Hotel Transylvania

Hotel Transylvania – Dracula has created the perfect safe haven for all his fellow monsters in the form of Hotel Transylvania, designed to be inaccessible to humans. Now that his beloved daughter Mavis is turning 118, he plans an elaborate party for her but his delight comes to an end when a human, Johnny, manages to gain entry into the hotel. Drac does everything he can to get Johnny out before anyone realises who he is but not before Johnny and Mavis see each other eye to eye and feel something special…

Hotel Transylvania (2012) – Director: Genndy Tartak

Rating: U

Running Length: 91 minutes

Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg

Genre: Animated, Comedy, Horror

REVIEW: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

The genre of children’s horror has been gaining traction is recent years and stories such as ‘Coraline’ and ‘ParaNorman’ have proven to be very successful. When done well, adding plenty of comedy to horror is match made in hell (well I couldn’t say heaven, could I?). ‘Hotel Transylvania’ is an example of kids’ comedy/horror done extremely well. With a cast of infamous horror characters that all parents will recognise, and numerous famous voices behind them, this is a bubbling winning concoction from the start.

What works so well in ‘Hotel Transylvania’ is the core of Dracula’s (Adam Sandler) characterisation. He dotes on his lovely daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez) and has a genuine fear of humans which drives his motivations. Also he fear factor is diminished because he is full of comically empty threats: he doesn’t actually intend to cause any harm to anyone. The supporting characters are all excellent with their own little lives going on but also adding to the central plot and Johnny (Andy Samberg) is equal parts irritating and loveable (giving Drac’s desperation to get rid of him an extra layer of believability).

‘Hotel Transylvania’ is a frightfully creative story that does exactly what it sets out to do. It is impressive that a film like this can have so many different characters, giving them all enough screen time while also ensuring that the smaller main cast gets most of the action. Although the entire premise of the movie revolves around definitive horror tropes, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ is so funny and entertaining that it can’t fail to entertain every member of the family.

CONTENT: IS ‘HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

The movie opens with a homage to the 1922 Nosferatu film. It is night time in a spooky castle and the shadow of Dracula, hunched over and with long fingernails creeps towards a baby’s crib. The camera then quickly pans round to show a kindly Dracula who is simply approaching his baby daughter, Mavis.

Dracula picks Mavis up and sings her a song to the tune of Mockingbird but the lyrics are changed to have more of a horror theme, including ‘Papa’s going to bite the head off a bird’.

When Dracula gets especially angry, the camera zooms close-up to his face, a red light appears around him, his eyes go wild and he snarls aggressively. This happens a few times throughout the film but is always quick and part of a funny moment so kids shouldn’t be too scared by this.

Some zombie construction workers stop what they’re doing and watch a female zombie in a tight dress shuffle by. Once she is gone they laugh and leer (although this is done in a slow, lumbering way so doesn’t appear overtly sexual). Later, a zombie is caught trying to take a female mannequin away with him, he is stopped & told to put it back which he reluctantly does.

It is Mavis’ 118th Birthday which means she is now an ‘adult’. Drac says that she is his little girl and one of his male friends tells him ‘she’s not so little anymore!’ which angers Drac. The friend never appears to be anything other than a friend/uncle to Mavis so this comment doesn’t come across as sexual.

A character asks Mavis ‘Did you have any clothes on while you were a bat  or were they bat sized?’

When looking for something, Drac opens a curtain and sees two fleas. He nervously apologises for disturbing them saying ‘Yes, I know it’s your honeymoon!’. The fleas are only two tiny dots so nothing inappropriate is seen. Drac also accidentally opens a curtain to reveal a skeleton in the shower, she screams and covers herself but no nudity is actually (or possibly!) shown.

A huge fly regularly throws up in in his hands and rubs them together.

Wayne the Warewolf pulls down the Invisible Man’s shorts at the swimming pool. He is highly embarrassed and says ‘Don’t judge me!’ as he sneaks away. Obviously no nudity is actually seen.

When warning Johnny away, Drac tells him that if he ever comes back, ‘I’ll track you down and suck every drop of blood in your body’. However, Drac had also said earlier in the movie that he never drinks human blood as it is too ‘fatty’ and you never know where humans have been.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA’ OK FOR KIDS?

Dreadfully funny and monstrously original, ‘Hotel Transylvania’ is a fantastic kids movie. Due to a few slightly scary moments, we recommend this movie for kids aged 5 and over.

• Violence: 0/5
• Emotional Distress: 0/5
• Fear Factor: 1/5
• Sexual Content: 1/5
• Bad Language: 1/5 (Mavis says ‘holy rabies’)
• Dialogue: 1/5 (some horror-themed threats)
• Other Notes: Deals with themes of family, fear of the unknown, love, trust, lying to keep someone safe and protecting the vulnerable.

Words by Laura Record