Hey folks, Harry here - Getting MONSTER SQUAD on Blu Ray would be nice, but not as nice as just getting a NIGHT OF THE CREEPS release with that original ending that Dekker talks about below. Here's info from the New Beverly screening in Hollywood last night... Enjoy...

Hey Harry,

Last night the New Beverly in Hollywood, CA ran a double feature of Fred Dekker's The Monster Squad and Night of the Creeps. Fred Dekker was present for a between show Q&A. Shane Black was also there but wasn't involved in the interview. On a side note, while waiting in line for the men's room Seth Green was talking to the box office cashier. I didn't know the guy was a midget. The Beverly sold out, I know it had sold out many shows before but this was the first time I was ever there when it did. The Bev was able to acquire a 35mm print of Monster Squad. When the American Cinematheque ran it last July they ran a projection of the DVD. This was the first time I saw it on film since opening day back in '87; it looked great. Also, Night of the Creeps was presented in 35mm and the print looked great. It was the first time I saw it, I wasn't the only one, in the theatre.

Here are just some random tidbits from the Q&A.

-Andre Gower couldn't make it; however his sister and mother were there.

-Julia, box cashier and moderator, asked why we never saw "wolf-dork" in the film. Sean said that the wolfman had to wear pants back in the 40s because he couldn't show his wolf-dork. Jules asked since the film was in 80s why we never saw it. Dekker said yeah even when he pulled himself back together at the end he had his pants on...hmmm. He just said well maybe Benicio will show his wolf-dork.

-Dekker hates Robocop 3.

-For Night of the Creeps, he prefers the alternate ending and not the theatrical ending.

-He says he's over the horror genre. We've seen everything so there really isn't anything left to be afraid of. He's not too keen on remakes. He doesn't really feel the need to turn the Squad into a tv series, make a sequel or remake it. It's been done, move on. He thinks Zach Snyder is a talented and terrific filmmaker but did we really need Dawn of the Dead. He said more people are aware of that then Romero's original classic.

-He has a number of projects in the works. He's producing a tv pilot "The Genie Chronicles" and will be directing a drama, something music related.

-He mentioned that when the film opened it was normal to jump in a limo and go to theatres opening weekend to check out business. Squad was depressing. They never did it for Creeps. The last several screenings of the Squad was very moving for him. He compared the Beverly audience to the Alamo audience, the only difference was you could drink there. Of course, someone in the aud raises a beer to much applause.

-Fred said Night of the Creeps is being dragged by Sony, hence no DVD release. If we want it on DVD, send a letter to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment with a brick. After receiving all those bricks they have to release it to stop the deliveries. After seeing the film, I gotta wonder if the music rights issues is the reason for the hold up. There are a number of classic songs in there.

-If people were wondering why Shane Black wasn't on the DVD it was because he never returned his phone calls.

-Lionsgate wants to do a Blu-ray release of the film. They just weren't sure if anyone would want it because they already released a full bells and whistles version on DVD. The plan is to have a running video commentary with Fred Dekker and Shane Black. It's on the table, they just have to sign the deal.

My two cents, I never bought the new DVD because I wanted to wait and see if it would come out on Blu-ray. As for the video commentary, they should do four video commentaries. One with the filmmakers, Fred and Shane. One with the kids. One with the monsters. One with the creature and visual effects artists. They could even do it Goonies style and have all the kids, Fred and Shane together.

That about sums it up.

filmmaven