PLOT: When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah and his friends team up with a retired police detective to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island.

REVIEW: It’s been a longstanding tradition for the horror genre to put kids on a grand adventure to solve a scary problem. Whether it’s The Goonies or The Monster Squad, they’re a fun way to get kids interested in slightly darker fare. Some scary elements to help intrigue and encourage future dalliances into more depraved cinema. Monster Summer does a good job of keeping that spirit alive, but feels so all over the place, that it never settles into a proper goal.

Monster Summer follows Noah (Mason Thames) and his friends as they try to solve the strange happenings in their hometown. Teens are starting to disappear, only to return in an almost catatonic state. Noah quickly finds out that the culprit is a witch, and is determined to stop her. Mel Gibson plays retired police detective, Gene, who everyone thinks is evil. But Noah quickly learns that this isn’t the case, and they team up together to stop the Witch before she finishes off the kids for good.

When it’s Gibson and Thames together, the film becomes a fun two-hander as they play off each other well. Gibson’s little insults are fun and provide a bit of spark to the film. But when it’s trying to go Goonies/Stranger Things, it doesn’t really work. One roadblock I really couldn’t get past was the acting among the teen actors. It ranges from okay to really rough and it really broke my immersion throughout. It doesn’t help that Gibson is so effortless in anything he does, that it just makes the other stick out like a sore thumb.

Everyone is fully aware of Gibson’s issues in the public eye but I’ve always been a fan of the actor, so it’s nice to see him return to such family fare. Hopefully, it just continues from here (but I remember thinking that after the Beaver all those years ago). But I was even more excited to see Patrick Renna in a more featured role. Most will remember him as Ham from The Sandlot, and he’s in a very fun role here. I always love to see child actors do well in adult roles. Kevin James also shows up as a villainous newspaper owner but he’s fairly underutilized. Same with Lorraine Bracco who I was shocked got such placement on the poster, given her small role.

I can always appreciate horror that’s aimed at younger audiences, and there’s an almost Goosebumps feel to Monster Summer. It just feels like there are so many elements missing. There’s not a lot of logic involved as it’s mostly just a feel-good story about a boy trying to defeat a monster. Noah isn’t a very interesting character and the stakes just aren’t there. Very little is changed from the beginning to the end of the film outside of new friendships, so it lacks much impact.

The third act is where Monster Summer stumbles a lot. Obviously I won’t get into too much detail but it really devolves into a cheap TV movie. From really poor Witch effects to a very generic resolution, it’s very frustrating. Which sums up most of this experience. Had they just made it Mel Gibson and Mason Thames solving this mystery, it would have been much more interesting. As is, the “Goonies” part of the story is the worst part, while the buddy cop portion is miles better. This makes for a very uneven experience that I just can’t recommend outside of Gibson.

MONSTER SUMMER IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON OCTOBER 4TH, 2024.

Monster Summer

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The post Monster Summer Review: How is this Mel Gibson horror flick? appeared first on JoBlo.

Do you remember the first scary movie you watched? To be fair, mine was Halloween, so I got an early taste of R-rated terror. However, for many, it was something like The Monster Squad, The Watcher in the Woods, or perhaps The Gate. And now, we have a fun ride with the good and spooky natured, Monster Summer. Featuring Mel Gibson, Lorraine Bracco, and Mason Thames. For Mason, who was terrific in The Black Phone (and will soon be seen in The Black Phone 2), the actor proves that he is one to watch. The actor brings heart to his performance and shines opposite Gibson.

Recently, I sat down with the two, and the legendary Mel Gibson (who we previously interviewed HERE), was full of praise for his younger co-star. Both actors work especially well together, and frankly, it’s not surprising that Thames is getting a ton of work on genre projects. He’s a talented young man, and he brings honesty to both this and, of course, his turn as Finney, opposite Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone. Monster Summer is certainly more in line with a family film, but the Halloween-inspired elements work. If you are in the mood, you might find Monster Summer an early holiday treat.

Here’s the official synopsis: Monster Summer follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard. After seeking the help of an aging detective (Gibson), they soon discover they’re on the path of a witch who has recently retired to their island. 

Monster Summer is heading into theatres this coming Friday, October 4th.

The post Interview: Mel Gibson and Mason Thames Talk Monster Summer appeared first on JoBlo.

About three years ago, we heard that Lethal Weapon franchise star (and potential Lethal Weapon 5 director) Mel Gibson had signed on to star in a fantasy adventure / family horror film that was going by the title Boys of Summer. That project has since been given a new title, Monster Summer, and it’s set to reach theatres on October 4th. The marketing has now officially begun, as a trailer for Monster Summer has made its way online, and you can check it out in the embed above! A poster has also been unveiled, and that can be found at the bottom of this article.

Directed by David Henrie (This Is the Year) from a script written by Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz (The Peanuts Movie), Monster Summer follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard. After seeking the help of an aging detective (Gibson), they soon discover they’re on the path of a witch who has recently retired to their island. Here’s an alternative synopsis: When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah and his friends team up with a retired police detective to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island.

Gibson is joined in the cast by Mason Thames (The Black Phone), Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Nora Zehetner (The Right Stuff), Noah Cottrell (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Abby James Witherspoon (The Secret Headquarters), Lilah Pate (Outer Banks), Julian Lerner (The Wonder Years), Patrick Renna (The Sandlot)… and a certain King of Queens.

Monster Summer is the first feature film from Pastime Pictures, a studio that was founded by Dan McDonough and John Blanford after they met on a set where they were working as Production Assistants (which is why “PA’s Time” is contained in their company name). McDonough and Blanford produced the film with Mark Fasano and James Henrie.

What did you think of the trailer for Monster Summer? Does this look like a movie you’d want to catch on the big screen this Halloween season? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Monster Summer trailer: Mel Gibson family horror film reaches theatres in October appeared first on JoBlo.

About three years ago, we heard that Lethal Weapon franchise star (and potential Lethal Weapon 5 director) Mel Gibson had signed on to star in a fantasy adventure / family horror film that was going by the title Boys of Summer. That project has since been given a new title, Monster Summer, and Coming Soon reports that it will be reaching theatres just in time for Halloween! The specific release date is October 4th.

Directed by David Henrie (This Is the Year) from a script written by Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz (The Peanuts Movie), Monster Summer follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard. After seeking the help of an aging detective (Gibson), they soon discover they’re on the path of a witch who has recently retired to their island. Here’s an alternative synopsis: When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah and his friends team up with a retired police detective to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island.

This one brings to mind The Monster Squad for me – and while chances are low that I’ll like it anywhere near as much as I like The Monster Squad, I’m willing to give it a chance.

Gibson is joined in the cast by Mason Thames (The Black Phone), Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Nora Zehetner (The Right Stuff), Noah Cottrell (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Abby James Witherspoon (The Secret Headquarters), Lilah Pate (Outer Banks), Julian Lerner (The Wonder Years), Patrick Renna (The Sandlot)… and a certain King of Queens.

Monster Summer is the first feature film from Pastime Pictures, a studio that was founded by Dan McDonough and John Blanford after they met on a set where they were working as Production Assistants (which is why “PA’s Time” is contained in their company name). McDonough and Blanford produced the film with Mark Fasano and James Henrie.

Are you interested in seeing a family horror film that stars Mel Gibson? Share your thoughts on Monster Summer by leaving a comment below.

The post Monster Summer: Mel Gibson family horror film gets October release appeared first on JoBlo.