'Monster Summer' review: A monster bummer
Courtesy of Pastime Pictures
Designed as a gateway horror film for tweens, the PG-13-rated “Monster Summer” has spirit but ultimately lacks ingenuity. With a title like that, you wouldn’t expect it to be released in the fall. The film follows a well-worn formula reminiscent of three decades of Amblin movies—think kids on bicycles solving supernatural phenomena—while also borrowing elements from “Stranger Things.” Unfortunately, it results in a standard monster-of-the-week rehash, featuring a trio of young actors who lack charisma and a subpar performance from Mel Gibson, who often seems to be in a more serious film. Does he even realize he’s playing a character named Mr. Carruthers?
Director David Henrie (yes, the actor from “Wizards of Waverly Place”) and co-writers Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano fail to achieve the “The Sandlot” meets “Twilight Zone” vibe, with both the baseball and monster elements missing the spark necessary to create something compelling.
Mason Thames (“The Black Phone” and “Incoming”) stars as Noah, a Red Sox fan and aspiring journalist writing for his hometown newspaper in Oar Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, hoping to kickstart his career. Set in 1997, the film feels anachronistic, as it’s hard to picture a young kid pursuing journalism in this era. Just as Noah begins an exposé on Gene (Gibson), a curmudgeonly ex-cop haunted by past losses, an evil force sweeps through the town, transforming local kids into zombies, including his best friend Ben (Noah Cottrell), who claims to have been attacked by an otherworldly creature while swimming the previous night.
To solve the mystery, Noah teams up with Gene, uncovering a bizarre history in Oar Bluffs that suggests the presence of a witch. However, the revelations lack intensity, and Henrie's attempt to blend scary elements with a sinister edge is hampered by the PG-13 rating, which keeps the horror contained and bloodless. At least the film establishes its world, allowing viewers to believe in Noah and his friends as they sleuth around town.
Yet “Monster Summer” doesn’t capture the camaraderie of “The Sandlot” nor does it have a narrative force that makes us root for its young stars. As a pre-teen genre option for October, it’s not a total failure, but it’s hardly memorable. If your kids want to seek something scarier with “monster” in the title, “Monster House” is a far superior choice—more rewarding, intense, and frightening, all while carrying a PG rating.
Grade: C
MONSTER SUMMER opens in theaters Friday, October 4th.