Monsters Review

• 2nd Apr 2011

Monsters is the first feature by writer director Gareth Edwards and deals with a modern day where aliens have arrived on Earth. After a deep space probe crash landed on the Mexican Border alien life began to spread across the region. Having to deal with the problem the Americans built an electrified fence to stop them entering mainland USA.  Quarantined in the ‘Infected Zone’, the alien issue is an on-going situation echoing that in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The film opens with a military unit driving through a deserted town at night. The convoy is attacked and a vehicle flipped over. The military begin to fire at a giant, tentacled monster which seems to be the cause of the attack. Two civilians are thrown from the vehicle and call out for help as the military call in an air to ground strike to kill the creature. The film moves to Mexico and introduces photographer Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) who is given the job of escorting his employer’s daughter Samantha Wynden (Whitney Able) back to the USA safely. Taking the job due to financial problems, Andrew and Samantha now travel up the Mexican coast to a town on the edge of the infected zone where they can catch a safe boat back to the USA. Whilst out drinking the night before Andrew manages to have both their passports stolen. Samantha sells her engagement ring to buy a transfer for both of them through the infected zone. As they arrive at the other side of the zone they find an abandoned petrol station and realize that the Aliens are now on US soil. Finally they come face to face with the aliens in what can only be described as a beautiful scene of remarkable tenderness.

The actual reality of Gareth Edwards getting this film made is the true stuff of legend having shot the entire film on a budget of only $500,000. The locations are all 100% authentic and all the special effects work involved in the film was completed by Edwards himself in post-production on his laptop. The film feels like part alien film and part travelogue adventure romance as the pair slowly fall in love over the course of the film. There is much to applaud from the absolutely staggering visuals to the stunning music by Jon Hopkins. The soundtrack allows for such connection between the aliens and the actual images from them attacking to making love. The two central performances are also superb as the now married McNairy and Able are more than convincing as a couple to be. Another magnificent aspect of the film is the background performances given by people found in those locations whilst shooting. The DVD commentary elaborates on this as Edwards explains that everyone in the film beyond the two stars where actually not actors, just people who helped out at the time. This level of authenticity in terms of performance simply adds to the brilliance of the film.

The only complaint I personally have about Monsters is that the middle third of the film drags, making the movie maybe 15 minutes to long. The film doesn’t need any unnecessary action and it could just have done with a little pruning to around the 75 minute mark. As complaints about a film go this is a minor quibble which in no way should deter anyone from seeing this majestic film.

The commentary on the DVD is wonderful as Edwards and his two stars reminisce about the production and how the reality of their situation fed into the film’s success. Edwards is particularly fascinating as he describes all the work he did post production to achieve the special effects. He happily declares that the limitations placed on the production by the budgetary constraints where undoubtedly key to the films visual style. Had they had more resources, he explains, the immediacy and raw power of the film would have been lost. Edwards talks a great deal about the odyssey of the film matching the actual journey the team itself was on. Looking back he declares that he only remembers the good things that happened looking back now and this is translated into the film.

Monsters narrative also points to the world as it is today with the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq echoing throughout the film. Once in the infected zone Andrew and Samantha walk through a devastated landscape which brings to mind the endless news footage from overseas. The use of fake new footage in the film is critical to developing the idea that we in the western world have become utterly hysterical in our need for sensationalised content.  The age of rationality has well and truly passed and has been replaced by an age where we strike first and analyse later. The end sequence at the petrol station has Sam stuck inside as tentacles move around the shop. The tentacles themselves switch off the news and seem actually calmer once the hysterical voices coming from it have faded away.

Monsters is a superb film made by a dedicated crew who delivered a final product that simply does not exist in the mainstream. I strongly encourage everyone to take time out of their lives to sit and watch this film. It may not be perfect but it’s a meaningful and considerate science fiction drama that deserves all the plaudits it gets.

Aled Jones