The Munsters is a comedy film written and directed by Rob Zombie. The film is an adaptation of the television series of the same name. The film came out on video and digital on September 27, 2022.
This movie contains examples of:
- Adaptation Name Change: Grandpa Munster is now The Count (as there are no grandkids yet).
- Affectionate Nickname: In addition to her standard of "Pussycat", Lily also affectionately calls Herman "Hermy".
- Betty and Veronica: Orlok is the Veronica to Herman's Betty, as he's wealthier and more sophisticated (for the most part...) compared to goofy, naive countryboy Herman.
- Brain Food: Pennywhacker, a zombie, enjoys a "nicely grilled cerebellum with a side of chips".
- Continuity Nod: Uncle Gilbert, Lester and Zombo are just a few of the minor characters from the series who appear in the film.
- Crystal Ball: Zoya Krupp uses her crystal ball like a telephone.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: Lily's relationship with Herman is not to The Count's liking.
- Deliberately Monochrome: The film closes on a black and white recreation of the original show's theme song.
- Despair Event Horizon: Dr. Henry Augustus Wolfgang is devastated that his creation is a buffoon and flees to a leper colony. He later returns, a bit worse for the wear.
- Denser and Wackier: While the original show was light-hearted and goofy, the movie cranks it up a notch. The aesthetics of the whole movie is done in a "Halloween Fun House" style similar to House of 1000 Corpses, Herman and Lily's lovestruck reactions evoke "Love Can Make You Gonk", Herman starts out as a Glam Rock star, the movie is full of Extreme Close-Ups and Fish-Eye Lens shots, not to mention the heavy application Techno.
- Drunk on Milk: While on the plane to the USA, Herman manages to get drunk on Shirley Temples, a non-alcoholic drink made of ginger ale, lemon or lime juice and grenadine.
- Fish Person: Lily's Uncle Gilbert, who is based off the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
- Graceful Ladies Like Purple: Lily is beautiful, elegant and wears a vivid shade of violet.
- The Igor: Floop is Dr. Henry Augustus Wolfgang's hunchbacked assistant and later Herman's friend. There is also an *actual* Igor to the Count but he is more of a butler.
- Killed Offscreen: A newspaper article reveals that Count Orlock was devoured by rats.
- Lighter and Softer: Unlike Rob Zombie’s other movies, The Munsters is intended for all ages.
- Looks Like Orlok: One of Lily’s suitors is Orlok (or Orlock) himself.
- Love-Obstructing Parents: The Count does not approve of Lily being with Herman.
- Mad Scientist: Dr. Henry Augustus Wolfgang is this, complete with maniacal laughter.
- Mythology Gag:
- Herman wears a similar fur coat to the one that the Monster wore in Son of Frankenstein.
- Much like they did in Here Come the Munsters, the Munsters arrive in America on Halloween, though the holiday plays a much larger role in events here.
- Zombo's TV show and his Crumble Creature Crackers snack both appear, having featured in the Munsters Season 2 episode "Zombo". Here, Herman watching Zombo inspires him to move his family to Los Angeles.
- Prequel: The film covers the creation of Herman, his romance with Lily and the Munsters’ moving from Transylvania to Mockingbird Lane.
- Remake Cameo: Original series stars Butch Patrick and Pat Priest both have roles in the film as the voice of the Tin Can Man and the Translyvania Airlines announcer, respectively.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After waiting on Herman, the attendant on the Munster's flight to the USA dons a parachute and jumps out of the plane.
- Shout-Out:
- Count Orlok (here spelled Orlock) from Nosferatu is a suitor for Lily, and the Count does a Pivotal Wake Up, which originated from the same film.
- When the Count accuses Herman of getting Lily drunk when seeing her dancing after her engagement, she admonishes him by reminding him that she never drinks wine.
- Sewer Gator: Herman and Lily find Spot (a dragon) living in the sewers of Paris and adopt him as their pet.
- Sickening Sweethearts: Herman and Lily are incredibly affectionate to each other, and look outright ready to make out at the altar when they marry.
- Sound-Effect Bleep: Dr. Wolfgang has some vulgar words for his detractors while being interviewed for a Show Within a Show - since he's on live TV, the ensuing comical sound effects probably actually occurred in-universe, triggered by someone off camera in the studio.
- Tuckerization: Talk show host Ezra Mosher takes his last name from original series co-producers Ezra Stone and Bob Mosher.
- Woman Scorned: Zoya Krupp is The Count's ex-wife and bears a huge grudge against him for divorcing her.
