Monsters
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Whitney Able, Scoot McNairy
Director: Gareth Edwards
With a film about aliens landing in the USA six years ago and being quarantined in one area, it's obvious you'll recall to mind one of the best films of 2009, the Peter Jackson produced District 9.
But this similar premise comprises Monsters which is more relationship drama than alien societal integration.
Set in the not too distant future, opening titles explain that a spacecraft sent to bring back alien samples broke up over Mexico in re-entry. The result of that is a series of alien life forms (which look uncannily like squid on stalks) have taken up residence throughout parts of central America and Mexico - and are spreading.
Rather than nuke them, the government's decided that they will let them be - and simply declare zones of the country in quarantine and infected areas.
Enter into this photographer Andrew (McNairy) - he's desperate to make his name in the media with a picture of a live creature - but is tasked with returning his boss' errant daughter Sam (Able) back home safe.
Through a series of mishaps, the pair find the only way they can get back to home is via the infected zone - and so their journey into danger begins&
Monsters is not what you'd expect at all - initially you're introduced to the squid creatures early on and so you're never waiting for a big alien reveal, which robs the premise of some of its tension.
Director Gareth Edwards is also a little heavy on the direction - opening shot after shot are simply about the infected zone signs or military fighter jets heading past in the skies. It's a pummeling to set up the world they inhabit rather than subtlety to get the message across. Even on a low budget, it could have achieved more.
With a lack of real script (most of this is improvised) it's left to McNairy and Able to make it believable and to have you care. The pair are both relative newcomers both have stunning chemistry together (and are now married in real life) - so while there are dips in the film and dialogue which is simply about asking where they are while navigating the grim reality of it all, it's thanks to these two and their tender relationship that you make it through to the end.
It doesn't live up to its premise and the attack which inevitably comes in the infected zone lacks any real tension. It's a disappointment which doesn't live upto its premise and you may feel a little cheated when the lights go up at the end.
Watch the trailer for Monsters here.
Watch a scene from Monsters here.
