Monsters Wanted
{{Infobox film
| name = Monsters Wanted
| image = Monsters Wanted film poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| director = {{plainlist|
- Brian Cunningham
- Joe Laughrey
}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Brian Cunningham
- Joe Laughrey
- Kaley Roberts
}}
| writer = {{plainlist|
- Brian Cunningham
- Joe Laughrey
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Richard Teachout
- Janel Nash
- Kenneth Schell
}}
| narrator =
| music =
| cinematography =
| editing = {{plainlist|
- Brian Cunningham
- Kaley Roberts
}}
| studio = ThoughtFly Films
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date |2013|7|27|FandomFest}}
| runtime = 89 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Monsters Wanted is a 2013 documentary film that was directed by Brian Cunningham and Joe Laughrey.{{cite web|last1=Keel|first1=Eli|title='Monsters Wanted' documents brilliantly the crazy story of outcasts at the Asylum Scream Park|url=http://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/monsters-wanted-louisville-documentary-cast-outcasts-asylum-scream-park/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418080803/http://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/monsters-wanted-louisville-documentary-cast-outcasts-asylum-scream-park/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 18, 2015|work=Insider Louisville|accessdate=March 17, 2015|date=2013-10-09}} The film marks the directorial debut of Laughrey and is the first feature-length documentary by Cunningham. The film, which explores the haunted house industry in Louisville, Kentucky, had its world premiere on July 27, 2013, at FandomFest in Louisville.{{cite web|url=http://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/arts-and-entertainment/its-a-scream-fandom-fest-to-premier-documentary-about-louisvilles-asylum-haunted-scream-park/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418065918/http://insiderlouisville.com/lifestyle_culture/arts-and-entertainment/its-a-scream-fandom-fest-to-premier-documentary-about-louisvilles-asylum-haunted-scream-park/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 18, 2015|title=It's a scream: Fandom Fest to premier documentary about Louisville's Asylum Haunted Scream Park|last=Chipman|first=Melissa|work=Insider Louisville|date=July 23, 2013|accessdate=April 17, 2015}} The film was also released on DVD and VOD August 27, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://thedissolve.com/news/327-new-on-dvd-and-blu-ray-082713/|title=New on DVD and Blu-ray: 08/27/13|last=Murray|first=Noel|work=The Dissolve|date=August 27, 2013|accessdate=April 17, 2015}}
Plot
The documentary follows Rich Teachout, a businessman who has quit his job in order to focus on cultivating a unique haunted attraction. Together with Janel Nash, the two will work on building and operating the Asylum Haunted Scream park during its first year of operation. The documentary also follows other haunted attractions in the Louisville area.{{cite news|last1=Frassica|first1=Matt|title='Monsters Wanted' film profiles 'crazy' couple behind Asylum haunted attraction|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/2013/10/21/monsters-wanted-film-profiles-crazy-couple-behind-asylum-haunted-attraction/3145035/|accessdate=March 17, 2015|work=Courier Journal|date=October 21, 2013}}
Reception
Critical reception has been positive.{{cite web|title=MONSTERS WANTED (2013)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/monsters_wanted/|work=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=April 17, 2015}} Mark L. Miller of Ain't It Cool News wrote that the end seems like "a five minute filler section out of nowhere" but that he "loved almost every second of Monsters Wanted".{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Mark L.|title=AICN HORROR looks at BAD MILO! THE AWFUL DR ORLOF! THE BLACK DAHLIA HAUNTING! ABSENCE! THE GIANT SPIDER! THE MANSON FAMILY/GATOR GREEN! A CHANCE IN HELL! DARK ANGEL! MONSTERS WANTED! & RITUAL (formerly MODUS ANOMALI)!|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/63918#12|work=Ain't It Cool News|accessdate=March 17, 2015}} Culture Crypt gave the film a score of 75, writing, "The story is disjointed at times, and some of the issues are artificially inflated into problems that are resolved quickly. But the film creates a fun portrayal of how disparate personalities with a similar dream find commonality in their passion. And how commitment and community are the key ingredients that bring their unified vision together."{{cite web|title=MONSTERS WANTED (2013)|url=http://culturecrypt.com/movie-reviews/monsters-wanted-2013|work=Culture Crypt|accessdate=March 17, 2015}} Mania.com gave a favorable review, writing, "You can't help but admire the dedication that the entire staff has in the face of all the problems they encounter and days which last 20 hours. Cunningham and Laughrey do a great job of letting the people tell the story as they stay back and just record the drama. For any horror or haunted house them park fan, this is a fascinating look inside the industry."{{cite web|last1=Janson|first1=Tim|title=Tuesday Terrors: Clive Barker finishes The Scarlet Gospels|url=http://www.mania.com/tuesday-terrors-clive-barker-finishes-scarlet-gospels_article_138378.html|work=Mania.com|accessdate=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418072334/http://www.mania.com/tuesday-terrors-clive-barker-finishes-scarlet-gospels_article_138378.html|archive-date=April 18, 2015|url-status=dead}}
Accolades
The film won "Best Documentary" at the 2013 Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival,{{cite web|title=2013 FLICKERS RI INTERNATIONAL HORROR FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR THE 14TH ANNUAL EVENT|url=http://www.film-festival.org/Horror_WINNERS13.php|publisher=Rhode Island International Horror Film Fest|accessdate=April 8, 2015}} was an official selection at the 2013 Orlando Film Festival,{{cite web|title=SHOWINGS FOR MONSTERS WANTED|url=http://orlandofilmfest.com/film/monsters-wanted/|publisher=Orlando Film Festival|accessdate=April 8, 2015|date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417125405/http://orlandofilmfest.com/film/monsters-wanted/|archive-date=April 17, 2015|url-status=dead}} and was the opening night film at the 2014 Transworld Halloween and Attraction Show.{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=J. P.|title=Monsters Wanted Screening at Transworld!|url=http://www.creepercast.com/monsters-wanted-screening-at-transworld/|work=Creepercast|accessdate=April 8, 2015|date=March 10, 2014}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|http://monsterswanted.com/}}
- {{IMDb title|2245218}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.iconvsicon.com/2013/08/23/monsters-wanted-director-brian-cunningham-discusses-his-latest-film/|title=MONSTERS WANTED: Director Brian Cunningham Discusses His Latest Film!|author=|work=Icon vs Icon|date=August 23, 2013|accessdate=April 17, 2015}}
Category:American documentary films
Category:Films shot in Louisville, Kentucky
Category:Documentary films about Kentucky