Line #18 Film/MonsterInTheCloset


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/p47387_p_v8_aa.png]]
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3	A 1986 monster movie spoof from Creator/{{Troma}}, written and directed by Bob Dahlin and starring Donald Grant, Denise [=DuBarry=], Claude Akins, Howard Duff, Creator/HenryGibson, and Creator/DonaldMoffat.
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5	When the eponymous creature emerges from its lair (guess where [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin that is]]) and begins slaughtering citizens in a small Californian town, it's up to would-be IntrepidReporter Richard Clark (Grant) and scientist Dr. Diane Bennett ([=DuBarry=]) to find a way of killing it.
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7	Very, very {{camp}}y, but doesn't take itself at all seriously, and is amusing if viewed in the right frame of mind.
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9	Not to be confused with Spalding Gray's ''[[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102467/ Monster In a Box]]'', which is a ''completely'' different film. Or with the MonsterCloset trope.
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11	----
12	!!Contains examples of:
13	* AbsentMindedProfessor: Dr. Pennyworth, to the nth power.
14	* AntagonistTitle: Clark is the protagonist.
15	* AxeBeforeEntering: The heroes are attempting to lure the monster into a trap, and are waiting at the end of a hallway, with the front door open to the outdoors. [[spoiler: The monster comes smashing through the interior door they are leaning against.]]
16	* BigBad: The closet creature terrorizing everybody.
17	* TheCameo: Creator/JohnCarradine plays a blind victim of the monster. Stella Stevens drops in for a [[PsychoShowerMurderParody quick parody]] of ''Film/{{Psycho}}''.
18	* CatScare: Wouldn't be a horror parody without it.
19	* ChildProdigy: 'Professor' Bennett.
20	* DaEditor: Played by Jesse White of "Maytag repairman" fame.
21	* EnergyWeapon: 'Professor' builds one to use against the monster. [[spoiler: It doesn't help.]]
22	* {{Expy}}:
23	** The monster pretty blatantly steals some design ideas from the Xenomorph in ''Franchise/{{Alien}}''.
24	** The hero is Richard [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]] who goes by his last name. He works as an IntrepidReporter and even [[ClarkKentOutfit dresses the part]]. Actor Donald Grant really resembles Creator/ChristopherReeve as well.
25	** Dr. [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Pennyworth]] shares his name with another DC character. He also bears a striking resemblance to [[UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein to a certain real life scientist]].
26	* ForScience: Dr. Pennyworth's attitude towards life in general. [[spoiler: It gets him killed.]]
27	* GeneralRipper: General Turnbull.
28	* TheGlassesGottaGo: [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]] "becomes" literally mesmerizingly handsome when he takes his glasses off.
29	* ImpendingDoomPOV: Parodied.
30	* JawDrop: Diane, every time she sees Richard without his glasses. [[spoiler: And then the monster does it as well, and kidnaps him.]]
31	* JerkAss: Clark's fellow reporter Scoop; you're likely to cheer more when he gets his comeuppance than when the monster is defeated.
32	* LargeHam: The two leads are fairly subdued, but much of the supporting cast goes to town with this trope.
33	* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: The monster lumbers into view behind young Professor while the latter is working in a school classroom.
34	* MonsterMisogyny / TouchOfTheMonster: Parodied; see Stealth Pun below.
35	* NighInvulnerable: The monster; it turns out the only way to destroy it is to [[spoiler: destroy every closet in the world.]]
36	* OverlyLongGag: The PsychoShowerMurderParody has ''many'' false scares.
37	* PoliceAreUseless: The sheriff tries his best, but..
38	* PunnyName: [[Creator/DickClark Richard Clark]].
39	* RunningGag:
40	** Every time Clark removes his glasses, Diane becomes entranced and loses focus on whatever she is doing. [[spoiler:And finally the monster does the same thing, and kidnaps him.]]
41	** When the characters think they are about to encounter the monster, they all make their own signature poses.
42	** After initially telling a disgusting story about dissecting a frog as a child, Pennyworth changes course in order to justify capturing the monster as opposed to killing it. He then starts to tell various characters about he [[BlatantLies could have dissected the frog but decided not to]], only to be cut off.
43	* ShoutOut:
44	** The heroes try to kill the monster using an electrocution setup exactly like the one used to destroy the 1950's version of ''[[Film/TheThingFromAnotherWorld the Thing]]''. [[spoiler: It has no effect.]]
45	** Father Finnegan gives a spoof version of a famous line from Film/KingKong1933.
46	* StealthPun: The movie's title, assuming [[spoiler: the monster is male, which is never made clear.]]
47	* ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight

Context Film / MonsterInTheCloset