Buenas Noches, Senor Monstruo

Good Night Mr. Monster

Spain 1982
produced by
José Frade
directed by Antonio Mercero
starring Regaliz (= Jaime Benet, Astrid Fenollar, Eva Mariol, Deuard Navarrete), Fernando Bilbao, Luís Escobar, Andrés Mejuto, Guillermo Montesinos, Paul Naschy, Miguel Ángel Valero, Lorenzo Ramírez, Rosa Redondo, Nina Ferrer
written by Antonio Mercero, José Ángel Rodero, music by Manuel Cubedo, Félix Lapardi, special effects by Fernando Pérez

Frankenstein, Dracula, El Hombre Lobo, Quasimodo

review by
Mike Haberfelner

Kiddie pop band Regaliz is looking for refuge from the storm in an old, seemingly abandoned castle, not knowing of course that this castle is inhabitated by all the most famous monsters of mankind, Dracula (Luis Escobar), the werewolf el Hombre Lobo (Paul Naschy), Quasimodo (Guillermo Montesinos), and of course Frankenstein (Andrés Mejuto) and his monster (Fernando Bilbao). This monsters do their best to scare the living shit out of the kids, but the monsters are old, their scare tactics are no longer up-to-date, and the kids are way more cunning than they ever were. And whenever the kids get into a real jam, they have the son of Dracula (Miguel Ángel Valero) to fall back on, who has long rejected being a monster and now prefers to side with the kids whom he has much more in common with than his dad and company. Ultimately, the kids defeat teh monsters in a dancing contest, before the monsers make a hasty retreat at sundawn.

Later, Regaliz find the monsters again in a wax museum for a song-and-dance finale ...

Serious horror fans love to hate this film because of its disrespectful treatment of genre icons - which is true but misses the point: Basically, Buenas Noches, Senor Monstruo is a kiddie comedy tailored to its lead characters, the kiddie pop band Regaliz, with a few horror elements thrown in. And you know what, some of the jokes actually work, like when Quasimodo tries to scare a sleepwalking Astrid Fenollar shitless but only manages to gravely injuring himself without even waking her up. Other jokes though are less nicvely done, and when it comes to the song-and-dance numbers, the film hits its low marks.

What I want to say with all of this is: The film is better than its reputation ... but that doesn't make it a good film. But if you watch it expecting pointless kiddie entertainment, then you'll probably not be disappointed.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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