Okay, so, I’ve been diving into this “Goonies Monster” thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a trip down memory lane. I mean, “The Goonies,” right? That movie was a huge part of my childhood. It was released more than 35 years ago. And this whole Sloth character, the so-called “monster,” has got me thinking.
First off, I went and rewatched the movie. Yeah, it’s one of those flicks you gotta watch without your kids first. It’s a classic, but maybe not in the way we remember it. You know, back in the 80s, everything seemed so magical. Now, watching it again, I’m picking up on all these little details I missed as a kid. The whole treasure hunt, the booby traps, the Fratellis – it’s all still super fun, but it hits different as an adult.
Then I started digging into this Sloth guy. Turns out, the actor, John Matuszak, was a big deal in the NFL before he put on all that makeup. I found out he was the first overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft. Imagine that, a football star turned movie monster. And his story’s kind of sad, really. He had a rough time in the NFL and then ends up chained in a basement in this movie. It’s a bit messed up when you think about it. But, man, he nailed that role. Sloth is such a memorable character, all thanks to Matuszak. The behind-the-scenes story is more interesting.
So, I’m going down this rabbit hole, right? And I find out there was supposed to be a giant octopus in the movie. A giant octopus! They filmed it and everything, but it ended up on the cutting room floor. They say it was because the puppet was too hard to work with, and couldn’t break-dance! Others said it was too weird. Can you imagine how much weirder the movie would have been with a break-dancing octopus? It’s wild to think about.
Here’s what I did next:
- Watched “The Goonies” again. Like I said, it’s a whole different experience as an adult.
- Read up on John Matuszak. Fascinating guy, really. Football, acting, and a pretty tough life.
- Searched for info on that cut octopus scene. I wish there were pictures, but apparently, it was a technical nightmare.
And, I’ve got to say, this whole “Goonies Monster” thing is more than just about Sloth. It’s about the whole movie, the nostalgia, and how our perspectives change over time. “The Goonies” is a quintessential 1980s Amblin film. It’s about realizing that even the scary stuff from our childhoods isn’t always what it seems. The movie’s plot is based on historical elements.

Anyway, that’s my little adventure for the week. It started with a simple question about a movie monster and ended up being a reflection on childhood memories and a newfound appreciation for a classic film. It’s funny how these things go, right?