André Gower knows how much The Monster Squad means to people, because he’s a member of the damn thing. The actor, still most well-known 30 years later for playing Stephen King super-fan Sean in the fan favourite flick, was the only film-maker one could possibly imagine entrusting with a documentary on the beloved movie. Thankfully, Wolfman’s Got Nards is everything fans wanted and more.
Gower was very clear about never wanting to create a behind-the-scenes doc, a making of, or a feature focused primarily on those directly associated with the movie. Instead, he was more interested in turning the camera on the diehard fans all over the world who’ve ensured that Squad still matters all these years later. Gower wanted to understand why the movie meant so much to them, even nowadays.
Related: Wolfman’s Got Nards Rules So Hard [Frightfest 2018 Review]
The result is an energetic, entertaining, and hugely emotional documentary that’s up there with the likes of More Brains! when it comes to features of this nature. Aside from taking a look at the insane fandom surrounding the movie, Gower also includes interviews with other Squad members, and documents the road trip he and a couple cast-members took to mark the movie’s anniversary.
The Frightfest synopsis knows what’s up:
A heartfelt love letter to the entire history of Fred Dekker’s 1987 cult classic The Monster Squad, from the cast and crew members who brought the faux Universal creatures to life, to the obsessed fans and horror filmmakers who wouldn’t be where they are today without it. Dekker’s family frightener initially tanked at the box office but found a second life on VHS and cable TV. For years the creators were unaware of the phenomenon growing on the genre fan fringes and this superb documentary details how it happened and why decades later an entire community refuse to let go.
Directed by Andre Gower and starring celebrity fans including Adam Green, Joe Lynch, and Jackson Stewart, along with must-see interviews with Squad originators Shane Black and Fred Dekker, Wolfman’s Got Nards is hilariously candid, fascinating, and surprisingly moving all in good measure.
Also See: Mark Benton on Anna and the Apocalypse [Frightfest Exclusive Interview]
Wicked Horror caught up with Gower at Frightfest 2018 to talk fandom, what the Squad means to 30-year-old nerds, and the difficulties of calibrating a documentary that pays homage to both the flick and those who love it.
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Interview conducted by: Joey Keogh
Camera: Richard Waters
Editing: Richard Waters
