Movie: Monsters
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Review: This was the film I was most looking forward to during my one day excursion to Frightfest and it was everything I hoped for. Monsters takes place several years after a NASA space probe that has collected alien micro-organisms has crashed in Mexico, turning much of the country into a walled in no-go zone. New life forms have developed there, among them gigantic, tentacled creatures who have devastated much of the country. A photo journalist who reports on the crisis takes on the job to get the newspaper publishers daughter back to the US. After their tickets for the last ferry out get stolen, they have to make their way across the “infected” zone.
Many people will be expecting a Distric 9 or Cloverfield style sci-fi action film from the trailer, but this is more like Before Sunrise meets Godzilla, with the emphasis on the love story. The British director gave a Q&A after the screening and he said he was aiming to make an offbeat romantic indie film like Lost in Translation against an unusual backdrop. Its certainly an interesting genre-hybrid and I don think Ive ever seen anything quite like it. This was shot on a tiny budget by its director, who then did all the effects by himself at on a computer, and it looks like a gazillion bucks Hollywood movie. With effects technology having become so accessible, this maybe where the future of genre films lies as Hollywood blockbusters become ever more interchangeable. Monsters is a powerfully atmospheric, beautiful looking film with great locations and the effects are excellent, but this is primarily a road move and a love story. There isn an awful lot of monster action in the film and only a couple of scenes that actively involve the creatures, though they feel ever present via the devastation visible everywhere. I could sense some of the more hardcore horror fans who were cheering during the gory I Spit On Your Grave remake that went before, getting restless.
The writing is pretty good, if not quite in the same league as top indie film romances it aims for. The films only failing is that for an indie romance, the characters are never quite as well explored as they would be in a Lost in Translation or Before Sunrise. The two main characters could have been a little more memorable, though the two lead actors are likable enough and have the chemistry required that made me want them to get together (the director revealed he cast two actors who are a couple for real).
In the end the thing that makes the film stand out is the fact that it takes such an unusual approach to the giant monster movie genre. By treating its genre trappings in an low key, almost subordinate way, it feels very real. The giant squid like monsters are very impressive in the few scenes where they do make an appearance and the characters and story were involving enough to draw me in.
In the way it foregrounds the characters its a genuinely unusual special effects film the, type Hollywood used to make in the 70s, when Close Encounters was as a much a film about a wrenching marriage break down as it was about UFOs. It has stayed with me unlike few films Ive seen this year and I can wait to see it again.
This movie was absolutely phenomenal. Already seen it three times. Loved the comics and this was the most satisfying adaptation I’ve ever seen mixed with the directors personal charm and tweaks. Monsters was just nice to watch and so fun to be a part of as an audience. LOVED IT.
I thought Monsters was interesting, it was a new type of funny movie, and a smart one as well. After that it all went downhill. I saw 3 movies too many. Now I refuse to even watch this movie again, but, apparently there are still people out there that can enjoy a movie like this and I am glad they can.
I agree with you on Monsters – the first half hour of it was great, actually. tailed off a bit towards end but still a way better film than it should have been
The film Monsters is worth it to view. the movie is so great.
I didn’t find it to long, it was at times a little too knowing and even self indulgent but I guess a film like that has to be! It makes my top ten of the year so far. Lets see if it stays there!
This flick was absolutely great. Already seen it three times. Loved the comics and this was the most satisfying adaptation I’ve ever seen mixed with the directors personal charm and tweaks. Monsters was just sweet to watch and so fun to be a part of as an audience. LOVED IT.
Monsters combines parts of Pocahontas and Braveheart using a liberal dose of Room Marines into an epic entire that requires practically 3 total hours to unfold. We could criticise that length, the weak story as well as the hammy dialogue. We could attack its thinly-veiled ecological message or even the frankly bizarre spirituality in its second 50 percent but honestly practically nothing can spoil the expertise even though that you are enveloped in it. And also a big portion of that is certainly down for the brilliant use of 3D – that is both subtle and extremely beneficial. Til now, we are already generating films with 3D components, Avatar is definitely the initially sincerely 3D movie and may well nicely prove to generally be a particular belonging to the most important factors to occur to blockbuster film-making because Monsters.
The two great things about Monsters are the look and the acting. When I say look I am referring to everything from the costumes and makeup all the way to the photography combining to capture the look of the time perfectly. The soundtrack is also pretty good too as you would expect!
I agree with you on Monsters – the first half hour of it was great, actually. tailed off a bit towards end but still a way better film than it should have been