Episode 11 part one : The Monster Squad

It’s not a horror movie. It’s not a kids movie. The Monster Squad (1987) is in a class all by itself. It’s a film you either have loved from a long time or have somehow escaped. And for its hardcore fans, it’s a movie that will never die.

▶️ Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Mummy and Gillman all descend upon an unsuspecting town and it’s up to a group of kids to stop them from wreaking total havoc. Hey, it’s the 1980s, the time when kids totally battled evil, other worldly forces all the time, and Episode 11 susses out what makes this hybrid genre film so special. The careers of writer/director Fred Dekker and writer Shane Black are discussed, as well as the adorably perfect cast who brought this hair-raising journey to life. The practical special effects aren’t anything to sneeze at either, and neither is the rabid fan base which inspired the documentary about the film’s lasting longevity and cult status, Wolfman’s Got Nards.

▶️ Picks of the Week this time out hang tough with two films from the mind of Dekker. First, Justin explores House (1985), a film that combines horror and comedy. The camp and goofball factors may be high on this one, but the special effects and well-known tv actors of the time hold it together. Lindsay’s Pick is Dekker’s next film, Night of the Creeps (1986). For his directorial debut, Dekker combined sci-if, comedy, horror and 1950s nostalgia to piece together this film that never ceases to be entertaining and is still a mega crowd-pleaser today.

▶️ Episode 11’s MurrayMoment is a dive into where Billy developed his love for golf. Hint: It goes deeper than Caddyshack. We go into Billy’s childhood and learn about life lessons taught to him while caddying, and how he’s carried this into adulthood.

▶️ Episode 11 is a Two-Parter for The Monster Squad. Next week, we’ll release Part Two — an interview with the duo behind the documentary, Wolfman’s Got Nards! André Gower, the Squad’s main star and writer/director/producer of the documentary, and writer/producer/cinematographer/editor/jack-of-all-trades, Henry McComas, talk with Justin and Lindsay about the ins and outs of the doc, their journey into making the film possible, the fans and legendary status of The Monster Squad.

We couldn’t be more excited to present The Monster Squad, Parts One and Two! If you haven’t seen this film yet, we really hope you seek it out before or after the podcast. If you know this classic close to our hearts, Episode 11 is going to be a real treat for you!