Comic-Con: “Monster Squad” Resurrected

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 2, 2007

Like many cult films, “Monster Squad” has a rabid fan base but had humble beginnings. The film, which was released in theaters in 1987 in a way that director Fred Dekker describes as “a whimper rather than a bang” was quickly forgotten by the studio. Eventually the company went out of business, and the copyright disappeared into corporate oblivion.

Dekker, who applied to and was rejected by UCLA and USC film schools, told us, “I’m a film school reject, so I’m very pleased to be here today.” Like many rejected lovers of film, his banner movie was made with love for the cheesy films he watched as a child. “This whole movie was kinda my tribute to my misspent youth watching the old classic Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man monster rallies of the 40s,” he said.

As Dekker went on to bigger films, a strong fan base grew around “Monster Squad,” rising it to cult status. “Young people who hadn’t been able to see it when it first came out started to pick it up on cable TV and video, and it sort of developed this new life,” Dekker explained to Film School Rejects at a special event commemorating the film’s 20th anniversary. “It’s like Frankenstein’s monster. It’s been resurrected.”

Fortunately, the rights to the film had been inherited by Lionsgate, and the studio was convinced to release the film on DVD, finally. The double-disc set includes a new look, a new 5.1 surround mix and an entire disc of special features. There are two commentary tracks, deleted scenes from Dekker’s own VHS dailies (“They look pretty good, considering they’d been in my garage for twenty years,” he said) and a five-part documentary that has a longer running time than the actual film.

Original Monster Squad actors Ashley Bank, Andre Gower and Ryan Lambert were at the San Diego Comic-Con to celebrate the DVD’s release and the film’s 20th anniversary. Bank, who was only five when she played Phoebe in the film said, “Looking back on it now, it’s sort of like looking at a really well done home movie. It’s hard to believe it’s us.”

Lambert, who played Rudy said the film still holds up when shown to an audience. “People laugh at the same spots. They cheer at the same spots. They cringe at the same spots. Something just resonates with people,” he said.

Still, carrying the cult status around can lead to some strange times for the actors. Bank recalls a fan once named her baby Phoebe because of the film, and Lambert recalls receiving a homemade bolo effigy, complete with tiny glasses and a fake leather jacket, from a passionate fan.

Bank also recalled being on date once with a “Monster Squad” fan who did not realize she was in the film. “I was on a date once,” she said, “and I was like, ‘I did this movie called Monster Squad.’ And the guy fell off his chair.” It was one of those terribly awkward date moments we never want to experience. Needless to say, this guy didn’t get a second date (which is a shame because the now-25 Ashley Bank is quite a looker).

After wildly popular screenings at the Austin Draft House and the San Diego Comic-Con, Dekker confesses that he has renewed interest in the film. Before this, the question he was most often asked was when the DVD was coming out. Now that this has happened, he usually gets the sequel question.

“I love these characters, and I love the actors who played them,” Dekker said. “There’s something really attractive about figuring out a way to reunited them in a real scary-ass kind of way.”

“Monster Squad” fans can keep their fingers crossed for a sequel. In the mean time, they can get the film on DVD, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Video.

Read more articles by Kevin Carr