Great Halloween fun.

Rating: 9/10 (28 May 2006)

Van Helsing is a reunion of classic monsters set to Stephen Sommers' signature roller-coaster pacing. It is a Saturday matinÃ©e treat which pays just homage to the Universal and Hammer studios chillers of the past, while introducing a new (and vigorous) slant on the title character. Thankfully, this is not a new era horror film, wherein traumatizing the audience is considered to be critical accomplishment. Instead, a likable and very capable cast usher the audience through this creepy fun-house of trapdoors and eerie shadows. When the lights come back up and the popcorn bags hit the floor, all is well. Especially recommended to those who built the Aurora model kits of the Universal monsters as kids and wish to introduce their preteens to the old school "Creature Features" flicks.