Last Updated on October 4, 2024 by
We included the movie titled Monster Summer which is all about monsters that premiered quite timely as it is during the Halloween season but unlike most films that present horror in areas that are blood-thirsty and gory, this movie opts for the old school feeling with a tinge of adventure. Unlike many of its horror counterparts, sequels, and spin-offs that are based on the horror premise of violence, this movie is intended to be a throwback to the wonder of the ‘E.T.’ and ‘The Goonies.’ Monster Summer is directed by David Henrie and is inspired by the Spielberg 1941 kind of movie where the target is youth and their astounding adventures in the monster world rather than merely horror. It is ideal for those who like to have some twists and turns but not much in terms of gore and horror. In general, there is a reception of such shows as Stranger Things here, but Monster Summer has its unique charm due to the cast and the successful combination of fear and family entertainment.
The events in the story occur in 1997, and the shooting is set in a fictional small town called Oar Bluffs situated in Martha’s Vineyard. This is a peculiar story set in a town that is not usually associated with such activity. A new neighbor named Miss Halverson played by Lorraine Bracco has come to spend her summer holiday in the house occupied by Abby, who is a single mother to a little boy, Noah portrayed by Mason Thames. Noah is a bored and frustrated high school student with aspirations of being a journalist and is always on the lookout for the perfect story. One of his aims is to gather information about a retired police officer named Gene (Mel Gibson) who disappeared from the public eye some time ago after his family was kidnapped.
When Noah isn’t scouring through Gene’s history, he cruises in cars with his pals Eugene (Julian Lerner ), Sammy (Abby James Witherspoon ), and Ben (Noah Cottrell ). They spend their days in their small town acting as kids do during summer vacation until the plot’s darkness rises. One day Ben and his friends go to swim in the ocean and Ben is violently attacked by an unknown force that changes him for the worse or to be precise, he resembles a zombie. This horrifying occurrence tests Noah, compelling him to pursue the bizarre occurrences in Oar Bluffs more fervently: with Gene’s consent, he begins working on the case together.
The movie starts with an intense scene where a young boy is struggling to free himself from something menacing that he cannot see. Unfortunately, he dies in the end, but life goes on and families come to Martha’s Vineyard with their children for the summer. Among these visitors is Miss Halverson who comes to live in the house during summer and her strange demeanor makes her a prime suspect. Even though he often fails to understand her, Noah starts realizing how odd she is and how she behaves with the children in the neighborhood. There is something about her that is suspicious and makes him believe that she is involved in the dark things that are happening in the town.
However, Noah is not only fascinated with Miss Halverson. He aims to please his boss, Edgar (Kevin James), the editor of the Searstown Local, by covering significant causes. Unfortunately, no one believes his stories, and he is forced to write more sensationalistic and superficial pieces. This only aggravates his desire to discover something huge and thus he sets on with it with renewed vigor.
Noah and his friends also develop curiosity about the mystery of Gene as well. The old man is a mystery in town and children do not go near him, but when Noah and his friends enter Gene’s farm, they come to know that there is much more to the man they never knew about. Noah soon discovers that Gene, with his past as a police officer, could be a valuable ally in solving the mystery of what’s happening in Oar Bluffs.
It is where Ben is attacked in the middle of the ocean and the actual adventurous part commences. Anything that attracts him with its beauty or sex appeal sucks the soul out of him and makes him almost a living dead, and this scares Noah. Thanks to his friend Gene, Noah decides to approach the situation more proactively and starts researching the circumstances which make them think that somebody or something sinister is out to get the kids in the town. When more and more children become victims of this evil, a boy named Noah, his brother Gene, and other friends set out to identify the perpetrator- be it human or supernatural.
As the story unravels, gruesome details emerge, and when the teacher Miss Halverson starts acting erratically, she becomes the obvious suspect, but the real solution is not easily discovered. Besides looking for clues, Noah also struggles with issues that every teenager faces, such as a relationship with his single mother, Abby. The events in the movie are often rooted in the supernatural with separate stories of grief and rebuilding, such as in the case of Noah and Gene, who both share the hardships of losing a loved one.
Monster Summer does not attempt to shock the audience with gory pictures or scenes that make the viewers jump. That is why, rather than trying to be scary, it aims at creating tension and giving a creepy atmosphere resembling classic fairy tales. The climax-like scenes are reminiscent of fairy-tale aesthetics where Noah and his friends fight the evil forces. The peril is palpable but never truly threatening, which makes the movie appropriate for teenagers and tweens who have yet to become fans of the horror genre.
Speaking of the movie’s strengths, the primary focus is the characters. Children will also identify with the character of Noah, played by Mason Thames, whose eagerness is outweighed by fear, and Mel Gibson’s Gene adds an emotional dimension to the picture. Gene’s loss of his wife and child explains why he is willing to assist Noah; on the other hand, Noah was accepted into society but was left feeling empty and useless until he met Gene.
In conclusion, Monster Summer is a humorous and thrilling experience best suited for audiences that appreciate such elements in movies, with an addition of some horror influence. It is not as scary as some of the modern horror movies but is interesting to watch because of the elements of suspense, the growth of the characters, and traces of Spielberg’s childhood awe. In summary, as the title suggests, Monster Summer makes for an entertaining watch if you enjoy shows like Stranger Things or classic adventure movies. The movie provides youthful energy, togetherness in a tight-knit neighborhood, and a few scary parts that would be fun to have on Halloween night.
Monster Summer 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Monster Summer is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for some violence and terror.
Violence & Threatening Scenes: However, there is the use of threats and violence in some scenes, though physical assault in the movie is not very explicit. For example, people are harassed by an unknown creature in the waters, while one of the friends of Noah named Ben is presented zombie-like after being affected. There is no actual bloodshed or physical demonstration of the change; however, the transformation might be too frightening for kids. There are some scenes where it becomes necessary for the characters to fight evil spirits. Some of these sequences are confrontational yet they do not seem to carry the kind of tension or realism that one would expect to find in movies that are rated for adult audiences. The violence is cartoonish and not very graphic, more so, it is suitable for a PG 13 rating. The movie has an antagonist in a supernatural force that feeds on children’s life essence, which may be graphically portrayed as the children losing their strength or resembling they are under the power of dark forces. These elements are not purely sexual and are within the parameters of the PG-13 rating but might feel provocative to sensitive or young individuals.
Language: There are a few uses of colloquialisms in the movie; they are not obscene or vulgar in any way. These moments are occasional and not overused to fit for a PG-13 kind of film while the dialogues advance. There are probably a couple of screams when the characters are scared but nothing vulgar or unfit for young teen audiences.
Sexual Content & Romantic Elements: The movie is rather puritanical and does not display any sexual desire or lewdness at all. If there are any hints of a romantic story then they are minimal and do not comprise the main premise of the novel. The subject of the plot always stays on friendship and family relations, so there is no sexual connotation that could undermine the movie in this aspect for children.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: There may be minor instances where adults are seen having drinks in social settings, but these are casual and non-problematic scenes, and alcohol use is not a major theme in the movie. The film does not contain any scenes involving drug use or smoking, making it free from substance abuse concerns for parents.
