acting like a type of zombie afterwards. The adults totally miss what's actually going on, except Mel Gibson's character. His character is very interesting. The lead young writer teams up to find and stop whoever is doing bad things to these children.

I enjoyed it!

I for one thought this movie was great. Per the review title, my opinion may be biased. This movie is in the same vein as Goonies, Little Monsters, Monster Squad, The Witches (the original), etc. Heck I'll even toss in the Sandlot for obvious reasons, you'll understand if you watch it. Unlike those movies though, which are pg, this is pg13 and as such, a little darker. Sure the storyline might be cliche, but who cares if it works and brings you back to a simpler time. If you're a new viewer, well then this is a perfect starting point for horror. Mel Gibson puts on an excellent performance as always, I thought all the kid actors did excellent, the pacing on point, since it's only a bit over 80 minutes. I feel like a lot of people are looking at this movie the wrong way, if youre an adult, you need to look at it from the point of view as a kid, or when you were a kid. As an adult, movies like this aren't meant to scare you, they're meant to bring you back, as a youngster, they're meant to introduce you to horror. So let youre inner child and imagination fly free and enjoy this movie.

The set up is a bit like Stand By Me, but gradually builds up like a classic horror throwback. You might get vibes of a psychedelic cross between Lost Boys and Stranger Things. You might even feel hints of some popular anime or manga mixing in. Most interesting though is that it might just resemble an even more twisted complex version of the classic story, Hansel and Gretal. Though I may have simplified the description, the atmosphere and plot are starkingly similar to those movies. However it isn't all about horror as plenty of mystery elements and bits of angst, understanding others, and growing up even out the overall experience. It's certainly worth watching and if you like this type of movie, then it's also worth buying.

Monster Summer is a nostalgic throwback to the classic horror films of the 90s, blending coming-of-age drama with supernatural thrills. Director David Henrie masterfully captures the essence of a summer gone wrong, injecting a healthy dose of creature feature fun.

The film follows Noah and his friends as they navigate the challenges of adolescence while confronting a monstrous threat lurking beneath the surface of their idyllic island paradise. Mel Gibson delivers a solid performance as the grizzled detective who guides the young protagonists on their perilous journey. The young actors, Mason Thames and Julian Lerner, bring energy and authenticity to their roles, making their characters both relatable and endearing.

While the plot may not break new ground, if I were a teenager in the 90s and early 2000's, Monster Summer would have been an instant classic. It's a nostalgic trip down memory lane for older viewers and a thrilling introduction to horror for a new generation.