Monsters and Finding Presence: A Movie Review

Director/writer: Gareth Edwards.

Cast: Scott McNairy and Whitney Able.

Monsters is the first feature film from director and visual effects artist Gareth Edwards, with the film set mostly in Mexico and the lower United States. Here an escaped alien specimen infects the trees and lush under growth. Soon, central characters Andrew (Scoot McNairy) and Samantha (Whitney Able) are looking for a safe passage out of the infected zone. Reaching safety is difficult, as three hundred foot monstrosities stamp around the landscape. Made for a small budget of 800 thousand, Monsters is an independent sci-fi drama that searches for its legs, much like the the new visitors to earth.

The film follows Andrew and Samantha from the southern regions of Mexico up to the Texas border and beyond. During their 200 km plus journey, the sites they see are both beautiful and foreboding. A massive border wall attempts to keep the infection in the southern hemisphere. However, the infection spreads, while Andrew and Samantha find a stronger bond through their travels.

Director Edwards is careful to show that the aliens never attack others unless attacked themselves. Thus, the alien presence, which is almost entirely in the background, is more of a competing protagonist with Andrew and Samantha than an antagonist. There is no villain here, so the film seems to wander, with no significant presence to push up against. The lack of a strong opposing force makes the film difficult to classify in genre.

However, Monsters is definitely in the realm of science fiction, as trees light up from alien pods. Other strange elements include a tentacled being, which finally shows itself fully in the climax. Another genre competes for attention.

Drama seems to be a place where filmmaker Edwards feels most comfortable, with the central characters slowly revealing their complex social situations. Andrew is separated from his son and former girlfriend, while Samantha misses her beau, John. The immediacy of the situation brings both characters together in dramatic, and romantic fashion.

While sci-fi and drama are the categories that Monsters fits into, the film strangely feels like an other worldly road movie, minus the silly jokes and male camaraderie. There is a connection between Andrew and Samantha, but their dangerous travels seems to be the driving force that brings them together. The travelling lens shows the charisma of the cinematography, while the characters' personalities will also endear viewers to the film.

Monsters released in a limited fashion in late 2010, through Magnolia Pictures. Most recently, this title moved to DVD and Blu-ray (February 1st). Cautiously exciting and often tense, Monsters is a film that creeps up on you, much like the tentacled beasts in the film. Watch this film if you are looking for something outside the Hollywood play-it-safe mould and relax into this calmly paced science fiction adventure.

Overall: 7 out of 10 (pacing is good, the characterizations are believable, but the underlining message of the film is a little oblique).

The film's homepage w/trailer is here:

Monsters' Official Website

What were your impressions?



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Posted in: aliens,border,drama,gareth edwards,mexico,monsters,movie review,science fiction,science fiction adventure movie review,scoot mcnairy,texas,Whitney Able