Monster

I must point out up front that horror isn't my favorite genre, so this could account for the high scores by some for MONSTER and my closer to average score. However, my disappointment also is because apart from evoking an excellent scary mood and one pretty funny scene where the mother takes on the monster, there isn't a lot of substance to this film. It seems to almost all be mood--music, cinematography and action--but not a whole lot of depth. In part, this must be because it's a short film but my one complaint about the genre in general is that so many films try to scare you but don't really have a lot more to them than just fright.

Now these complaints still bode pretty well for the film makers--they did achieve the right mood and the film was competently made--I just want to see a bit more plot next time.

I don't like watching short films. I watched the short film version of that movie before watching The Babadook. It was an average thing. This short film did not surprise me.

A hyperactive child causes stress for his mother, until one day, a toy monster he's been fixated on comes to life.

This is primarily of interest due to it being a sort of prototype for The Babadook, by the same writer and director, the immensely talented Jennifer Kent. It's especially interesting to compare the two, and look at what was already present here in this short, and what is only in the later movie. I won't detail any of it, since doing so would require spoiling both of these, and I'm not going to be doing that in this review. However, it is a stimulating exercise, that I fully encourage anyone interested to do.

This is filmed and edited well. The strain that it puts on this single parent that her son is always running, playing, making noise, screaming, is conveyed well, without us just being frustrated watching. This is 9 minutes long without end credits, and 10 with them.

It is legitimately tense and scary, although other than that, there isn't any objectionable material in this. I recommend this to any fan of the film it was later turned into. 8/10

AS the title character in DOCTOR WHO once stated " The most frightening place in a universe is a childs bedroom " . True even if it may be stating the obvious . Living on an island as a child I was sometimes worried about an incursion of Sea Devils and worried they could squeeze up the U bend of the loo and come crashing in to my bedroom before I knew what was going on . This short film by Jennifer Kent plays on that fear

The film is somewhat minimalist taking place entirely in one house featuring a mother , her young son and the protagonist of the title . I notice IMDb legend Bob The Moo has reviewed it. . Let me reveal a closely guarded secret about The Moo - he doesn't like horror movies and as he's stated he had hoped for a bit more space and development and looks forward to seeing the feature length film this short started off as . As for myself I can take each and every horror film on its own merit but often lament how difficult it is to do something new with a tired and staid genre . That said yesterday I saw a sci-fi horror called EXTRATERRISTIAL featuring a bunch of horny teens in a remote cabin which had nothing new to say to the audience and yet managed to compel and creep out this audience member . Kent does something similar here . Okay it's down to the obvious cheap tricks of using fast movement and silence followed by sudden loud noise which caused me to jump out of my seat . If I was watching this in the dark late at night I'd be running to switch the lights on and having difficulty sleeping . Compared to the monster in this film the Sea Devils are small fry

Jennifer Kent's Monster is a haunting precursor to her acclaimed feature The Babadook. This short film delivers a striking tale of maternal anxiety and psychological terror in just ten minutes, showcasing Kent's talent for blending emotional depth with suspense.

The story centres on a single mother and her young son, whose quiet life is disrupted by the appearance of a shadowy creature lurking in their home. On the surface, Monster is a straightforward horror story, but Kent uses this simplicity as a vehicle for exploring profound themes, particularly the fear of parental inadequacy and the looming presence of unresolved trauma.

Kent's direction is meticulous, using sparse lighting, practical effects, and tight framing to evoke unease. The monster itself, while only glimpsed, is an unsettling figure-a testament to how less is often more in horror. The film's atmosphere relies heavily on suggestion, allowing viewers to project their fears onto the creature, much like the mother and son project their struggles onto this ominous presence.

The emotional undercurrent of Monster elevates it beyond standard genre fare. The mother's strained relationship with her son is palpable, and the monster seems to embody her internal struggles, blurring the line between external and internal threats. This allegorical depth is a hallmark of Kent's work, later perfected in The Babadook.

While brief, Monster lingers long after the screen fades to black. It's an unsettling exploration of fear, both imagined and real, that resonates on a deeply personal level. A must-watch for fans of psychological horror and a brilliant showcase of Jennifer Kent's early promise.