Another Indy Celluloid Entry – Monster Party
Welcome back. Recently I found myself contemplating my physical media cache. I have a small library of genre films, a couple of shelves of “collected” genre films, a shelf or two of martial arts films, a small space reserved for questionable films (including the uncensored “Serbian Film”), an overflowing area featuring numerous and genre diverse VHS entries which I really need to look for a player in order to enjoy and a general DVD area which I share with my loving spouse. In essence a few bookcases overburdened with features which are not quite wholesome family entertainment, but close enough. Scouring my collection my digits alighted upon an entry whose title alights a veritable smorgasbord of possibilities. Alas, this isn’t what many might assume, it isn’t an over the top live manga entry, neither is it a vintage cartoon-esque NES game, or a high budget special effects extravaganza showcasing Lovecraftian entities knocking back steaming beverages (of dubious origins) whilst frolicking with an array of creations from the Universal Film catalog, but rather an intriguing predicament set in the Malibu Hills. Slightly disappointing, if truth be told, but I’m still on board.
Here are my thoughts.
Monster Party (2018)
Writer/Director – Chris Von Hoffmann
Runtime – 89 minutes
Forced to pay a gambling debt for his father, Casper enlists the help of his two best friends in hopes to keep debtors from turning up the heat. Literally.
The job seems simple enough; get in, pretend to know how to cater to the rich and powerful clientele at a swank soiree, and get out with as many valuables secretly tucked away as possible. But all is not quite as simple as it at first might appear. The gathering is an exclusive, invite only, event. A support group celebration for recovering serial killers.
An intriguing story, and strangely, I haven’t given away any spoilers just yet. As this is all transcribed as the movies synopsis on the box art. So what gives? Where’s the mystery?
Apparently, there is little. The movie knows where it’s going, likely too does its audience and it gets to the hoped for destination successfully through the utilization of a introduction and utilization of a fantastic cast. There’s a great many faces featured here that most will be able to attach to a handful of successful features; including but not limited to “John Wick” and a series entitled “The Boys” which through its three seasons and a spin off has taken the world by storm.
Monster Party boasts a delightfully unhurried pace, though isnt afraid to shock with its ‘loaded’ dialogue, palpable creepiness factor, and initial octane fueled ‘plummet’.
Once the stage is set the action is thick and fast, commencing with a wicked juxtaposition of scenes; one delivering a soulful confession, the other a vicious hack-tastic relapse. The remainder of the film plays out along ‘cat n mouse’ (stalker slash themes), us versus them lines (showcasing the elite and the struggling lower class), with definite Purge, Straw Dog and even Panic Room vibes.
Strong characters lend this an almost palpable edge. Erin Moriarty (Starlight of The Boys) a beauty with a look which screams innocence incarnate, portrays a sibling convincingly caught in the middle. Whereas, her sibling Elliot, Kian Lawley, plays a psychopath (who’s easy to dislike from the very first appearance) with shocking ease.
Plot twists lend this an edge over the traditional ‘paint by numbers’ type slasher affair with Milo, Lance Reddick (John Wick) leading the charge. Further text upon this details would surely place this deep into spoiler realms, so I’ll leave it at that!
Other standouts include Patrick played by Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck and Victor Von Doom of The Fantastic Four films) whom I somehow seem to constantly confuse with Stephen Moyer (True Blood). His is a patriarchal role, an overbearing dominant type personality, a head of household trying desperately to hold it all together whilst simultaneously oozing a menacing aura.
Though not over the top, wall to wall, the effects are complementary, as to is a delicious slathering of dark (gallows) humor which many of the parties attendees unabashedly exude. Other elements making for a fantastic viewing experience includes characters one can easily root for, and a story which doesn’t necessarily follow traditional slasher parameters. A definite aura of maleovence is dense throughout, accentuated by a score which successfully heightens the films tension and a certain, hey this isn’t based in a cabin, the woods or the derp South refreshing nature.
All in all, this was a surprisingly decent watch. Sure, there were predictable moments, but appreciatively clichés are tackled, abused and spat upon. There are instances that make one want to yell at the screen in disgust and revulsion, and others in which one will take a moment to breath “What the F-!” A wicked element which makes any genre film worth it’s salt (whatever that means?).
It all makes for a fantastic waste of ninety minutes, a well crafted SnS which thankfully doesn’t rely on a masked figure, a mutant with a taste for blood with a murderous chip on their shoulder or any other beaten to death trope which the genre seriously doesn’t need to keep rehashing anymore. Seriously, who needs a Jason part… (I’ve lost count at this stage) no matter its ‘off the beaten path’ location, or another TCM? I’m done. Monster Party included just the right amount of creativity, the laughs, the gore, the middle finger to standard assumed genre troupes and plot twists that kept me interested for the features length. Give this a watch, don’t let it fall into obscurity.
8
Until next time,
Cult
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