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After the success of the first Monster High movie which helped to kick off the third generation of this doll line, an animated series for Nickelodeon and a second movie. Alas G3 has now ended and while there was a third movie teased that would’ve focused on Frankie, my fave btw that will not come to fruition.
Oh well, at least we have the second movie . Also btw, I’m gonna go back to my old style and do a quick synopsis of the plot before looking at the songs. It’ll be a Quick Look If anyone knows me, you’ll know that I love witches. I’ve covered witches numerous times on my various blogs. Witches have always held a special place in my heart and this is what this sequel deals with. Witches much like monsters have always held a place in many a queer person’s heart. It goes back to the idea of being othered. Women who were believed to be witches during the infamous trials in Salem were othered and ostracized by those in their own community.
This is what we have here as Monster High mean girl Toralei returns from a year in France and has a hatred for witches as they scarred her with silver wraith. This is where the movie attempts to tap into the idea of not letting hatred divide us as vampires and witches have been at war for centuries. If you’ll recall Draclaura is a vampire who practices witchcraft.
It’s also a bit of a forbidden love story and we will touch upon that as I get there but the idea of two minority groups hating each other. (I understand I am stretching but it does seem apt) due to something they don’t even understand feels very real.
This movie even more than the original movie plays into the queer coding and we will see that with one of the songs. There are two plots that line up with one another as Clawdeen against Toralei is running for prefect at the school while at the same time, the idea of acceptance is expanded upon when half human and half monster students attending and other monsters who practice witchcraft being allowed. This comes to a head when two witches come and try to take Draculaura.
Also, this is an interesting angle when bringing in covens are a treated being corporate and this is a neat idea as it shows how much corporations takes from minority groups. As the queen of witches, Zamara who is our main antagonist explains, they exploit human’s fears and sell it back to them. She makes ant-aging stuff.
Looking at this and it shows how again as I said minority groups can end up fighting against each other and this is where Zamara tricks our vampire. She tells the young Drac that she wants peace and to talk at a conference but tricks her into attempting to cast a spell that would wipe out all of vampire kind. As I have emphasized throughout, the speaks to the idea of how two groups who are hated by someone much worse, in this case humans cannot see past hatred they’ve had for each other over centuries that leads to such atrocities.
At the same time, it is also a message of how of the sins of our fathers or mothers in this case do not define us. We see this as Zamara’s son, Ellis who at went along with his mom’s plan until he saw how far she went makes peace with Draculaura and they start a new truce between vampires and witches.
Well, I’ve given you a pretty good breakdown of the plot and what the movie is about, let’s look at the songs.
fyi, your best bet to hear the full songs is to go to Spotify.
Songs
My Heart Goes Boom Boom Boom
This is a fun song that reintroduces our characters and gives us an idea of what is happening at Draculaura’s 1600th birthday party. It’s a new year for our monsters and this song sums up what they expect. They are nervous yet excited at the same time.
One Moon, One Heart
Ah the power of three back together again. These ghouls are stronger together and it shows in their unity. As I said in my Monster High one blog, these ghouls are each other’s coven aka chosen family and this song really does highlight that.
Make Your Own Way
This song is alright but I don’t have too much to say about it. It’s cute
Reason We’ve Got Magic
This is the love song sorta tween Draclaura and Ellis as they celebrate why magic is so great. And as a witch lover and someone who considers one of her closet friends to be her big sister practices this stuff, I agree. It’s cute and fun and bubbly.
You Don’t Know
Ah Toralei! Now, here we have what I’ve brought up the infighting and how monsters hate witches and now we have Toralei and Calwdeen going against one another as Toralei wants to lead a hate campaign against those that practice witchcraft. Alas people listen to hatred as we’ve seen all too often in our world. Hatred works.
Reason We’ve Got Magic (Reprise)
Such a somber reprise from Draculauara here. She’s being asked to go back into the coffin so to speak and hide a part of herself that she can’t. This again goes to the queer coding. Queer people love monsters because just like us, they are treated as outcasts and we work hard to find our safe haven. And Monster High was that for so many of these children, it is where they could be themselves without judgment but now Drcauluara is being asked to put part of herself away at a place that is supposed to be a safe space for her. If she can’t be her full self here, then where can she be that full self.
Not How Our Story Goes
This is the song I mentioned where the queerness is really amped up. I’ll admit I started shipping Clawdeen and Draculaura. This is such a heartbreaking number as they are both right and only want the best for one another. You can’t help but ache for what is being lost. And Frankie, oh sweet Frankie who has been struggling with their identity this whole movie watching their two best friends drift apart. They were their safe space and yeah, I’m not okay
Together Forever
Gotta be honest, there are some songs where even after having watched the movie I don’t remember them and this is one of the. It’s a good build up from the last song and speaks to how these ghouls will always work together and have each other’s backs.
Gotta Get There Together
Another one, not super familiar with but it continues with the trend of working together. Finally, we are back in more upbeat spaces with this one.
Monsters Are
The big closing number of the movie. Such a bug and fun celebratory number. The movie knows to send you out on a high note and they did just that You can’t help but smile as you listen to this number. I also love how it confirms and reaffirms that you are better true to your monster heart. Be the freak you wanna be and if anyone judges you, that’s on them. You’ve got a pack or coven that loves you for you.
Never Walk Alone
Okay, again, I’m left wondering if this is a soundtrack only song as I coulda sworn Monsters Are was the last song in the movie. It’s fine and has a good message of unity. But man, I can’t not think of a more famous musical song with a similar title.
Well, it’s time to leave Monster High behind. As I said before, the theme for this year is high school horror. And while the next musical is that while also being a comedy from a great indie theater troupe. Join me next time as I look at…
Nerdy Prudes Must Die
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