Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer

Ever since Jack Brooks (Trevor Matthews) witnessed the brutal murder of his family, he’s had a hard time controlling his anger.  Reluctantly, he begins attending night classes with his pestering girlfriend (Rachel Skarsten).  But Jack’s Professor (Robert Englund) brings more than lesson plans to class after unleashing an ancient curse.  Only Jack can save the day as the Professor undergoes a grotesque transformation, unleashing the hounds of hell.

I love films that know exactly what they are and I was grateful to see that Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer fell into this category.  It’s a great genre film that doesn’t take itself too seriously for a change.  It’s silly, gross, funny and it knows it.

This film is a great homage to the 80’s monster movies.  If you watch it expecting a new horror classic you’ll be disappointed but if you’re looking for some good old fashioned gory fun you’ll be in for a treat.

The special effects are mostly traditional, physical effects and most of them look good.  Its quite surprising really as you’d expect a lot less from a straight to DVD movie these days.  The only dodgy one is what Robert Englund ends up as but everything else is great, my favourite being the cyclops that the film opens with.

The only real downside to Jack Brooks is the title character.  He’s convincing as an angry young man who turns into a hero but the thing is he’s just not that like able.  He doesn’t have the charm and charism of other monster slayers (I’m thinking Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China or Edgar Frog in The Lost Boys) which is a bit of a disappointment, and he doesn’t have one quip or witty line to say.  Apart from that though I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and am looking forward to any sequels which I’m sure are on their way.

DVD Extras

-Audio commentary

-Behind the Scenes featurette

-Building a Monster (featurette)

-World Premiere

-Creating the Music

-Deleted Scenes

-Storyboard Comparison

-Teen Massacre (Short)

-Teen Massacre Audio Commentary

-Making Teen Massacre