Since Cannes, screened Gareth
Edwards’ Monsters. Hollywood has been
going nuts over the filmmaker, who supposedly made the film for a
fraction of a million dollars (maybe even as little as $15,000), and
some are touting him as the next Neill Blomkamp.
Big, four-story-tall, squid-like aliens that walk on spider legs
landed in upper portions of Mexico. This is the Infected Zone and the
aliens arrived a long time ago. A photojournalist is charged with taking
his publisher’s daughter, in her early 20s, back to the United States
before Mexico is quarantined again for the aliens’ frisky season.
The following journey is supposed to be an allegory for illegal
immigrants sneaking across the U.S. border. This angle is hammed up too
much and overwrought. Also, for a movie called “Monsters,” there are
very few pulse pounding chases where folks almost become monster food.
The title really should be changed. The journey’s struggles and main
characters’ relationship dominate more than rabid-squid mayhem. If the
monsters were taken out, it would still be a pretty good road movie that
examined economic and class differences. Many non-actors are used to
best advantage.
However, some aspects of situations aren’t followed logically or ring
false. For example, the newspaper photographer haggles for a low fare
on a boat. His whiny tone does not make it believable he’s been living
in Mexico’s dirt for many months snapping shots of tentacled creatures
and bloody bodies. In another scene, they’re on a riverboat and think
there’s a monster nearby. Wouldn’t aiming flashlights in that direction
make them easy targets?
However, Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able are good and charismatic in
the lead roles. Their characters are developed extremely well; they’re
persuasive as real people and their relationship is organic. The
locations, shot all across South America, are remarkable for their
natural beauty contrasted with actual wreckage of destroyed buildings.
The cinematography has a loose look without being ridiculously camera
shaky. The visual effects (also done by writer-director Gareth Edwards)
are executed superbly, especially given the low budget. The monsters
look great. These effects give much hope to independent filmmakers as to
what is possible with minimal resources. The ending inspires awe and
holds the audience captivated. There are scary moments in a couple
sections and the movie gets credit for doing something different in the
monster movie genre. It will be released in October.
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