⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
Short Take: The phrase comes from the film industry, originally, and it means a short bit of recording or “something that only takes a short time,” especially if a longer version may be done later.
Short Take review: A short review of a film with potential discussion points
Synopsis: Set in 1997 on Martha’s Vineyard, life has an idyllic feel until children start experiencing events that cause them to traumatic events that cause them to become strangely comatose. Noah Reed (Mason Thames, The Black Phone) and his friends are unaware of the odd happenings until their classmate, Ben (Noah Cottrell), is set upon one night while swimming. As a budding investigative reporter and with the aid of retired detective Gene Carruthers (Mel Gibson), Noah begins to chase down leads that the local police overlook. As all things point to a potential witch behind the incidents involving all of these local children and those from surrounding communities, he suspects the recent visitor, Miss Halverson (Lorraine Bracco). Still, he needs evidence to prove his theory.
Review: Director David Henrie (This Is the Year) samples from the Stranger Things playbook to deliver a sanitised horrific story of child abduction and witchery. The references come fast and frequent as many will see the nods to The Goonies, IT, The Sandlot and even E.T. The Extraterrestrial. Yet, despite these references, the exceptional cast pedigree and a beautiful setting for this mysterious excursion, the storyline never rises above a mediocre streaming project. The struggles for the film to remain in the decade it is set as references, and the visuals continue to pull it back into the modern era. As an icon film, it is no wonder that Gibson was pulled into this project, but it is also a wonder how the rest of the cast was drawn to this production. Bracco’s character eventually disappears, and many will scratch their heads about why Kevin James (Hitch) was expected to have a Southern accent or how he got connected with this film. The writing and direction have a difficult time keeping this in the pre-teen horror genre as much of the dialogue and settings become more comical and farcical than terrifying. Monster Summer sets itself up to emulate the retro-inspired storylines that weave horror and nostalgia into a tale of child abduction. Still, this film never casts the spell to live up to these examples.
Reel Dialogue: What should I know as a parent before going into Monster Summer?
Depending on where parents sit on the subject matter of witchcraft will determine how to respond to this film. This can range from Harry Potter to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe in adolescent literature. However, this film goes deeper into the dark arts of magic. Travelling deeper than most Goosebumps tales, David Henrie’s journey into this area of the dark arts with an added element of child abduction added in with little humour or hope. Despite having the value of family as a central theme, most of the storyline never rises to the level of the projects it is meant to emulate.
Possible discussion points:
Evil in the world: Isaiah 5:20 - Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Grief: Psalm 147:3 - (God) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Friendship: Proverbs 18:24 - A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
