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The Monster Movie Review

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Review for the film " The Monster"

Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes

Certificate: UA

Released: 03-10-2016

Genre: Drama, Horror, Fantasy

Similar To: First Cow, Zombieland 2, Wendy, Lying And Stealing

Critic Review
User Review

3 / 5.0

3.44 / 5.0

CAST & CREW

Zoe Kazan

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Producer:

Bryan Bertino

Adrienne Biddle

Aaron L Ginsberg

William Green

Richard Suckle

Music Director:

Tomandandy

Editor:

Maria Gonzales

Composer:

Erik Jourgensen

Director:

Bryan Bertino

Supporting Actress:

Zoe Kazan

Director of Photography:

Julie Kirkwood

Still Photographer:

Albert Camicioli

Screenplay Writer:

Bryan Bertino

Music Editor:

Jon Mooney

Click Here For Full Cast & Crew

An entertaining horror flick which instead of using a flimsy ghost uses actual real-life monster and physical and mental torture to scare.

Plot

A mother and a precocious daughter take on a road trip to the girl’s father’s house. Halfway through the journey, their car breaks down on a desolate and empty road. Soon they find out that the roads are not empty but in fact are being haunted by a monstrous evil. The evil lurking behind the forest has no intention of letting go. Will they survive? Will help come in time for them?

Analysis

This movie with its straightforward title is hardly anything like it. The Monster explores the monster lurking inside as much as the symbolic outward representations. There is no explanation for the vitality of the demon in the film. The broken relationship between the mother and the daughter is highlighted throughout the film through their bickering which turns unimaginably hurtful.

The mother, Kathy, shrinks away from the responsibilities of being a mother with her addiction which has dragged her pubescent daughter into depression and to mature beyond her age. The movie builds up more with their relationship than with the monster. The appearance of the monster towards the end is anti-climactic. The director gives the actors scope to develop their characters. The editing is also very plausible.

Star performance

Zoe Kagan as Kathy does a phenomenal job of making us eventually like her character in the end. The way the dialogues pan out, tug at the audience’s heart. With such limited setting and the very limited chance for a different theme, both the protagonists deliver creditable performances.

What’s there?

1) Explores a damaged-mother daughter bond.

2) Slightly deviates from the run of the mill horror films

3) A mysterious monster which ominously looms over the protagonist.

What’s not there?

1) It takes too long for the director to introduce the monster.

2) The bickering sometimes becomes annoying.

3) Some dumb moments which knock down an otherwise good movie

Verdict

The movie has some really satisfying performances and takes an extensive look at damaged families. Horror and drama aficionados will like it.