This trailer was taken from: “Monsters” Trailer HD (Video). August 19, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njeofv4dr9Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njeofv4dr9Q
Monsters
Directed By: Gareth Edwards
Written By: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Whitney Able and Scoot McNairy
With a budget of under 500,000 dollars, only two professional actors and a laptop, Gareth Edwards has in his first film made one of the most original and visually exciting films of the year. Monsters is set in Mexico, where six years ago aliens arrived. Known as “creatures” these aliens are imprisoned in an infected zone in-between the U.S and Mexico. When a photographer is tasked with escorting his bosses daughter into the U.S, a journey ensues which results in adventure, excitement and yes you guessed it…love.
Monsters is infact a love story/road movie that happens to have a science fiction background. While it may sound slightly cheesy, cliché and predictable, while watching the film you never feel that as the portrayal of the two lead characters and their growing chemistry is done a realistic and believable way. For a film with the title “Monsters” it might sound silly to say its subtle but that’s exactly what it is. When it comes to character development the film is just as much about what isn’t said as much as it is about what is said. The two lead actors are now married and most of their dialogue was made up on the spot, both of these factors make sure the love story aspect of the film feels real and is never forced.
The film is not as action packed as its title may suggest and it is at times a rather slow film. Its slow pace is the films only major flaw and even then it does not effect the film as much as a slow pace does in others. The reason Monsters is truly special however, is that it is a truly inspirational filmmaking achievement. Gareth Edwards with one camera, a tiny budget and only two actors has made a film that looks absolutely stunning. Gareth Edwards not only directed the film, but he also did the cinematography and special effects…on his laptop. The special effects in the film are stunning and it is simply amazing that they were achieved on such a small budget and on a laptop. The films visuals rival films such as Cloverfield and District 9, however unlike those films the special effects aren’t as frequent or graphic. In Monsters the films special effects are great, however they never overtake the film and become the only thing the film can do (something that happens with many big budget Hollywood films). The films environment is so believable and you completely believe that you are in a post alien invasion Mexico.
Like all good science fiction films, Monsters also works as an allegory. The film obviously hints at the U.S/Mexico immigration issue (and does it in a much more subtle and effective way than in Machete) however the films title doesn’t only apply to the alien creatures but to us human beings. Who are the monsters? Is a question that the film is asking and there is a lot of strong imagery and scenes in the film, which hint to a deeper political and psychological meaning behind the film. The films director Gareth Edwards when talking about the film has said “If Cloverfield was 9/11 then this is the war in Afghanistan, the conflict has been on for a while and nobody cares anymore” this is particularly shown as reports of alien conflict plays on television sets in the background, never gaining full attention from the films characters. These scenes echo how we now feel and react to news of another bombing in Afghanistan on the television.
The film also has a great soundtrack and is an example of great storytelling with the start and end of the film being almost genius in their layout and execution. The films climax is quite frankly beautiful, tragic and fantastic.
Overall Monsters is an example of original filmmaking, its inspirational in terms of its achievement in comparison to its budget, it’s a film with two believable performances, a film that is fantastically made and politically interesting, it’s a subtle film and an example of how good science fiction films can be. Gareth Edwards has made a stunning debut and is a director who if this is anything to go by, has an amazing future ahead of him and has achieved something truly special here.
One Sentence Summary: An inspirational filmmaking achievement and one of the year’s best films.
Rating: 8+/10
Directed By: Gareth Edwards
Written By: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Whitney Able and Scoot McNairy
With a budget of under 500,000 dollars, only two professional actors and a laptop, Gareth Edwards has in his first film made one of the most original and visually exciting films of the year. Monsters is set in Mexico, where six years ago aliens arrived. Known as “creatures” these aliens are imprisoned in an infected zone in-between the U.S and Mexico. When a photographer is tasked with escorting his bosses daughter into the U.S, a journey ensues which results in adventure, excitement and yes you guessed it…love.
Monsters is infact a love story/road movie that happens to have a science fiction background. While it may sound slightly cheesy, cliché and predictable, while watching the film you never feel that as the portrayal of the two lead characters and their growing chemistry is done a realistic and believable way. For a film with the title “Monsters” it might sound silly to say its subtle but that’s exactly what it is. When it comes to character development the film is just as much about what isn’t said as much as it is about what is said. The two lead actors are now married and most of their dialogue was made up on the spot, both of these factors make sure the love story aspect of the film feels real and is never forced.
The film is not as action packed as its title may suggest and it is at times a rather slow film. Its slow pace is the films only major flaw and even then it does not effect the film as much as a slow pace does in others. The reason Monsters is truly special however, is that it is a truly inspirational filmmaking achievement. Gareth Edwards with one camera, a tiny budget and only two actors has made a film that looks absolutely stunning. Gareth Edwards not only directed the film, but he also did the cinematography and special effects…on his laptop. The special effects in the film are stunning and it is simply amazing that they were achieved on such a small budget and on a laptop. The films visuals rival films such as Cloverfield and District 9, however unlike those films the special effects aren’t as frequent or graphic. In Monsters the films special effects are great, however they never overtake the film and become the only thing the film can do (something that happens with many big budget Hollywood films). The films environment is so believable and you completely believe that you are in a post alien invasion Mexico.
Like all good science fiction films, Monsters also works as an allegory. The film obviously hints at the U.S/Mexico immigration issue (and does it in a much more subtle and effective way than in Machete) however the films title doesn’t only apply to the alien creatures but to us human beings. Who are the monsters? Is a question that the film is asking and there is a lot of strong imagery and scenes in the film, which hint to a deeper political and psychological meaning behind the film. The films director Gareth Edwards when talking about the film has said “If Cloverfield was 9/11 then this is the war in Afghanistan, the conflict has been on for a while and nobody cares anymore” this is particularly shown as reports of alien conflict plays on television sets in the background, never gaining full attention from the films characters. These scenes echo how we now feel and react to news of another bombing in Afghanistan on the television.
The film also has a great soundtrack and is an example of great storytelling with the start and end of the film being almost genius in their layout and execution. The films climax is quite frankly beautiful, tragic and fantastic.
Overall Monsters is an example of original filmmaking, its inspirational in terms of its achievement in comparison to its budget, it’s a film with two believable performances, a film that is fantastically made and politically interesting, it’s a subtle film and an example of how good science fiction films can be. Gareth Edwards has made a stunning debut and is a director who if this is anything to go by, has an amazing future ahead of him and has achieved something truly special here.
One Sentence Summary: An inspirational filmmaking achievement and one of the year’s best films.
Rating: 8+/10
