Man, Birthday parties sure are different in the U.K. Check out the shindig being thrown by Sophie (Lyndsey Craine)…her friends (and some in-crowd douche nozzles) are all there to celebrate her 18th, and so are a gang o’ ghouls (whose kin murdered her mother 10 years previous) who are released thanks to some attractive fool fucking with the eponymous Book of Monsters Sophie’s family has possessed for generations, and these beasties are just aching to rip each and every reveler a brand-new asshole. What happened to spiked punch and seven minutes in heaven?!! Now it’s up to Sophie have the stones to send those vile villains back to hell, or this will be the last soiree our heroine will attend!
Spoiler: I loved the ever loving shit out of Book of Monsters! How can any red-blooded horror hound resist a flick that focuses on rad-ass women kicking the arses of insanely violent monsters brought to life via gorgeous designs and rock solid practical effects?!!
In addition to that we also get buckets of gore, comedy moments that are actually amusing, and some great acting, especially from Craine as our infinitely put upon heroine that is forced to step up and embrace her role as savior of all mankind from the forces of darkness. It’s all fun, comic book world building as we learn of Sophie’s destiny and the evil tome that factors into that legend…all of which could lend itself to sequels and spin-offs (you know I dig something if I’m craving more!!).
The only negatives in this flick are some slight pacing issues as the film jumps back and forth between the various protagonists battle the creature crashers hellbent on fucking up that party six ways to Sunday…it creates some janky editing, but all in all it doesn’t effect the overall experience…and the fact that the Goth in the group doesn’t recognize a pentagram. I will take your black lipstick and clove cigarettes as you exit stage left love…
Look, if you dig on flicks like Night of the Demons or even The Monster Squad; Book of Monsters will be right up your arcane alley; it’s jam packed with ass-kickery, monster mayhem, and buckets o’ gore…a tried and true recipe for a great time in the ol’ horror biz!
