I Thought My Kids Were Ready For The Monster Squad. I Was Wrong.

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Halloween is almost here, and my kids and I have been enjoying lots of fun, spooky movies! We started October with favorites like Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Halloweentown. When my wife was away for a weekend, I decided it was time to introduce them to The Monster Squad.

I was wrong about how scary this movie would be! Something – maybe the dangerous situations the kids faced, the frightening beginning, or even the bats – really got to my children. They were definitely shaken up while watching it on Paramount+, though they didn’t want to stop. They’ve been a little different ever since, after seeing that group of characters battle those classic monsters.

Don’t Get Me Wrong, They Loved The Monster Squad As Much As I Did As A Kid

Okay, let me just say – my kids (especially my son and older daughter) were completely hooked on The Monster Squad. They were switching between being scared and laughing the whole time, and it’s not hard to see why! The movie has a memorable scene where someone literally kicks a werewolf and shouts a pretty funny line about… well, let’s just say it’s a memorable moment.

Throughout the movie, my kids were really into it, constantly asking thoughtful questions – exactly what you hope for when sharing a beloved childhood film. I felt good, like things were going well at home. But then bedtime arrived…

But Now They All Want To Sleep In The Same Room Again

I quickly realized I’d made a mistake shortly after tucking the kids in. We’d just spent weeks getting all three of them to sleep in their own beds, but I thought they were ready to watch The Monster Squad. It turns out they weren’t, and they all ended up crammed into my oldest daughter’s bed – not just for one night, but for two.

Initially, they avoided saying it was the fault of Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, or the Gill-Man, claiming some unknown reason. Eventually, my younger daughter revealed the truth: it was the monsters who were to blame—everyone except Frankenstein’s monster, who she insisted was a good person.

Hey, it’s better than them taking over my bed again.

Don’t Get Me Started With The Cussing

It’s always surprising when I revisit classic movies from my childhood in the 80s and realize how much stronger language they used, even in films rated PG or PG-13. This movie is a prime example. Besides some really offensive language targeting gay people early on – thankfully my kids didn’t notice it while focusing on a different insult – there’s a lot of harsh language throughout that kids shouldn’t repeat.

I’m not overly strict, and I occasionally swear, but my kids started using a lot of bad language after hearing other children do so—my son in particular. I was impressed, though, that they at least tried to spell out the words correctly when I asked them to stop.

Paramount+ offers plans starting at $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year. While they have options with and without ads, choosing an annual subscription is a great way to save money while enjoying your favorite shows and movies. See the deal here.

Watching The Monster Squad with my kids on a chilly, rainy October night was a really great experience, even though I’m sure I’ll be hearing about monsters for a long time to come!

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2025-10-31 22:08