Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Campy stop-motion animated fun with ghoulish imagery.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mad Monster Party
What's the Story?
Dr. Frankenstein (Boris Karloff) creates a potion that is able to destroy all matter it comes in contact with. He decides to retire and turn the business over to his nephew Felix (Allen Swift). Frankenstein throws a retirement party attended by an all-star cast of monsters, including the Monster's Mate (Phyllis Diller) and the sexy Francesca (Gale Garnett). As Felix arrives at the castle, the other monsters scheme to steal the matter-destroying potion, as the clumsy and asthmatic Felix mulls over whether or not to take over the family business.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of the kind of quirky novelty humor that reached its zenith in the mid-1960s will love MAD MONSTER PARTY. It's a collection of monsters (created in the inimitable Rankin/Bass animation that should be familiar to anyone who has seen the TV adaptation of Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer) attending a party, singing, and engaging in an endless succession of sight-gags. The performance by the houseband, "Little Tibia and the Fibias," is especially enjoyable for fans of 1960's rock and roll in particular.
Co-written by Mad Magazine co-founder Harvey Kurtzman and a strong influence on Tim Burton, Mad Monster Party should be great fun for adults who grew up with this kind of animation, and for kids with a ghoulish sense of humor.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about live animation. How were these characters brought to life, and how is it different from animation seen in other cartoons and movies?
How can you tell this movie was made several decades ago? Is it the animation? The jokes? The characters?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 8, 2009
- Cast : Boris Karloff , Phyllis Diller
- Director : Jules Bass
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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