The 2024 mystery/horror film Monster Summer is a surprise hit. Streaming via Paramount plus, the movie has an excellent cast and an unlikely hero. Mel Gibson plays the adult protagonist in a similar fashion to the father in Something Wicked This Way Comes. He is the arrested development chap who drags himself up by the bootstraps to help the younger hero.
The film also features a witch that breaks prototypes, or tropes if you will. There is also a group of youngsters who deliver.
For the most part.
Monster Summer Story
A group of friends team up to find the monster abducting kids. Soon, the creature whittles the group down to one boy standing. He joins a retired cop with a sad history. The two manage to find the monster and then, with a little help, re-take the summer.
Main Cast
Mel Gibson is Gene Carruthers.
Mason Thames is Noah Reed.
Julian Lerner is Eugene Wexler.
Abby James Witherspoon is Sammy Devers.
Noah Cottrell is Ben Driskel.
Nora Zehetner is Emma Reed.
Lorraine Bracco is Miss Halverson.
Patrick Renna is Umpire.
Hallmark for the Kiddos
Monster Summer feels a little like “Hallmark for the kiddos.” It is not a romance by any means. Old Hallmark channel has a lot of “non-romance” on offer, though. A few of their mysteries have me pretty much hooked. *There. I said it. Hooked.*
This tale of “missing” children is a good one. Although, to be fair, the kids are not missing so much as stolen. When they return the victims are missing something. It seems that their souls have been removed. Our erstwhile hero; writer wanna-be Noah believes they are all being attacked by a witch.
As his friends are getting picked off one by one, Noah heads over to the ex cop. Carruthers has a scary demeanor, no trespassing signs and a “shady” past. He reluctantly agrees to help.
Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie
It turns out that the neophyte writer is on to something. Carruthers learns that all the victims have baseball in common. The summer monster is following local teams for victims.
Writers Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz give us an almost child friendly horror story. Its setting of small town Americana just screams barbecues, hot dogs and apple pie. Director David Henrie makes the tale move nicely along to its conclusion. The film tells us that there are witches, but they can be banished, aka; killed.
This holiday town feels like a Ray Bradbury creation. The finale, which oddly made me think of the father in SWTWC, felt good. Sure the town and its denizens felt all too “Norman Rockwell” in nature and setting, but it works.
Monster Summer Scary-ish
Monster Summer is more scary-ish than downright gooseflesh inducing terror. It is more a feeling of unease combined with young Noah’s frustration as everyone’s lack of trust. Trust in his inherent feeling that a witch is attacking his friends. There are some truly impressive moments though. However, in terms of acting, not all the youngsters in main roles were delivering.
Witherspoon may have looked the part but lacked something in the drama department. Each time her character spoke, the movie became just that. A movie.
The Verdict
Monster Summer is a 4 star effort. I really enjoyed it and found myself wanting a bowl of popcorn and a beer about halfway through. Bracco was a smashing standout in what was a overly large cameo. Gibson, “beer belly” and all is brilliant here. He may still look off, but his interaction with Thames is excellent. Kudos to Renna as the Umpire, he kills it here.
The film is streaming on Paramount Plus. Check it out if you can, it is worth the time spent watching it.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.