Halloween 2022 is witnessing a return of pop culture's two "kooky ghoul" families. Rob Zombie's reboot of The Munsters premiered on Netflix this September, with Tim Burton's take on The Addams Family, Wednesday, due later this year. It parallels the rivalry of the '60s television series on which both projects are loosely based. Despite their similarities, both franchises are slightly different in tone, with The Munsters' friendly family seemingly unaware of their monstrous demeanor while the Addamses openly celebrate their status as outsiders.
Even so, comparisons between the two are hard to avoid, and while no modern production can match the two live-action Addams Family movies from the early '90s -- both now considered incomparable comedy classics -- the new version of The Munsters bears surprising similarities to the animated Addams Family reboot from 2019. Both are prequels, explaining how their respective protagonists first arrived in America. Which one is better is a matter of debate and opinion, though comparing the two is useful in seeing how different productions approach the material. So which one is better? As always, it depends.
The Munsters Is an Exercise in Nostalgia
The original Munsters gained a key leg up over The Addams Family TV series by getting a syndication deal, which exposed it to generations of fans in reruns that played for decades. Zombie's movie aims squarely at people who love and remember the old show. That means not only retaining its core concept -- The Munsters are pleasant, friendly and constantly baffled by the fright they generate -- but its deliberately corny tone as well. The new film relies heavily on Vaudeville jokes and wordplay while keeping the plot wafer thin. The story centers on the romance between Herman and Lilly Munster -- their son Eddie has yet to arrive -- and beyond a vague scheme to rob Grandpa of his castle, it exists largely as a series of sketches. The film engendered a sharply divided response among critics, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 41 percent, and a slightly higher Metacritic score of 57.
The film's biggest advantage comes with its director. Zombie's affection for classic horror movies shines through in weird supporting characters like Count Orlok from Nosferatu as well as the Munsters themselves. And while the film uses color instead of the black and white of the old show, Zombie brings a bright comic book aesthetic that sits well with his ghoulish protagonists. While it's hardly the makings of immortal comedy, it can be fun watching a director known for hardcore scare-fests like The Devil's Rejects try his hand at family-friendly comedy, however Gothic. Good or bad, this is unquestionably Zombie's film, and the auteurial stamp gives it a distinctiveness all its own.
The Addams Family Lives in the Shadow of Its Famous Creator
The 2019 Addams Family reboot retains the same basic storyline as The Munsters: opening with the wedding of Gomez and Morticia interrupted by a torch-bearing mob. They're forced to decamp to New Jersey -- "somewhere where no one in their right mind would be caught dead in," as Gomez puts it -- where they settle into a former asylum and start a family. The film earned praise for its voice cast and a strong visual aesthetic but struggled with a diffuse and aimless story. Critical response was similar to that of The Munsters, with a 45 percent Tomatometer rating and a gloomy Metacritic score of 46.
The Addams Family also suffers in comparison to the earlier live-action Addams Family movies, with which it can't hope to compete. In addition, it reflects a very corporate production process, with creator Charles Addams' macabre humor toned down in the name of family-friendly box office figures. Much of the plot consists of boilerplate kids movie material, with son Pugsley preparing for a "Sabre Mazurka" test and Wednesday pining for the world outside their rotting home. Lively design and some well-timed jokes simply aren't going to make anyone forget about Raul Julia and Company.
The Munsters Vs. The Addams Family: Which Film Wins?
It's a surprisingly close call. The Munsters, while rougher and undeniably less funny, still comes from a more authentic place. No one can doubt the director loves his material. The Addams Family, co-directed by animation veterans Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, is more polished but far less personal, delivering better jokes at the expense of the macabre undertone that Zombie delivers without a second thought. In the end, the polish might hold the edge. As watered-down as it is, The Addams Family is funny enough to appeal to anyone interested in undemanding entertainment. The Munsters is strictly for fans of the old show who will appreciate its nostalgic tone and deliberately creaky gags.
The Munsters is currently streaming on Netflix.