A British independent sci-fi thriller set six years after NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and grow. In an effort to stem the destruction that resulted, half of Mexico was quarantined as an 'Infected Zone'. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the massive creatures.
The story begins when a jaded US journalist begrudgingly agrees to find his boss’ daughter, and escort her through the infected zone to the safety of the US border.
District 9 and Cloverfield are two of the best recent examples of an extraterrestrial visitation / creature feature. Luckily for us, Monsters is something else again.
Avoiding post-modern chuckles, money-shots or gimmicks, Monsters is remarkably confident in its simplicity. The titular beasties are hardly ever on screen – they are almost a distraction when they are – and our attention is instead turned to the ordinary man and woman who are trekking through the forbidden zone. A man and woman who gradually fall for each other. And that’s all it is.
In fact, British director Gareth Edwards’ debut has more in common with Lost in Translation or other atmospheric romances of that ilk. Imagine Godzilla stumbling around Tokyo while Bill and Scarlett sing karaoke inside the hotel and you’ll get a good idea of what Monsters is all about.
The palpable sense of atmosphere here is the film’s strongest card. Edwards also helms the camera and his beautiful images are evocative of a sense of place. Whether a jet plane half-submerged in a lake at dusk, or a remote gas station beaming fluorescent light into the inky night-time abyss – combine these visuals with the evocative soundscape and you’ll forget you’re sitting in a cinema.
The clunky improv can distract from the realism, but Monsters key strength is in conveying what such an experience would actually feel like. Edwards has said that his movie is taking place on the fringes while the big blockbuster is happening just over the horizon. Where would you rather be?
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
Any wikipedia reading fan will be able to take note that the film has a $500,000 budget. The editing was done on adobe, simple, software. All animation is done by the director. This itself testifies against the ridiculous expense spent on block buster films today. Such as the average Avatar. The story is creative, and placed together well by Gareth Edwards. I highly recommend this masterpiece.
With a budget less than a ticket to Rainbow's End, Monsters is praised by some critics as the new District 9. It's not. It's a shame too, because it manages to achieve a giant scope with very little. However, it's let down heavily by its story, its script and its characters. There are many staring-into-the-distance moments where the movie tries to be profound, but it just doesn't have anything to say. The two leads are about as interesting as a grocery receipt and the script varies from 'yeah' to 'meh'. By the end, you'll just want to watch District 9.
When did this come out i thought it was coming out next year in november
I liked how they went for a more intimate approach in the film, choosing to follow a pair making their way to the US border through Mexico's infected zone. The Monster sightings are scarce but their presence is felt throughout the entire movie... you never know when they're going to strike.
Rubbish story line,rubbish movie. That's all there is to it.
Although the tentative performances of his two human leads proves less satisfying, and the story's not-so-underlying sociological context can be hard to miss -- it takes place along the U.S.-Mexico border -- the overall picture still impresses.
Although the vérité aesthetics of Monsters will invite comparisons to Cloverfield and District 9, what galls most is the infuriating lack of purpose beyond its backdrop.
Monsters effortlessly compels. The ending may be pure sci-fi schmaltz, but it's schmaltz that this viewer, at least, could believe in.
Compelling less-is-more post District 9 alien invasion flick.
A uniquely satisfying entertainment.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 18th Nov 2010.
Release date: November 18th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
