Munster, Go Home! review by Bobby Blakey
One of the most recognizable TV series came in the form of a classic monster family in the 60s aptly titled The Munsters. Like most I loved the show starring Fred Gwynne (Herman Munster), Yvonne De Carlo (Lily Munster), Al Lewis (Grandpa) and Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster). After the series ended they brought the famed TV family to the big screen in a feature film with all the original cast expect for Pat Priest who was replaced by Debbie Watson as Marilyn. Now Shout factory is bringing the film home through their Scream Factory brand.
Munster, Go Home! follows Herman who inherits a mansion in England and moves the family into an estate full of ghosts and other surprises. This film not only took the Munsters to the big screen, it also offered fans a chance to see them in glorious Technocolor for the first time ever. Outside of the main cast there is a great cast here including Terry-Thomas (The Abominable Dr. Phibes), Hermione Gingold (Bell, Book and Candle), Richard Dawson (Hogan’s Heroes), Bernard Fox (Arnold) and horror film legend John Carradine (The Howling). I must have watched this movie a hundred time along with the series as a kid, but had been years since I revisited it and must say I still love it.
It is just as dumb as the show and I remember some thinking it wears out too fast in this format, but I just love watching these characters. Everything I loved about the Munster family is here outside of getting much time in their awesome home. But part of seeing movies like this is seeing them go bigger and they surely did that here. I still find it a bit strange to see them in color, but there is something fresh to it despite it still being so old. While the whole gang is here the focus is mostly on Herman and Grandpa which is why it works. The simpleton innocence of Herman pitted against the sarcastic nonsense of Grandpa is pure hilarious brilliance. This is a series and movie that never had business working but does on every level for me. I am not only glad to have revisited it, I am now eager to go back and check out the original episodes all over again.
This entire film is just worth seeing the color version of these characters and car race at the end featuring a race car version of the Drag-u-la from famed car designer George Barris. Seeing Herman squeezed into that coffin mobile is hilarious all by itself. As if this wasn’t all enough of a reason to get this release, they have also included the 1981 TV movie The Munster’s Revenge that reunited Gwynn, Lewis and De Carlo for one final time. This film isn’t near as great, but still a great addition just to get to see them all together once again.
In addition to the two films this release offers up bonus content including commentary from Butch Patrick and Rob Zombie, interviews, radio spots, trailers, still galleries and more. Grab your copy of Munster, Go Home! available now on Blu-ray for the first time from Scream Factory
For more information or to order your copy head over to www.shoutfactory.com