Just considering the premise for this horror/comedy and you can tell writer-director Michael Davis wasn't taking it at all seriously as he's mixed a road trip movie and a horror flick together for a movie that has it's moments, but manages to waste all the potential it had in the first half by letting the horror elements take front stage - only for them to be the weakest part of the movie.

Eric Jungmann and Justin Urich star as best friends who end-up on a cross country trip together to go to a wedding (where Jungmann intends to declare his love for the bride). They continually bicker, put each other down, and generally get on each others nerves (this gives Davis the opportunity for some witty banter and the two co-stars have good chemistry together) but after they pick-up a sexy hitchhiker (Aimee Brooks who makes great eye candy despite not getting topless in the movie's only sex scene) they find themselves on the run from a deformed psychopath in a giant, rusty monster truck. Think Jeepers Creepers and you get the general idea (but thankfully this is better than that movie).

There was a lot going right for this movie at first with some pleasing comedy, decent acting, and a few demented moments (including a tastelessly gross moment involving a dead cat); but it eventually runs out of steam and the finale just can't pull off any suspense because the movie's been too silly up to that point. Not to say that silliness in this kind of movie is a bad thing, but this one should've laid off a tad and built up more mood (instead of going for the old "eyeball in the chili" joke).

Monster Man, like I said, isn't a complete wash and there is some decent gore effects to chew on, but it's still somewhat disappointing. (Chris Hartley, 3/17/05)

Directed By: Michael Davis.
Written By: Michael Davis.

Starring: Eric Jungmann, Justin Urich, Aimee Brooks, Joe Goodrich.