Parents' Guide to Monster Summer

Scares not scars is the goal of director David Henrie's entertaining second directorial effort, a well-made adventure that gives preteens a fun fright that won't terrify them (or their parents). Aimed squarely at the 10- to 13-year-old set, Monster Summer—which could accurately be described as "Stranger Things lite"—is ideal for a sleepover: Expect to hear a couple of screams followed by giggles. Loaded with elements beloved by fans of the 1980s and '90s movie—including Easter eggs subtle enough to make adults snicker but not distract kids—it's a great co-viewing film for a full-moon movie night.

Monster Summer has strong production values and solid acting (well, aside from Kevin James putting on a Southern accent to play a newspaper publisher who's lived on Martha's Vineyard his whole life). And Henrie should be commended for his skillful balancing act: It FEELS like the content in Monster Summer is edgy, but, if you look closely, you realize it's not. Characters use the mildest of curse words, teen couples go to isolated areas together but nothing happens between them, and beer and weed are mentioned, but kids refuse them in a way that won't prompt eye rolls. That said, the frights are legit (from, of all people, the writers of The Peanuts Movie!), and perhaps because of the very innocence mentioned above, you might feel a bit like the rug was pulled out from you during the end, which ups the shocks. The monster is genuinely scary—but, it should be noted, also a little off: The makeup is a little cheesy, the special effects more Disneyfied than Spielbergian. But that, too, is part of what makes the movie work for younger audiences. It helps remind them that it's OK, it's not real. Horror movies are rarely critically acclaimed, much less ones made for kids. But if you're looking for a movie that makes kids jump out of their seat, tightly squeeze one another's hands, and then, when it's over, casually boast, "That wasn't scary!," then Monster Summer ranks right up there.