The last 15 years have been dominated by pissing contests between the ‘Big 3’ studios competing for the title of who can milk their IP the most. Don’t get me wrong, I am shameless Marvel fan – She-Hulk, Gamora and Captain Marvel are my girls, but the movie theatre was not always dominated by blockbusters and franchises that won’t die. I yearn for the days where I could see a cheesy rom-com, a gore-fuelled horror and a musical, all in the same weekend with my golden Hollywood celebrity favourites.
So, of course, when I had the chance to see a film that combines my nostalgia for a simpler time, I jumped and I am so glad I did because Your Monster is a goddamm masterpiece.
Starring the underrated and wildly talented Melissa Barrera, is a refreshing and delightful film that effortlessly blends genres in an original way. Directed by Caroline Lindy, Your Monster centres on Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera) whose life spirals after a series of personal setbacks: she has cancer and her musical collaborator/director, Jacob (Edmund Donovan) dumps her during cancer treatment because “he can’t take it.” Her mom sends her pies to cope with her cancer treatments and her only friend is sort of an asshole. The worst part of her plight is Jacob has given the lead role in their musical that was written for her to another actress.
Forced to move into her mother’s old brownstone she is reunited with Monster (Tommy Dewey) who lives in her closet. Dewey absolutely kills it as the crude, rude and anti-social Monster; their connection is sweet but also hilarious because Laura is not so much afraid of him as she is annoyed by him. Monster takes pity on her and gives her two weeks to leave the apartment as he has gotten used to living alone but, as two weeks go by, they begin to like each other and even begin to want each other, if you catch my drift. 😉
Although I saw the trailer, I really went in blind and I am glad I did because the twist was such a shocking surprise. I was yelling at the screen! I will not spoil it for you but it fully satiated my relentless appetite for stories about revenge and female rage. But where Your Monster really shines is in its handling of multiple genres, blending elements of horror, romantic comedy, fantasy and musical. Yes, there is some singing and Barrera will take your breath away when you hear the final song. But Lindy’s playfulness with genres feels seamless and unexpectedly touching, There were moments I teared up and felt overwhelmed with sheer euphoria watching Laura process her trauma.
The film’s feminist themes are woven into Laura’s struggle for independence, retribution and identity. We meet her as a woman who is full of self-doubt and a magnet for being taken advantage of, Monster helps her see how her internal fears and anxieties are the driving force of her self-disatisfaction. Despite her penchant for self abandonment, Laura is not a pathetic character. She is not self loathing. She is just lost, feels alone and full of rage to the point that she has gone numb.
The film’s commentary on gender and relationships, specifically the pressures that Laura faces to conform to others expectations, made me feel so seen. This is a story only a woman could tell, because the internal conflict of people pleasing and standing up for yourself in womanhood can only be understood by women. Laura’s evolution from a woman defined by her relationship with Jacob to a woman who embraces her rage and reclaims her narrative by learning to love the monster inside her is beautiful and empowering AF.
Your Monster is WHY we go to the movies. It was fun, exciting and truly deserved the press coverage that It Ends With Us got because THIS is a movie you want to see with your girlfriends. A movie that didnt have the power of IP money behind it and still managed to tell a fresh and original story with a feminist arc that all women can relate to.
10 out of 10.
Your Monster is now in theatres.
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