After reading some press on the film Monsters a few months back, I was slightly compelled to see it, I mean, who doesn't like a good monster movie. Then I rent it on iTunes for video on demand, and instead what I get is a great monster movie, that really does not have anything to do with exploiting monsters at all. As the concept goes, a satellite crashes from orbit over central Mexico, carrying an alien lifeform(s), which over the course of six years, causes the US to essentially wall off themselves from central to northern Mexico to protect themselves from the creatures. The true plot for the film follows an American photographer (played by a very capable Scoot McNairy) who must escort his boss' daughter (Whitney Able) from the heart of what is labeled an "infected zone", back to US soil. After missing a ferry that will take them back safely to American shores leaves without them, it is up to the two to trek through the most dangerous parts of the country (post-invasion) to return.
That right there is the largest problem with the film, that is the easiest, and least complex way to explain their contents, which makes me feel that will be the reason many people will be misled by the premise. The plot sounds like some rip-roaring adventure, and in its own way it is an adventure, but more one of the heart.
For a relatively rare turn in a horror/sci-fi film, we have two leads who actually matter. Both Andy and Sam are broken in realistic ways, where one is a father of a child out of wedlock, and Sam is a bride-to-be with serious questions behind her engagement. The film lightly brushes on their back-stories, but only enough to make what would otherwise be two strangers to each other realistic. As the film progresses, an obvious affection between the two is fully realized. While watching, you can tell that Able is clearly unhappy with her engagement, which makes the chemistry between the two quite clear, but it is McNairy who almost steals the show near the end of the movie with a heart-felt phone call to his son.
Director Gareth Edwards has taken into careful consideration while writing this script that he really wanted to portray them as realistic, reacting realistically to the situation at hand rather than planning out long term goals, sticking them in a world with relevant issues (a large wall borders Mexico from the U.S./Arizona immigration legislation I'm looking at you) and does so in a very unbiased way. He does what every director should do with their 1&1/2 to 2 hour film, he keeps the context of the plot in a very tight, self contained story arc.
Again, another strive for realism in this character driven drama may also be what might make people critique it more harshly. Over the matter of a handful of days, our two leads develop a deep affection for each other, which oddly enough, brings me to the topic of my review, location.
The whole film was shot on location, every scene was filmed in areas where the crew (consisting of only 2 people may I add) were not permitted to shoot ahead of time. Every scene in this film bleeds with authenticity, from the night time street life of small Mexican towns, the eerily quiet river bed mid-film, to a disaster laden neighborhood near the end, When you relate the intimacy of all the events the two experience together, it is hard to deny that the human dynamic and psyche do not change over that period. Many large budget films of this "genre" try to portray this, but get too worried about marketability, so they trade substance for style, which is fine, but it is not what this film at it's heart is trying to convey.
So for a good number of words now I have stated what Edwards has done to make me fall in love with his settings and characters, but he called the film "Monsters", and while the title may be a tad misleading, he doesn't attempt to snob off viewers.
What exactly are these so called "Monsters"?
The creatures portrayed in this film are truly monstrous in size, the breed, the kill, they exhale(?) toxic fumes. These are creatures of classic sci-fi conventions. With roughly 20 minutes of screen time, they are in themselves a very rare site, and usually most of their body is obscured from view. Aesthetically they are closely related to something out of the H.P. Lovecraft story "Call of Cthulhu", giant cephalopods from another planet in this case. Many instances in this film portray these 4 story high creatures as threats, even going as far as to making an in-film television commercial aimed at children reminding them to put their gas masks on if they see these creatures.
This is what makes the concept of the the actual creatures themselves terrifying, they are alien to the history of the human race, and their motive is not ever clearly stated (or you just may be creeped out by octopi). In actuality, their intent may be no more threatening than that of a curious child in a giant sand box. The creature effects may seem a tad off at times, such as odd lighting, stiff animations; or a sign that may be digitally edited to reduce costs, but amazingly, they are also produced by Edwards.
Sound has so much involvement in separating a good film from a great film, and this film is no exception. The sound editing is very well done, making the creatures sound acceptably appropriate for their pure mass, and removing intensity a bit to balance out their sequences properly with what is happening to the cast.
I have to say the score is very well done, but also a bit disconnected. My reasoning behind this opinion is due to the fact that it sets the mood perfectly, doesn't try to play out intense moments as grandiose, but keeps them at an intimate level (which i believe Edwards was shooting for). The disconnection comes from knowing who the composer is. All of the music in the film was written and composed by British IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) artist Jon Hopkins, who has helped produce music for Coldplay, and has released some wonderful albums of his own (namely Contact note). But in the case of the film, the score sometimes feels more appropriate for one of his albums than a film (while in some cases his own tracks sometimes feel appropriate for movies).
There is a moment in this film, which all great films have, I call it "The Silent Moment". "The Silent Moment" in a great film is when there is a moment that truly becomes the sum of all of its parts. A moment where every aspect of the film where the music, the sound, the visuals, the acting, but most importantly the dialogue and story, come to almost a complete stop, to convey a message that is truly deep, which brings absolute meaning to the theme of the film. It is a moment where the frames on the celluloid are succeeding in convincing you to acquiesce with its purpose. And minutes before this films end, it does so with such soundless grandiose, that it will leave most viewers who do understand the theme a little bit unchanged. If you have seen the film, you will know exactly what i am talking about.
Okay, this is where I ask if you have seen this film? No? Go watch the trailer right NOW.
Watched it? Good. The reason I ask, this film was made for a ultra-modest budget of 15,000 U.S. dollars. That is the same budget that last year's "Paranormal Activity" had, and because of that the math beguiles me. On-location filming, check; professional musician preforming score, check; above satisfactory visuals, check; more than capable acting, check. This film is begging for attention, and it more than rightfully deserves it.
This is the real problem with the film though, it's marketing, everything from its one sheet, to the trailer and its advertising. With a name like "Monsters", many people will be expecting a film with just that, and it really is not about monsters at all. Many commercial audiences will see this film and shudder away from the fact that in reality it is a unique character study rather than one of spectacle. That is what makes this movie a gorgeous little gem, it is about subtlety and frailty of the human condition, portrayed in a way it never has been before.
I hope I may convince any readers to at least try this film out as I said before, it is just begging to be watched. If you disagree, let me know your thoughts.
Final Verdict: Must-See
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