Stan Helsing: A Nostalgic Rollercoaster, or Just a Gag Reel?

So, let’s dive into “Stan Helsing” – a film that, if it were a Swedish smorgasbord, might be more like a bowl of popkorn on a Friday night. Written and directed by Bo Zenga, of “Scary Movie” fame, this film certainly tried to ride on those coattails, but, uh… did it manage to echo that same magic? Spoiler alert: Not quite.

Right from the get-go, the movie screams parody with a capital P. It’s like someone asked, “How many horror movie clichés can we cram into one script?” and the answer was, plainly, “Yes.”

Do you remember that time when you were a kid, and you thought dressing up like Count Cula on Halloween was frightening enough? Well, the monsters in “Stan Helsing” evoke a similar vibe. It’s like trying to act all tough in front of a langrad but ending up looking like a lost moose on Stockholm’s Sergels Torg.

The cast, led by Steve Howey, who sorta looks like a high school version of a hero, tries their best with what they’ve got. Kenan Thompson pops in, lending his comedic genius from SNL, and you think maybe, just maybe, things’ll pick up. But alas, even his charm wasn’t enough to save the script.

Now, I remember going to see those old monster flicks at a quaint cinema in Malmö – the kind where the karbs were a bit too pricy but the atmosphere was unbeatable. There’s a certain magic in those old films, the tension, the campiness, the way you’d jump at the slightest noise. “Stan Helsing” might give you a laugh here or there, but it’s not quite the same as feeling the hairs on your arms stick up like a hedgehog in fright.

To be fair, if you’re in the mood for something that’s light, silly, and maybe a little self-aware, this might just be your cup of tea. But if you’re vying for depth or surprise, it might leave you as bewildered as a Svensson at a techno rave.

In the end, “Stan Helsing” feels like a tribute that never quite hits its mark – like trying to recreate your mama’s köttbullar but ending up with something more akin to canned meatballs. But hey, sometimes a little

Check the trailer below