Monster High: The Movie
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Live-action monster teens face peril, appreciate diversity.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Monster High: The Movie
Community Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
LOVE IT! Crowd Pleaser With Great Messages and Super Catchy Tunes
Great movie, a must see!
What's the Story?
In MONSTER HIGH: THE MOVIE, we are introduced to Clawdeen (Miia Harris), half-human and half-werewolf, who is shunned by human kids. When she's accepted to attend the magical Monster High School, her human father (Scotch Ellis Loring) hesitates: They can't know about her human blood or she will be run out of the school. But he lets her go, and there Clawdeen finally finds a place where she feels she fits in. She immediately befriends her roommate Frankie (Ceci Balagot), a Frankenstein-style creature made up of body parts from the smartest people over the ages, and slowly warms to their other roomie, Draculaura (Nayah Damasen). But mean girl Cleo De Nile (Jy Prishkulnik) could uncover her human secret, which would lead Headmistress Bloodgood (Marci T. House) to send Clawdeen packing -- or worse.
Is It Any Good?
This film will appeal to tweens and younger fans of the monster dolls who will likely appreciate the costuming rather than find it a distraction from the sweet relationships at the story's core. In the vein of Disney's popular Zombies films, Monster High: The Movie lets characters work out typical teen angst and identity issues under the guise of fantasy figures from the monster world. These allow for some pretty great puns ("she's got mummy issues," the "ghouls" become "beasties"), and a few pokes at teenage behavior (Frankie struggles to make friends via social media while others communicate solely via their coffin-shaped cell phones, and even vampires have to deal with overbearing parents).
Despite the characters' monster "identities," their get-ups (the boys' costumes and powers are especially weak), and their overly staged song-and-dance numbers, they just want what humans want: to fit in and feel free and loved in their skin. A brief epilogue hints that a sequel is in the works.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the live-action Monster High: The Movie compares with the animated TV series and films, if you've seen them. What are the benefits of the different formats?
Why does Clawdeen want to change her nature? What makes her change her mind?
Do you think real teenagers ever feel the way the monster teens in this movie do and struggle to fit in or make friends? Have you ever struggled to find your place? How did you handle that situation?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 6, 2022
- Cast: Miia Harris , Ceci Balagot , Marci T. House
- Director: Todd Holland
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Transgender actors, Black actors
- Studio: Paramount+
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Friendship , High School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 17, 2023
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