Electronic Stretch Screamers
Manley Toy Quest
Ages 5 and Up

What It Is

Stretch Screamers are a line of monsters (based on highly recognizable monsters from movies and literature) that scream when you stretch them by pulling on their limbs. The line includes Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Wolfman and the Ghoul (picture that scary guy dressed in a black sheet and mask in the Scream movies). Each Screamer emits a frightening, electronic scream when they are pulled and stretched, while their molded plastic hands and feet enable them to stand. The Screamers also have an unexpected feature–squeeze their heads and a bulbous mass will pop out of an eye, mouth or various other openings in their heads, depending on which Screamer you have. They also have a sense of humor. After stretching Frankenstein, he’s likely to say something like, "Me angry doll!"

Why It’s Fun

If you don’t instantly burst out laughing when you see and/or play with these toys, they may not be for you. There is certainly the fun of being able to pull roughly on the toy and cause no damage. The ability to distort the features and the limbs is also hilarious. Stretch Screamers are great fun to stretch and contort. Hearing their agonizing wails of protest when they are stretched only adds to the enjoyment. The bubble of "matter" the pops out of their heads is a scream in and of itself.

Who Is Going To Love It

This kind of giggling and gross play is the absolute height of hilarity for 7-year-olds. Combining grossness, harmless "scariness" and that surprise bubble of matter, this is ideal for this age group. This is the kind of play pattern that virtually every young boy enjoys at some point or another (concerned parents like to call it a "phase"). However, the toy is silly, perfectly harmless and irresistible to every young boy who likes scaring his sister with frogs or contorting her "Barbie" into shapes that the manufacturer never intended.

What To Be Aware Of

Stretch Screamers are not a very frightening bunch, really. Moreover, they can take a lot of rough play, which can be good because kids are likely to be very enthusiastic when playing with them. However, there are a few things that these ghoulies are fearful of, as well, namely: sharp objects, which may puncture their skin; direct sunlight; water (it may damage the electronics inside the doll); and, excessive twisting, as opposed to simply stretching.

Stretch Screamers require 2 "AAA" batteries (included).