A Monster Calls (2016)

A Monster Calls (2016)

9/10

 Starring

Sigourney Weaver

Felicity Jones

Toby Kebbell

Lewis MacDougall

Liam Neeson (voice of monster)

 

Directed by J. A. Bayona

 

This movie’s ability to merge dark fantasy with a gripping plot delivers a unique entry into the genre, capturing you and pulling you into the movie itself.

I have to say, this is not one of those movies you can fully grasp the power of in one watch. It has a captivating story, excellent script, and magnificent performances from the cast, especially Lewis MacDougall.

The movie is based on a 2011 novel of the same name by Patrick Ness, inspired by an original idea from Siobhan Dowd, who died before writing the book. Dowd had set the structure, which Ness used to write the fantasy novel.

The story follows a young twelve-year-old named Conor who lives with his terminally ill mother and is separated from his father. Conor’s grandmother regularly visits them and tells Conor that he will be living with her during his mother’s cancer treatment. Conor dislikes his grandmother because of her cold personality and hates the idea of living with her. Before the move, Conor gets a scary visit from a monster who tells him that he will share three stories with him, and Conor will have to tell him one in return.

The movie isn’t only focused on the stories from the monster – we also witness the challenges this twelve-year-old faces in school. Conor is a victim of daily bullying, and his father seems to love him very much but cannot have Conor stay with him. Conor’s father now lives in the U.S. with his new wife and daughter.

The great part of the movie are the stories, which deliver some very heavy but truly remarkable life lessons that we all know but should never get tired of hearing.

The first story has the following messages:

• Truth/reality often feels like cheating. Like life has shortchanged you, giving the best to everyone and leaving you with nothing.
• Good people die early for no reason, and sometimes evil people merit saving.
• There is nobody who is completely good or bad; we are all a mixture of the two.

The second story has the following message:

• Be careful what you believe and in whom you place your belief. Belief is half of all healing. He talks about believing that the future awaiting you will be better than the present and that this belief will help heal the wounds of today.

The third story offers a revelation:

• A man who was invisible to everyone lashed out to be seen and became more invisible. This speaks to how a lonely person tries to fight loneliness by being around others, only to feel more lonely.

The movie wasn’t a box office success, but it was a critical one, gaining numerous accolades.

Worth seeing more than once, it’s a fantastic movie that captures you from the moment it starts. Even before the monster shows up, you’re already arrested. A keeper to watch again and even share with your children.