If this is the first announcement you are hearing of the film Monster Mash, it is highly likely that you have no interest in horror films and don’t know what the idea for this film even. We can already figure it out because Youth of America has a feeling that all of the classic monsters that used to be gigantic stars of Universal Studios have been forgotten: “Count Dracula, the Mummy, Wolfman, the Invisible Man are best friends now. Let’s kill Dr. Frankenstein with all of his dimwitted monsters followers.”
For some reason, all of these monsters mentioned above do not want humankind to suffer anymore. They want to put a halt to Frankenstein’s plan to create an abomination that will be unimaginably strong and live for a very long time. And why? Because it’s amusing to come up with some twisted ideas, much like my preteen self after reading bloody Stoker’s Dracula and monster-festooned Shelley’s Frankenstein! It is a really weird experience.
As you might expect, the filmmakers of this low-budget movie have some degree of humor and I can assure you that every person looking for ‘ensemble horror films’ will appreciate it. What is most aggravating to know about the film is that it was made by The Asylum which is quite popular among viewers for making cheap parody films with a very low level of production. Other parodies made by this entertainment house included Snakes on a Train and the Sharknado series, both of which are pop culture icons, albeit weird ones.
As such, for those with a taste for The Asylum productions, Monster Mash should come as a pleasant guilty pleasure. For now, 2015, the year marking its 25th anniversary, the studio is struggling to actually make good films. The acting is of course over the top and cult movie stars for some reason pretty much always Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill) as Dr Frankenstein. But otherwise, this ‘Monster Expendables’ is pretty entertaining for a late night viewer (maybe with a few substances to enhance the experience).
Also, though once he was a hot commodity in Hollywood, Madsen’s interesting filmography here seems merely a paycheck quest. Not that he is alone as even Kelsey Grimmer and Eric Roberts have struggled to breakout of appalling shlock value rosters of Tubi originals. But what is even more interesting is Madsen himself is thoroughly enjoying morphing into this character who was previously depicted by Peter Cushing, James McAvoy and several other prominent British actors.
Madsen is not going to try and use a British accent and he truly embraces his scruffy, almost Goth-punk, all-American persona. The best Michael Madsen roles are the ones where he has to be despised. In Monster Mash, Michael Madsen plays Victor Frankenstein a character who deserves disdain and hatred. Just his performance is enjoyable which is refreshing in this incredibly tongue in cheek affectionate homage to the Universal Monsters.
However, though Madsen is decent with the makeup and provides some professionalism with his performance, his character is quite poor due to the editing of Monster Mash. It could be good fun, though, which would place it as a thoroughly entertaining cheap B movie spoof Halloween flick, standing a cut above rest of the Asylum family finds it hard to do that consistently.
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