I have to start by saying I was never a fan of The Munsters television show - team Addams - so, any references were lost on me. I love Rob's movie, and I wanted to like this, but it's nowhere near as good as I had hoped. The main problem here is a PG comedy cannot be directed the same way as a horror movie. Rob has repeatedly shown that he can make a horror movie with a unique look that is all his own, but it does not translate outside of that medium. That being said, the visuals are amazing: most of the shots could be framed and hung in a museum. Alas, the comedy just doesn't land: I think I chuckled only once. The movie seemed both too long, and too short, at the same time - I don't even know how that's possible. It would be great to visit an alternate universe where Zombie had Kevin Smith co-write and co-direct this movie.
At times _The Munsters_ felt like _Young Frankenstein_, only with 99% of the humor removed. Maybe this will have a different impact on fans of the source material. Furthermore, I could see this growing on me after more viewings.
One highlight was Tomas Boykin as Lester, the wolf man. Being that he was under such heavy makeup, I kept wondering "who the hell is this guy?" His acting captures what the true tone of the movie should have been. I don't mean that as a slight again the other actors, they all did a great job, but the comedic timing needed a boost... Roebuck, and Brake were great in their roles, but even the Mistress herself, Cassandra Peterson, felt hollow.
Somewhere in _The Munsters_ is a worthy comedy, but it will be a while before I find it.

Woof, this one stings. Firstly, I grew up loving the Munsters. It was cheesy then, it is cheesy now. That’s not really the knock to how this was made. The issue is that I don’t really see the purpose in why this movie was made. Usually when something is rebooted, it is to bring a fresh perspective to an already established franchise (for easy pickings we can look at Rob Zombie’s Halloween), or to jumpstart a new saga. When this was originally announced, I was amongst the people that assumed Zombie was going to bring a darker and more adult tone to the Munsters. Instead, we seemingly got a strong attempt to be as similar as possible to content that is way outdated. It’s so out there and I genuinely don’t think there’s much of a target audience beyond the nostalgia crowd. It might also be a different story if the plot had a movie story arc. This felt like a pilot to a tv series that dragged on for two hours. It feels like there should be more, yet somehow felt too long. Having an 8 episode season of 20-25 minute episodes would make a whole bunch more sense for the tone the movie is putting out.

All in all, I love Zombie, and I cannot recommend this one.

Rating: 1/5 - 5.5/10 - Would Not Recommend

One of those “what am I watching ?” and “why am I watching it ?” sort of movies. The 90’s Addams Family movies are so much better. If Rob Zombie was a fan he should have called Tim Burton and asked him if he could make a Munsters movie.
This I was going to say is Batman & Robin like bad but it might actually be worse. Fans of the show, I can’t actually even say will enjoy this since I am a fan of the show…
Jorge Garcia as Floop is at least not phoning it in and it takes awhile to realize he was Hurley in Lost. Though yeah I can’t say this will lead him to bigger and better movies either way.
The movie is like an episode of the show and the end probably would have worked better if it was. For a movie it leads to nothing special or worthwhile.
At least my older brother who loves Adam Sandler movies asked me if there will be more. Actually hoping there will be more lol.
Nope, despite feeling like a pilot episode to a show. Whatever it was, it was supposed to actually be a movie. The Razzies would love this but they seem to snub Netflix movies.

Visually this film is amazing hats off to the lighting and production design, how ever the story is painful to watch. The two lead characters are out right stupid. Herman Munster played by Jeff Daniel Phillips loosing Lily Munster entire family fortune. Which is treated not as if it was a tragedy but more like like he left his phone at the Jim. This has less to do with Sheri Moon Zombie, and Jeff's acting chops and more to do with Rod Zombie's Direction. Top marks go to all supporting characters with special shout out to Daniel Roebuck, Richard Brake, and Cassandra Peterson. As they really where fun to watch. If You can over look the cringe worthy plot points and solely go after the visuals this film is worth checking out.

Fred Leicht

**_The Munsters are back with spooktacular sets and the expected silliness_**

After Lily (Sheri Moon Zombie) meets Herman (Jeff Daniel Phillips) in Transylvania, her father, a count (Daniel Roebuck), is forced out of his castle. They travel to the suburbs of Hollywood by way of Paris to start a new life.

Written & directed by Rob Zombie, “The Munsters” (2022) is a prequel to the TV sitcom at movie length, just with far superior production values and minus a laugh track. The three stars capture their characters superbly with their unique takes. The colorful sets are the top highlight, but the corny humor is also enjoyable (if you like the show or similar productions), not to mention the revelations on how the family came to live in the suburbs of SoCal.

I think the lack of a laugh track (which, let’s face it, wouldn’t work for a full-length movie) is what throws some critics off because there’s an emptiness in those spots where you’re expecting background laughs, but they’re not there.

It’s basically a mixture of “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark” (1988) and “Elvira's Haunted Hills” (2001) with Roger Corman’s Poe-inspired flicks of the 60s, such as “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961), “The Raven” (1963) and “The Terror” (1963).

As much as I like the two “Addams Family” flicks from the early 90s, as well as “Casper” (1995), I prefer this.

The movie runs 1 hour, 49 minutes, and was shot in Budapest, Hungary.

GRADE: B+/A-