Review of Monster in the Closet

This funny and sometimes charming slapstick parody of monster films and mockery of the old "monster in the closet" children's bedtime phobia features some interesting debut performances including, 6'5" Pittsburgh native, Kevin Peter Hall who starred as the original 'Predator', and pop singer, Stacey Ferguson (Fergie) as a child actor. Released by Troma Pictures, this little exercise in satirical humor never takes itself seriously even at its most violent (which isn't very intense anyway given its PG rating). A superman alter-ego-type named Clark is a journalist trying to uncover the mysterious "closet murders" in a small city by what appears to be a random rampaging beast of some sort that travels from closet to closet. Police and citizens are baffled until the monster shows itself, and that's when things really get silly. Clark teams up with a cute, conservative teacher (Denise DuBarry) and Sheriff (Claude Akins) to find a way to stop the snarling monstrosity (Kevin Peter Hall in a rubber suit). This also has some zany performances by Donald Moffet , John Carradine as a blind old man and Henry Gibson as an eccentric scientist. The final solution for this absurdity is a real hoot! "Destroy all closets!" Shot in 1983, but not released until 1987, anyone with even the slightest sense of humor will chuckle at this overlooked little flick.