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When you see a movie title like Monsters, you probably expect something scary, right? Something with a bunch of nameless characters (played by pretty blondes who weren’t necessarily hired for their acting ability) who, one by one, meet a gruesome and untimely death. Something with a big effects budget and lots of creepy music and cheap scares. But if that’s what you’re expecting, then you’ll definitely be surprised by director Gareth Edwards’s indie sci-fi flick. Because the monsters aren’t the real stars of Monsters.
Six years ago, NASA launched a probe to investigate the possibility of life on other planets. On its return to Earth, the probe broke up, and a new alien life began growing in Mexico. Now, much of Mexico is inhabited by gigantic alien creatures—and photographer Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) is paid to capture the devastation that they leave in their wake.
While working in Mexico, Andrew is sent to find his wealthy publisher’s daughter, Sam (Whitney Able), who was recently injured in one of the creatures’ attacks. Once he finds her, he’s assigned to escort her to safety.
Reluctantly, Andrew boards the train to the coast, where Sam can catch the ferry back to the States. But one obstacle after another sends them on a dangerous journey into the Infected Zone—their only hope of returning home.
Despite its title and its sci-fi premise, Monsters isn’t the intense sci-fi thriller that you might expect. Sure, Andrew and Sam meet a few creatures along the way—gigantic, tentacled things that cause all kinds of death and destruction. And even when the creatures aren’t killing people and tossing cars around on-screen, you’ll still feel their presence. They’re always lurking in the background, ready to strike at any time—and that gives the film an eerie suspense that’s always there, in the pit of your stomach.
But Monsters isn’t really a monster movie. It’s a road trip drama about a couple of strangers who are forced to go on a deadly journey together. During their days of traveling, they open up to each other and form a friendship (and maybe more), which faces its share of obstacles along the way.
As expected, the two main characters don’t exactly hit it off from the beginning. Andrew is just trying to make a buck—and he can’t really do that if he’s babysitting some rich girl. His behavior—and his attitude—definitely won’t draw audiences to him. He’s huffy and irritable, and he takes his frustrations out on Sam—until he gets drunk, that is. His bad judgment and careless choices get them in all kinds of trouble, making him a tough character to like—especially in the beginning.
Meanwhile, Able’s Sam doesn’t get the development—or the depth—that she deserves. But she isn’t the spoiled rich girl that Andrew expects—nor is she the kind of shrill scream queen that you often find in thrillers. Instead, her toughness and thoughtfulness make her a likeable character.
Monsters may not be the edge-of-your-seat thriller that you might expect—and the script certainly has its share of flaws. But it’s beautifully filmed and subtly suspenseful—and, as long as you know what to expect, it’s a quietly captivating indie drama that’s worth the journey.
