Monster! (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

Enjoyable and harmless parody on monster-movies from the 50's & 60's

[Vomitron_G · 6/10 · 27 April 2006]

Well, it's easy to describe this movie. What Wes Craven's SCREAM was to the slasher-movies, MONSTER! is to monster-movies in general. It's an enjoyable spoof that first explains the rules of the genre and than plays with them. M. Emmet Walsh plays Lloyd Reeves, a local movie-hero who has starred in one too many monster-movie. He gets released from the hospital and his son is there to take care of him for a while. But at that same time teenagers begin to disappear and turn up dead. Lloyd is convinced that a monster is terrorizing the town. A monster which returns every three years. Could that be true, or is Lloyd finally losing it himself?

M. Emmet Walsh is a lot of fun as the determined Lloyd Reeves, who constantly refers to his legendary film rolls in monster-movies. It's also fun to see almost everything he predicts, come true (because he knows the rules of the genre). The rest of the cast is decent but rather forgettable. The film moves at a fairly fast pace and is as well a parody on as a homage to the entire monster-genre. The monster, which we do get to see near the end, is a bit silly and made out of pretty bad CGI (think Playstation 1 graphics). But it didn't bother me at all, 'cause this is a spoof after all. And a fun one it is.

So, you can easily program this movie as the first of a triple-feature monster-movie night, to lighten up the audience. But you can also watch it on a rainy Sunday afternoon with the kids, since there's no nudity or real violence in it. You can pop open a beer and poor in some hot choco-milk for the kids and than enjoy this silly monster-spoof.

It's a horror film spoof, enjoy it for what it is!

[gkueny · 5/10 · 24 March 2005]

It's a horror film spoof, enjoy it for what it is! There are so many more films that actually are much worse. M. Emmet does a good job of bringing Lloyd's cynical character to life. The cinematography is not bad (lots of night scenes as required by genre). All the major horror film elements are there and each is spoofed in turn. Even the monster shows off and is far from being the worst screen monster ever seen. Don't forget the disbelieving town police and their "monster...what monster" attitude. Yes, it's all there...terror, monster and laughs. If you've got 90 minutes, sit back and enjoy the campy horror spoof with an interesting twist on the horror film genre. If you liked "Love At First Bite" with George Hamilton, you will most likely enjoy "Monster" too.

Surprisingly good light fun

[pswanson00 · 6/10 · 1 October 2005]

If the cast hadn't played this film absolutely seriously it wouldn't have worked, but they did, so it does. M. Emmet Walsh is the focus and anchor of the story, and is perfect in the role, as I'd expect from one of our greatest character actors. The premise -- that the movie monster created decades earlier by Walsh actually lives -- is ridiculous, but, like any good science fiction, is acceptable as long as we're led to it in a logical manner. Because the film is played straight, we're free both to accept and to laugh at it. I'm not sure I'm imparting how enjoyable this film is. Another reviewer referred to it as "snack food," and I agree. It's snack food with some substance however, like a big Snickers with protein from the peanuts, as opposed to Wal-Mart potato chips. I'd watch it again, if only for some of the quotable dialogue.

Great Movie

[quantumcat · 3 November 2004]

I like this movie; I always like bad creature features, so I rented this one. As it turns out to be, it's one of the better onces I've seen

To me it watches like an ode to the (early) 50's monster movies (e.g. the Blob, with Steve McQueen) so instead of having the cliché's dragging the movie down, the writer(s) turn(s) the effect of the clichés around, by putting them to good use; kind of like Wes Craven did in "Scream". SO in this case: the hero drives a Hot Rod and wears his school' Jock jacket and so...

Next to that , the acting is good, the pace is fast, tension is built as tension should built, the special effects look great (given the age, the budget AND the fact that it's a TV movie).

I'll be honest: it's not "predator" , it's not "the eye". it's a small flick with good acting, good story with a great pitch that makes it stand out from the rest. All you need as a good evening's entertainment!

'50s monster movie spoof

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 14 March 2015]

MONSTER!, a low budget TV movie from 1999, is a film that's been written as a homage to and a pastiche of the classic 1950s B-movie monster flicks, in particular THE BLOB which it copies the plot of throughout. It's designed as a nostalgia piece, a throwback to the movies of yesteryear, although it's nowhere near on a level with Joe Dante's similarly-themed Matinée.

Unfortunately this is pretty much a failure as a film; other than the in-jokes and references to previous movies, there just isn't much to write home about here. The scriptwriter throws in a lot of clichéd scenes, like the teens making out in a car and being attacked by the beast, and plays them for laughs, but they just aren't very funny. And don't get me started on the monster itself: this is one of the silliest CGI creations put on screen, and I'm glad it doesn't appear very much.

The only actor of note in the whole thing is M. Emmet Walsh, an old-timer playing an actor from the original run of monster movies. Walsh gives an energetic, tongue-in-cheek performance that sadly isn't matched by the rest of the cast. No, despite the fun elements this is very much a forgettable outing, even for fans of the movies being referenced.

Just like in the movies!

[michaelRokeefe · 3/10 · 7 February 2004]

Interesting Sci-Fi/horror flick. A fading veteran of B-movies(M.Emmet Walsh)is signed out of the looney ward by his grandson(Tobias Mehler)who just arrived in town. Grandpa insists that the small town will feel the wrath of a monster's resurgence...just like in the movies. Plenty of gore, but the special effects are lacking. The monster is menacing and strikes fear just with its size...just like in the movies. Also in the cast are: Angela Keep, Bianca Nacson and James Russell. Not a total waste. Season the popcorn with Tabasco and enjoy.

Quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen.

[derfybarfy · 1/10 · 4 June 2004]

You know those movies that are so bad that they become funny? Well, this isn't one of them, this one is even worse.

Seriously, don't get fooled by its somewhat interesting plot.

The main problem with this movie is that I'm not sure what it wants to be. In fact I'm not even sure if it tries to be anything at all. It says here on IMDb that it is a horror/sci-fi movie, well if you think an alien taken straight out of an episode of South Park is scary, well this might be the movie for you.

Most of the scenes are just awkward, and the acting is non-existent. There just isn't anything interesting happening in this movie whatsoever.

Can't say it enough times, just stay away from this movie.

1/10

A Homage to the Films from the 50's

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 12 November 2022]

The senior medical student Travis (Tobias Mehler) travels from California to New Purgatory to release his grandfather Lloyd Reeves (M. Emmet Walsh) from a mental institution. Lloyd is New Purgatory's hero with his performance in the franchise "Monster" and is convinced that the monster will return this year during the "Monster" Festival in the movie theater. Travis stops at a cafeteria and requests direction to the institution to the waitress Jill (Angela Keep). Her troublemaker brother Nate (Brendan Cowell) has a friction with Travis but Sheriff Billnick (David Paterson) resolves the case and gives a ride to Travis to the institution. He brings Lloyd home and he explains that New Purgatory is cursed and trapped in a loop every three years, when the monster comes back with new abilities and kills residents, until Lloyd destroys it. Surprisingly the population forgets the events and only Lloyd recalls what has happened along these days. Travis dates Jill and when the events foreseen by his grandfather happen, Travis and Jill believe him and tries to hunt down the monster.

"Monster!" is a TV movie with a homage to the films from the 50's. The plot is funny with M. Emmet Walsh in the role of an apparently crazy man that is indeed a hero that saves New Purgatory every three years from the attack of the monster. There is a great joke with screenplays, since his character knows the script and foresees the actions of the monster. The gorgeous Angela Keep is practically unknown by the viewers has good performance in the heroine role of the movie. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Um Monstro de Bilheteria" ("A Monster of Box Office")

Fun B-movie about B-movies

[udar55 · 7/10 · 23 July 2022]

Monster! Premiered on UPN (United Paramount Network) back in November 1999 and features a killer premise; the kind of thing that they should be remaking today. Travis Reeves (Tobias Mehler) returns to his hometown of New Purgatory so that his grandfather, Lloyd Reeves (M. Emmet Walsh), can be released into his care from a mental institution. Lloyd is a celebrated b-movie actor who gained fame in the Monster! Movie series of the 1950s, but everyone thinks he is nuts now because he claims the creatures are real. Turns out they are as every three years the town holds a film festival and the monster comes to life. Lloyd has been through the town hero routine 6 times and now it is time for Travis to take over the role. And he is just in time as the movie marathon begins the day he arrives back. This is fun stuff and the script by Ronnie Christensen pokes fun at the cliches of old horror and sci-fi movies, like Lloyd telling his grandson "movie laws" like: the cops will never believe him, the coroner will find logical explanations for deaths, a freak storm will shut the city down, and he'll have a girlfriend by the end of the night. It even explains why only Lloyd remembers these battles. Unfortunately, the execution isn't as great as it could have been. I always liked director John Lafia's work on Child's Play 2 and Man's Best Friend, but things are a little flat here. Oddly, he has the entire town gang acting like Eminem wannabes too and it is bad. And the monster being full blown CGI (1999 CGI!) doesn't help. He does make Australia (yes, that is where it was shot) look like small town USA though. The real pleasure in this one is seeing Walsh in a rare leading role. He has lots of fun with it. With no video release in the U. S. (I watched it on Youtube), it is the kind of thing a studio should be remaking as it has a really clever premise that could be improved upon.

I think they got mixed up midway!

[djzilla · 3/10 · 12 November 1999]

When I heard this movie was by the producers of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" I thought I would check it out to see what it offered. That was my mistake.

Not to say this movie doesn't have any redeeming qualities, it does in fact have one major one. The plot is extremely interesting. It concerns a 50's B movie star who is stuck in a real life movie based on a series of films he stared in. With a blend of B movie magic and mainstream Alien wannabe this movie falls apart. A creature (horrible CGI) is stalking the residents of a small town and the movie star is the "town hero" Only he can save the town from certain destruction. Unfortunately he's been locked away cause the townspeople think he's insane. In comes his grandson to the rescue.

This movie would have been brilliant if the directors had decided to keep up with the B movie elements and went for a monster suit not the horrible CGI (when will movie makers learn you can't make living things out of CGI look right!). Sadly this movie deserves only to be viewed once if only for the plot. 3 out of 10.

Perfect Saturday or Sunday Matinée Film

[alec-10 · 10/10 · 26 July 2004]

This makes a nice bookend to Scream. Both directors and screenwriters profoundly understood the clichés of the genres (juvenile/high school horror/slasher flicks in the first case and 50's/60's Grade Z small-town alien/monster flicks in the case of Monster!). The plot is brilliant; the characters are likable and fun (except for the white, mentally-challenged ebonics boyz, who are just fun). The movie bogs a little in the straight action and suspense scenes, but this is more than made-up for by the side-splitting satirical humor--the best lines are all delivered by the inimitable M. Emmet Walsh (his opening monologue to his grandson in the "gun" room is a true high point in the history of monster films). I was a little disappointed in the Monster, but, really, he's kind of peripheral to the main point and the main fun in the movie, so he's bearable. Just remember folks, this is NOT scary; it's supposed to be a kick.

An ok movie

[ab-2 · 6/10 · 8 January 2000]

I liked this movie but I thought it was horrible. I mean this is a spoiler so BEWARE! The monster is not what I expected. I mean the monster is made of CGI which I liked but was too unrealistic. But it was suspensful. If they ever show this on UPN again and you got two hours to waste, watch it.

A brilliantly original movie that satirizes all monster movies!

[linvillefamily · 16 August 2003]

Contrary to other reviewers who obviously don't "get" the concept of Monsters!, this film is a delightfully funny two hours of poking fun at every stereotype you've ever seen in a scary movie. Monsters! revels in not taking itself seriously, and spoofing the ridiculous repetitiveness so often seen in "real" monster movies. Watch this film like you watched the 1998 Godzilla re-make and you'll have a rip-roaring good time. How refreshing!!!

Monster!

[DoctorThotcer · 7/10 · 28 April 2020]

It isn't going much away to say the basic premise of this movie is cheesy old creature features coming to life, however the movie gets a bit confused about this as all the verbal description and shots of said movies are clearly of 1950s B&W teenage monster flicks, but all the events that actually occur heavily reference 70/80s sci-fi monster movies.

So it's a little confused, but it's tons of fun, has decent enough effects, and the lynch pin of the whole thing is the crazy old man nobody believes but who really sells the part.

Definitely worth a watch.

Monster! is a gem that was swept under the rug

[lafia · 10/10 · 22 December 1999]

Playful, funny, lovingly satiric, action filled story about a retired, aging B movie star, Emmet Walsh and his straight laced Grandson, Travis. Emmet lives in the small town of "New Purgatory." He is a local legend, having filmed all of the "Monster" movies there, then settling down as a resident. He is seen as slightly mad because he believes the monster from his series of movies is real, and coming to attack the town. Thing is - he's right. It's a rite of passage as he hands over the "town hero" role to his Grandson and they save the town once more.

An enjoyable movie, part spoof and part homage

[KLeoRI · 9/10 · 29 January 2005]

M. Emmet Walsh portrays "Lloyd," an aging former star of a series of 50s "B" monster movies; Lloyd always portrayed the hero, a teenager who, initially was never believed by the adults when he claimed that a monster was about to attack the town. Of course, as in all classic monster movies, he was proved right and he "saved the town!" The movies were filmed in Lloyd's own small town, where, though he is considered a local celebrity, he is also considered a loony -- he is in the "New Purgatory Psychiatric Ward" because he insists that his town is, in fact, about to be attacked by "the monster." Enter Lloyd's grandson, who signs him out of the psychiatric hospital; they settle in at Lloyd's home, where Lloyd, who still takes his role of "town hero" quite seriously, instructs his grandson on how to fight the approaching monster according to "movie rules." People do, in fact, start getting killed; however, the sheriff thinks that Lloyd is the killer. Little by little, his grandson comes to believe that his grandfather may just be telling the truth.

Don't look for totally logical resolution, but do look for classic 50s monster scenes: the couple "making out" at Lover's Lane, the people running screaming from the movie theater. This movie follows the traditional monster movie plot perfectly and is a wonderful "tongue-in-cheek" tribute to the B-movie art form.

Light, fun, and entertaining

[rustyoldcars · 10/10 · 10 March 2005]

If you want to have some real fun this is just the movie for you. Forget all the stuff you have come to expect in "monster" movies. This was just meant to entertain and that it does. I laughed and laughed (I'm laughing now, thinking about it again.) Go back to the innocent ages from a time that has past and relive a parody of what used to be. The story is great. It has all the right stuff at the right time. The town hero has a job to do and does it well while everyone else thinks he is crazy. It has action, adventure, heart warming family interaction, and romance. While you can usually guess what is coming next, you really can't wait and will end up on the edge of your seat rooting for the good guys or the monster depending on your mind set. Best move I've seen in a long time.

A small town is about to be ravaged by a 1950"s era giant monster. It is up to our hero to accept his role and vanquish the beast.

[jeffeet · 10/10 · 30 May 2005]

This is a fun movie for anyone who has wasted a Friday night or two watching low-brow sci-fi from the 50s on T.V.. It is loaded with in-jokes and references without "winking" too much to the audience. The acting is good, direction is competent and the tone is generally sweet. The special effects are "cheesey, befitting this genera. Consequently, as an homage to the 1950s it works, but as contemporary Sci-Fi, it doesn't. If you loved the "Iron Giant", you will at least find this movie interesting. You will learn the "rules"of rampaging giant monster movies that can be subsequently used while watching "real" 50's films. The "Giant Gila Monster will never be the same.

A fun movie if you view it in the spirit intended!

[marianna28 · 10/10 · 29 January 2005]

If, like me, you grew up watching old black and white horror/thrillers from the 50's and 60's on Saturday afternoon T.V. then you will get a kick out of this movie. It is not a SCARY movie--but a clever twist on the "plots" of the old classics. It is just fun to watch and M. Emmett Walsh is fantastic! You could view this in the same light as "SCREAM" or "I Know What You Did Last Summer" but those are horror movies with blood and gore to make you cringe. Monster! is just meant to be a good, fun movie not something to give you nightmares. Enjoy! If you want to be scared by an old classic, check out "I Saw What You Did And I Know Who You Are" 1965.

celluloid version of junk food

[colcam · 12 November 1999]

So what if it isn't great art? Monster is fun (in a guilty way) and does not require too much thought... sometimes your intellect deserves a night off, and Monster is a good choice for that night. It is actually well written, beautifully acted, competently photographed, and properly edited, just devoid of serious content. If Monster was a junk food it would be a potato chip-- lovable, but afterwards? Who cares?

Awesome Fun

[druquzdog · 9/10 · 12 February 2010]

I had a great time watching this. It's utterly charming. Never gets boring at any point. It's gently comedic, but I have to say I laughed out loud at many parts. The acting is spot-on for a feature of this kind. Now, when I say "of this kind" I'm not even really sure what I'm supposed to be comparing it to. Most things I could suggest, such as higher end Troma would be doing it a dis-respect. It's a very clever and ultimately "warm" movie that proves very endearing and memorable once the credits have rolled. I rated this based purely on how much I enjoyed my time with it, and it's a movie that I will definitely watch again.

***Some Spoilers*** I enjoyed this movie immensely, 1 reason it has one of the best character actors ever(M.Emmit Walsh) & I took/watched it in the spirt I believe it was meant/filmed to be.

[sandijm · 19 August 2003]

This is one of those movies that could only happen in a town where they filmed a 1950s Horror movie and it's sequels. The director is in a local psyco ward of the hospital. Every 3 or 5 years (please forgive my memory) the monster re-emerges and goes on a 2 day killing spree. Well a only few days before the monster is scheduled to come out of hibernation, the grandson comes and gets his grandfather out of the looney bin, of course he doesn't believe his story but says he will care for him. Gramps keeps trying to convince him things will keep happening according to the original old movie script(of course he doesn't believe him, it's still according to the script). Well if you put your brain in neutral for a bit you can actually find it has a sort of twisted logic(kind of). But, the whole thing is it's meant to be a Horror B-movie, so enjoy it for what it for what it's meant to be and enjoy it you will. My husband and laughed and had got a bit nostalgic(ok maybe we're a bit twisted), but I really would give it 8 Stars. Eat popcorn and enjoy.

Like a walk down Memory Lane

[csgrv · 19 October 2005]

If you grew up on Saturday afternoon Monster movies like I did this was a whole lotta fun. I laughed at the great spoofs of the shows that scared me as a small child. I think if you are looking for good clean fun with a lotta nostalgia this is for all who loved the "B" movies of the past/present/future. The acting was pretty good and played just right. There have been other movies made by companies like Sci-Fi Channel and UPN that have tried to recreate the feel of the "B" Science Fiction movies but Monster! was the best of these. I wish that some studio would do the same kind of thing for the Hope/Crosby road movies. Between the "B" SciFi movies and laughing at Hope and Crosby my childhood was made a little fuller. Enjoy

it wasn't that bad

[caldwmb · 29 January 2005]

This movie wasn't that bad. It was not intended to be taken as a serious horror flick. It was a movie that was in many ways making fun of the obvious stereotypes that are present in horror films of the current and past eras. Haven't we all wondered why the people in movies tend to move towards the darkest places....or why do people always go check out that mysterious noise instead of staying the hell away from it and minding their own business? On top of that, the plot was something similar to that of what you see in the Scream trilogy and the Urban Legend movies. What would happen if the movies started coming to life? This movie gives one answer. If you ask me, it was a much better movie than many I've seen...and it kind of has a Stephen King Langolier's feel to it. If it had been a bigger budget, it might have been a little better quality, but it was still a good movie anyway. At any point, any true fan of horror movies or B movies would enjoy this movie. When i saw it....i endured the commercials to see it, and enjoyed it.