Monster High: The Movie is a 2022 American live-action musical fantasy film based on Mattel's Monster High franchise. It was directed by Todd Holland with a teleplay written by Jenny Jaffe, Billy Eddy and Matt Eddy from a story by Jaffe, Greg Erb and Jason Oremland. The film was produced by Mattel Television, a division of the toy company behind the series, Brightlight Pictures, Nickelodeon Productions. It released on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on October 6, 2022, alongside the new Monster High animated series, as part of Monster High Generation 3.[1][2]
Synopsis[]
Clawdeen Wolf, who was born half human and half werewolf, after she arrives at her new school, Monster High. She quickly makes friends with her classmates Frankie Stein and Draculaura, and for the first time in her life, Clawdeen feels like she has finally found a place where she fits in and can truly be herself, despite keeping her human half a secret. When a devious plan to destroy Monster High threatens to reveal her real identity, Clawdeen must learn to embrace her true monster heart and find a way to save the day.
Plot[]
Clawdeen Wolf is a half-werewolf half-human biracial girl, born from a human father named Apollo and a werewolf mother named Selena (who passed away for unknown reasons). Due to being part monster, Clawdeen spent her whole life in the world of humans hiding from people. On Clawdeen's 15th Birthday, she received an invitation to study at Monster High, a high school for monsters that her mother used to attend. Although reluctant, Apollo agrees to let her attend the school, but warns her that she must hide her human side, because humans are considered to be the biggest threats to monsters, and only "true monster hearts" are allowed into the school.
Once arriving at Monster High, which is a living school, Clawdeen finally feels like she belongs to somewhere ("Coming Out of the Dark"). She befriends Frankie Stein, a non-binary frankenmonster who is just 15 days old with a brilliant brain, and develops a crush on Deuce Gorgon, the son of Medusa and Lyra. She also meets Draculaura, daughter of Dracula who is pressured by her father to be a top student; Cleo de Nile, daughter of the mummy, the school's Queen Bee, and Deuce's ex-girlfriend; Lagoona Blue, the Colombian daughter of the sea monster and a sea nymph and Cleo's best friend; and the zombie Ghoulia Yelps who helps her find her dormitory. The school's Headmistress, Bloodgood, invites Clawdeen to speak at a dinner with the Monster High Council on Founder’s Day to represent the students, to which she agrees.
During her time at Monster High, Clawdeen discovers that she can temporarily transform into a full human when she feels strong emotions like fear or nervousness. In her first class, her new professor Mr. Komos teaches the students about the history of Monster High and how humans are hated by monsters. He tells them the story of Edward "Eddy" Hyde, a half-human half-monster former student who was expelled from the school when his human side was discovered and got killed by human hunters, which makes Clawdeen fear even more about getting discovered ("True Monster Heart"). She learns from Komos that Hyde created a formula that could transform a human-monster hybrid into a full-blooded monster, but he never tested it due to being expelled before he could. Clawdeen decides to find and drink the formula so no one will find out her secret and researches Hyde, but she starts transforming into a human even more, which is be discovered by Frankie. While briefly freaked out, Frankie doesn't shun Clawdeen. Instead, they help her find Hyde's secret lab, which is apparently located in the school's graveyard. Upon arriving there, they discover Draculaura practicing witchcraft, something that witches and vampires have been at war for centuries over, with monsters considering it a "filthy human habit". Frankie and Clawdeen promise to keep her abilities a secret, and Draculaura helps the two in their mission. They discover a place that is apparently the lab, but it has a lock that only a certain hand can open it ("Three Of Us").
Draculaura discovers a spell that might unlock the opening, but one of the ingredients is ogre's bone, which is what the Headmistress' cup is made of. Clawdeen goes to her office to get pieces of the cup and is nearly caught by Cleo, but Draculaura manages to transform her into Bloodgood so Cleo would think it's the actual Headmistress. Another ingredient is snake's venom, which Clawdeen obtains from one of the snakes in Deuce's hair. On their walk, Deuce tells Clawdeen how gorgons aren't always monsters to trust; Clawdeen relates to him, making the two fall in love and bond ("Trust"). Later at night, the trio try the spell, but it doesn't work. They return to school but are caught red-handed by Headmistress Bloodgood, Mr. Komos, and Cleo, who told Bloodgood about Draculaura practicing witchcraft. Suddenly, the school starts to quake and Clawdeen saves Cleo from getting crushed by a falling gargoyle. Headmistress Bloodgood realizes that the school is screaming for help because there is an "untrue monster heart" among them (probably a human) and if they don't find out who it is, the whole school might fall apart.
Feeling she's putting her friends and everyone else in danger, Clawdeen runs away from the school in sadness and returns to the human world ("Coming Out of the Dark (Reprise)"). Draculaura and Frankie find her the next day, claiming they are her friends and will help her no matter what. They then discover that Clawdeen's human hand can open the entrance of the room in the graveyard (since Hyde was also half-human) and they manage to do so on the night of the Founder’s Day dinner. The place, at first, appears to only be an ogre's tomb. However, they discover a secret door and finally find Hyde's secret lab and the formula. Clawdeen is about to drink it but is reluctant about giving up on her ‘other half’, which is her father's side. Suddenly, Mr. Komos finds them, revealing he is half-human as well. He tells Clawdeen that giving up on yourself isn't the answer and there's a better way. She gives him the formula. However, Mr. Komos drinks the formula instead, revealing himself to actually be Hyde's son Edward "Eddy" Hyde, Jr. who seeks to destroy Monster High and the humans to avenge his father's death. The formula transforms Komos into a full-blooded monster with the power to absorb the powers of all monsters; he steals Draculaura's vampire abilities, leaving her weak. After locking Komos in the lab, Clawdeen tells Frankie to go live on EekTok, since she doesn't know how to call people, in order to get help. Cleo and Lagoona see the livestream and tell Deuce, who informs the adults, and arrives to the cemetery with Ghoulia, Heath Burns and Abbey Bominable. The trio is able to escape using with the rest of Draculaura's unlocking spell.
Once the teenagers are outside, Mr. Komos manages to escape and steals Deuce's gorgon powers, transforming the former into stone. Clawdeen, heartbroken, transforms into a full human, much to the other teenagers' shock. Much to her surprise, they don't shun Clawdeen, and Cleo gives her her phone to make Mr. Komos look into his reflection on the selfie camera, transforming him into stone and, in result, returning Draculaura's and Deuce's powers, bringing Deuce back to life in the process. Headmistress Bloodgood, Dracula, and the Monster High Council arrive in time to discover, not only Mr. Komos's true intentions, but Clawdeen's secret as well.
The next day, Apollo arrives at Monster High to pick up Clawdeen, who has transformed back into a werewolf, so they can return to the human world. To both their surprise, Headmistress Bloodgood claims she's not expelling Clawdeen because she has shown she has a ‘true monster heart’, and Dracula states that they are doing some rewriting to the school's charter as monsterkind has learned that not all humans are bad. The monsters welcome Clawdeen as their first official human-blooded student. Dracula allows Draculaura to practice witchcraft, and Deuce runs for Student Council. The three friends celebrate Clawdeen's stay at Monster High with the rest of the school, Dracula, and Apollo ("No Apologies").
In some other place, a mysterious witch is watching everything through a crystal ball, planning to get rid of the vampires as she instructs her minions to bring Draculaura to her.
Cast[]
- Miia Harris as Clawdeen Wolf, daughter of the Werewolf, Deuce's love interest and best friend to Frankie and Draculaura. She is Latina and half-werewolf/half-human, and a bit sheltered since she was raised in the human world.
- Ceci Balagot as Frankie Stein, child of Frankenstein and best friend to Clawdeen and Draculaura. Born just 15 days ago and assembled from some of the greatest geniuses in history, Frankie is Clawdeen's roommate.
- Frankie is also non-binary, being the first known LGBT character in the Monster High franchise.
- Nayah Damasen as Draculaura, daughter of Dracula and best friend to Clawdeen and Frankie . A bit of a rebel, she's obsessed with magic, specifically witchcraft, even though it's strictly forbidden.
- Case Walker as Deuce Gorgon, son of Medusa, Clawdeen's love interest and Cleo's ex-boyfriend.
- Kyle Selig as Mr. Komos, the half human and half monster. Monster High's resident “cool teacher,” Mr. Komos is incredibly trustworthy, and offers Clawdeen guidance and advice for how to fit in at Monster High.
- Marci T. House as Headmistress Bloodgood, the headless horsewoman. Monster High's tough-but-fair leader and a stickler for following the rules.
- Scotch Ellis as Apollo, Clawdeen's father, the human/non-monster.
- Steve Valentine as Dracula, Draculaura's father.
- Jy Prishkulnik as Cleo de Nile, daughter of the Mummy, Deuce's ex-girlfriend, Lagoona's best friend and Monster High's resident Queen Bee.
- Lina Lecompte as Lagoona Blue, daughter of the Sea Monster and Cleo's best friend.
- Justin Derickson as Heath Burns, son of the Fire Elementals, Deuce's best friend and Abbey's love interest.
- Lilah Fitzgerald as Ghoulia Yelps, daughter of the Zombies.
- Nasiv Sall as Abbey Bominable, daughter of the Yeti and Heath's love interest.
- Ajay Banks as Greigor
- Brian Dobson as Eye
- Natasha Leggero as Skullette
- Artemis Pebdani as Witch
Production[]
Development[]
Before the announcement of the 2022 live-action film, there was an previous attempt at making a live-action Monster High movie made in 2010, the year the Monster High franchise was launched, Universal Pictures announced that a live-action, around-the-world adventure, ten chapter Monster High musical movie would be directed by Ari Sandel, scheduled to be released on October 7, 2016 and was listed in development, However, nothing was heard about Universal's attempt since then and is unknown if any aspects from this concept will be carried over to the 2022 version.
In 2021, Mattel announced the return of the Monster High brand, promising new content and products in 2022. Mattel Television announced a new animated series and a live-action movie based on the franchise. Both projects will air on Nickelodeon in the United States in June 2022. On November 9, 2021, It was announced that the new live-action Monster High movie is directed by Todd Holland and would star Miia Harris as Clawdeen Wolf, Ceci Balagot as Frankie Stein, and Nayah Damasen as Draculaura.
Pre-production on the film started on September 8, 2021 and went until November 5, 2021.
Casting[]
In November, Mattel and Nickelodeon released the rest principal cast to include Case Walker, Kyle Selig, Marci T. House, Scotch Ellis, Steve Valentine, Jy Prishkulnik, Lina Lecompte, Justin Derickson, Lilah Fitzgerald and Nasiv Sall.[3]
Filming[]
Filming began on November 8, 2021 at The Crossing Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia. On November 16, 2021, the crew were seen filming at the Vancouver Art Gallery. [4] A month later, on December 17, 2021, filming wrapped. On December 18, 2021, Ceci Balagot announced that filming was wrapped.[5]
Criticism[]
The film and the reboot in general have received criticism for multiple reasons. One common concern is the choice of Todd Holland as director because he also directed Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), a film generally criticized for its racial stereotypes. Another criticism that has been made is with the castings and alleged whitewashing of various characters. For example, Jy Prishkulnik (a pale Israeli woman) was cast as Cleo (a tanned Egyptian character), or Miia Harris was cast as as Clawdeen (though images from Vidcon show she is the same shade as most of Clawdeen's dolls).
There has also been criticism about changing the nationalities and ethnicities of characters, with some people saying it plays into nationalism and potential stereotypes. For example, Draculaura was Romanian in the first generation of Monster High, but in the third generation she is Romanian and Filipina, and played by Filipina actress Nayah Damasen. Abbey (Nepalese and with a Russian accent in the first generation) was played by Nasiv Sall, who is Indian. Since the characters also no longer had their accents, some people said this was a removal of Slavic influences. Some people spoke of potential Americanization, anti-Russian sentiment, anti-Romanian sentiment, and/or general anti-Slavic sentiment.
Similar criticisms came to casting Lina Lecompte as Lagoona, and changing her from Australian to Colombian. Some people argued she potentially promoted the "violent Latino" stereotype, due to the scene where she snarls and threatens to eat Deuce.
Other fans, various of whom were disabled, also object to Ghoulia being able to talk and no longer having a limp. Some people also dislike Frankie being non-binary. Some people argue that certain casting choices should have gone to new characters, or could have used pre-existing Asian and Latina characters (such as Skelita Calaveras, Jinafire Long, Kiyomi Haunterly, Euna, Batsy Claro, and Marisol Coxi).
Release[]
On June 30, 2022, a trailer of Monster High: The Movie was uploaded to Nickelodeon's official YouTube channel. On July 15, 2022, the official video alongside lyric video for "Three Of Us" was uploaded to Monster High's official YouTube channel. On September 21, 2022, the official video for "Coming Out of the Dark" was uploaded to Monster High's official YouTube channel. On September 24, 2022, the karaoke video for "Coming Out of the Dark" was uploaded to Monster High's official YouTube channel.
On October 6, 2022, the movie debuted on Paramount+ at 12 a.m. everywhere and later aired on Nickelodeon at 7 p.m., with a sneak peak of the "Monster High" episodes: "Food Fight" and "Unfinished Brain-ness."
Sequel[]
On October 25, 2022, it was announced that Monster High: The Movie had gained the green light for a sequel, since the film was the No. 1 kids and family movie on Paramount+ during its launch week and reached more than 4M total viewers across its premiere weekend on linear (Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nicktoons and TeenNick). It was also announced that Todd Holland would return as director and executive producer. Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Mattel Television; Phil Breman, Vice President of Live Action Development at Mattel; and Adam Bonnett would also return as executive producers, with the screenplay being written by Matt & Billy Eddy, with story by Todd Holland & Matt Eddy & Billy Eddy. Filming is set to begin in January in Vancouver, Canada, and the sequel will air on Nickelodeon and stream on Paramount+ in 2023.[6]
Soundtrack[]
Notes[]
- Nayah Damasen celebrated her birthday on set.
Gallery[]
Images[]
.jpg "Monster High the Movie (Original Film Soundtrack).jpg (4.16 MB)")
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 @MonsterHigh: The Movie is coming Oct 6 to Nickelodeon & @paramountplus in a new musical
- ↑ ‘Monster High’ Live-Action TV Movie & Animated Series Reboot Set By Nickelodeon & Mattel
- ↑ 'Monster High': Nickelodeon & Mattel Set Cast For Live-Action TV Movie, Begin Production
- ↑ 'Monster High' filming at the VAG
- ↑ 'Ceci Balagot': "Monster High is wrapped and i’m feeling a monster sized hole in my heart already. BIG thank u to every talented artist who helped create this spooky universe for us to live in. see all u specters and ghouls in 2022 🕸✨"
- ↑ ‘Monster High The Movie’ Sequel Gets Green Light At Nickelodeon