This was a 1996 feelgood movie directed by Robert Tinnell and had moments of Hallmark schmaltz but also some very well constructed monster segments and Burt Reynolds (the Cannonball Run),
That monster movie aspect appears right from the start of the film as we see a castle in a storm and inside Frankenstein and Igor, played by Earl (Jamieson Boulanger) and his little brother Larry (Ricky Mabe, Mona the Vampire & Preacher). We get a full resurrection scene, after an interruption by Elizabeth (Polly Shannon, Forever Knight). Of course, we are not really in Frankenstein’s schloss, rather a small town in the Mojave Desert in 1970 and Earl is a dreamer. The daydream, which he is sketching, is interrupted by his nasty teacher, Mrs Perdue (Louise Fletcher, Mama Dracula) who punishes him and then phones his home, informing Earl’s mom (Myriam Cyr, Gothic) that he is a delinquent.
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| the monster on display |
Luckily for Earl, his dad (Burt Reynolds) might be a trucker now but was a dreamer himself and won’t punish his son for that – indeed he actively encourages his sons to both have dreams and pursue them. Larry really enjoys his brother’s stories. Unfortunately, their dad dies of a heart attack early into the film (Burt reappearing in memories within the film) and mom, stressed by having to take a minimum wage job to provide for the family, doesn’t understand her son. At a carnival Earl goes into Zandor’s Hall of Mystery, which purports to own the genuine Frankenstein’s monster. The next day the carnival leaves but don’t notice the crate with the monster fall from a truck… right next to Earl who manages to take the Monster and work out a scheme to revive it…
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| Van Helsing and Arminius |
Which is the main thrust of the film – with a genuinely saccharine ending. However through the running length we get monster movie moments that are either daydreams, actual dreams or a story Earl is telling Larry – this then is the vampire moment, a story told by Earl when Larry is in hospital (after having his tonsils out). It follows Professor Van Helsing – Earl – and his assistant Arminius – Larry as they hunt vampire brides in an old windmill. Van Helsing sends Arminius to hide and wait for his signal with instructions to burn the mill down if necessary. Van Helsing opens a coffin in the room he searches but it is empty – the brides are behind him (there are three brides but only 2 listed in the credits - Martine Marois & Véronique Cloutier – I can’t be sure but suspect the third is Polly Shannon).
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| the brides |
He turns, brandishing a cross that repels them. One, however, picks up a sack of flour and throws it – knocking the cross from his hand. He crawls away and reaches Dracula (Conner Vandeer) who lifts him up and throws him out of a window. However he catches a sail, grabs a lower ledge and is pulled to safety by Arminius. They go back to the vampire lair as the sun is beginning to rise, open the first coffin and Van Helsing readies a stake over Dracula’s chest… The story is interrupted by Mrs Perdue who deems it unsuitable for a hospital (she happens to be there as a patient), although Larry’s roommate, Stan (David Deveau, Are You Afraid of the Dark). was enjoying it and recognised the inspiration as the Brides of Dracula, which Earl confirms.
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| Conner Vandeer as Dracula |
And that is it, a fleeting visitation (with Vandeer channelling Christopher Lee for his miniscule screen time) – a rendition of a young monster fan’s story told to his brother. Of course there are several such scenes with other monsters. The cast do well – including Jamieson Boulanger as Earl, who managed well with a vehicle that he (for the most part) had to carry. The Hallmark-like schmaltz got a bit much and the first act dragged a little but overall this isn’t a bad, kid friendly property.
The imdb page is here.
On Demand @ Amazon US
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