The Monster

I respect where Bryan Bertino was trying to go with this film, but he falls short. While he does gets a decent start on character development that mostly works despite some overwrought writing and acting, the static set piece and drawn out end battle bleed away any real tension. Flashbacks are overused and ultimately come too late and the well shot and creepy final locations overstay their welcome. Few films are able to pull off this Babadook-esque having your cake and eating it too morality monster mash, and despite a good college try, the Monster fails along with all the others.

THE MONSTER starts off with Kathy (Zoe Kazan) and her young daughter, Lizzy (Ella Ballentine) getting ready for a trip. This is complicated by Kathy's alcoholic / drug addicted life, making Lizzy far more responsible than most kids her age. Actually, Lizzy is far more mature than her mother. Their relationship appears to be broken beyond repair.

Kathy is taking Lizzy to her father's house for a while. Perhaps, for good. Along the way, as night falls, an accident occurs, and they're stranded in a disabled car in the middle of nowhere. As the title implies, things are about to get a whole lot worse! This will certainly be the longest night of Kathy and Lizzy's lives. That is, if they survive it.

This is a horror / monster movie, set against a backdrop of severe family dysfunction, ultimate sacrifice, and redemption. Great non-CGI creature effects and a solid story make this a worthwhile, low-budget film. Both principal actors were adept at pulling off the mother / daughter dynamic in the midst of sheer terror. Believability in a movie of this sort is a big plus!

The monster itself is quite imposing, like a huge shadow in a nightmare. A shadow with claws and long teeth...

As children, we often have irrational fears of things we have not being given a proper introduction to - We are told numerous stories, some still ignoring the lingering question we harbor deep within - Our Monsters Real? - Or an allegory of our very existence? This idea is effectively used in recent films such as, 'The Babadook', 'It Follows', 'The Witch' and 'Under the Shadow'. Director Bryan Bertino ('The Strangers') shares a similar notion of this with 'The Monster'.

Kathy (Zoe Kazan) a divorced alcoholic and inexperienced mother is taking her young and mature of age daughter, Lizzy (Ella Ballentine), to permanently relocate with Lizzy's father. While driving at night through a remote, rain-lashed forest, Kathy crashes into a wolf, which wrecks their car leaving them stranded for help - Waiting for a tow truck and ambulance. From here on, questions are raised - Where did the wolf come from? What was it running from? Where'd it get those deep cuts on its body? Or where did the body disappear too? Strangely these questions are not justifiably asked by Kathy, but by Lizzy.

The only voice of reason!

Ella Ballentine is the standout here - reminiscent of a young Reese Witherspoon. Inquisitive, timid, fearful and courageously carrying the weight of 'The Monster', as she has spent much of her youth taking care of herself - and her mother - Through flashbacks provided. One in particular truly showing her acting chops. Zoe Kazan also great as Kathy tries to maintain her sobriety while navigating and understanding the needs of her daughter - Yes an overused device in Hollywood - But effective still none the less.

Scott Speedman shows us halfway through the movie with little to say or do, perhaps a favor to Bertino, whom he directed in 'The Strangers'.

Cinematographer Julie Kirkwood offers very little to appreciate here - With Bertino not fully utilizing her until the third act - With a beautiful shot of the enclosed woods. The monster itself plays a minor role - As the full look of it seems rather cheap.

Overall 'The Monster' may not hold up well with most allegory horror films, but it will stand on its own merit for Ella Ballentine - As she comes face to face with the monster - Or are understanding of what it means to let go and grow up - Afterall monsters are only what we make of them.

This film wasn't terrible. It manages to take a very basic "stuck in a car with a monster outside" plot and inject some character into it. But it was by no means great.

The acting was solid. There are some emotional scenes that elevated the film.

The director manages to create some tension and suspense with the atmospheric lighting, camera movements, and shot composition.

The effects on the monster ranged from pretty okay to sometimes looking slightly silly. It's a practical monster instead of CGI, which is appreciated, but it still looks rubber and fake in certain scenes.

The final act of the movie was pretty strong.

The story is very basic. Two people get stranded on a deserted road and a monster from the woods terrorizes them. The film tries to engage the viewer more by making the primary focus of the story about the strained relationship between the mother and daughter and how this terrifying experience brings them together. In some respects this works, but it's not enough to make the story anything more than average at best.

The dialogue was also very shoddy at points and felt unnatural and forced.

Overall, this is a pretty average horror movie. Nothing special or memorable but not bad. Don't expect anything great. Expect a flawed film with an unoriginal plot with some good aspects scattered throughout.

5/10.

Kathy (Zoe Kazan) is the alcoholic and smoking addicted mother of the young, but mature teenager Lizzy (Ella Ballentine). They live together since Kathy's husband Roy (Scott Speedman) left her, and she neglects her daughter. Kathy is supposed to drive Lizzy to her father's home in the morning, but she sleeps until late afternoon and they have to travel during a rainy night. While driving through a lonely road through the woods, Kathy hits a wolf that breaks her car, leaving them stranded on the empty road. They call 911 and while waiting for the tow truck and an ambulance, the wolf disappears from the road. When the tow truck arrives, the mechanic Jesse (Aaron Douglas) tells that he needs to fix the axle and an oil leakage to tow her car. While repairing the vehicle, a monster attacks him but neither Kathy nor Lizzy note. When they seek Jesse out, they realize that they are not alone in the spot. Further, Kathy learns that monsters do exist. Will they be rescued on time?

"The Monster" is an atmospheric, tense and melancholic low-budget horror movie. The dramatic story is supported by top-notch performances of Ella Ballentine and Zoe Kazan and a beautiful and sad cinematography. Scott Speedman participation is limited to a short cameo only to give his name to the credits. The slow-paced plot helps to create the creepy atmosphere and to show the relationship of Kathy and Lizzy. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): Not Available