Movie Review: A Monster Calls (2016)
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
Starring
Lewis MacDougall – Connor
Sigourney Weaver – Grandma
Felicity Jones – Mum
Liam Neeson – The Monster
Summary
“The monster does not come walking often. This time it comes to Connor, and it asks for the one thing Connor cannot bring himself to do. Tell the truth. This is a very touching story about a boy who feels very damaged, guilty and mostly angry. He struggles at school with bullies, and pity looks from everyone, and at home with his mother’s sickness. Will Connor overcome his problems? Will everything be okay? Will Connor be able to speak the truth?”
-From IMDB.com
From Instagram – @mylibrarycardworeout
Review
So first off I went through almost half a box of tissues on this movie. IT ABSOLUTELY KILLED ME. I literally don’t think a movie has hurt me as much as this movie hurt me. It was just so damn sad! But so beautiful at the same time!
The movie stayed really close to the book which made me really happy! I mean besides the ending which just closed the movie, it was quite literally the book in movie format. I was kind of worried that they were going to change things or stray from the book because if you did with a book like this, it would have lost the entire meaning, and purpose, of the book. So I was really happy that it stayed so close to it!
Next, all of the stories told in the book, the teachings from The Monster, were really cool as well. They were these water-coloring scenes that added this fantastical element to it. It was an incredibly creative idea.
As for the cinematography, it was incredible! Visually, this movie was beyond stunning. However, I don’t think I will be watching it again, or at least for a long time to come. This was a movie you probably only watch once or twice, just because of what the movie is about. It was a very painful experience and it left you needing something that would make you feel happy afterwards. I unfortunately didn’t so I just felt depressed for the rest of the day honestly.
Now, you may be reading this review and thinking, “then why the hell would I watch a movie as depressing as this?” Because it was such an experience. I learnt so much about acceptance and that it’s okay to feel how Connor did in the movie.
There was also one scene which really struck me. When the mother was dying and it was time for ‘the talk’, Connor was unable to say anything. You could see that he was extremely angry and upset and unsure what to do. The mum said to him something along the lines of, ” do not worry. When you look back on this moment in a few years and realize that you didn’t say anything to me, anything you wanted to say, just know that I already know it all.” Essentially it was saying that even if you cannot say you love someone who is dying, if you showed it to them in your life, then they already know. It was also a wonderful way to know that when someone is a child and unable to express what they feel, parents know all! It was such a scene and really resounded with me.
Honestly, I do recommend watching this movie. But read the book first. It’s not a difficult read and together, they are beautiful.
I was sad to see how many people haven’t seen it, nor heard of it. It was just so incredibly powerful and think that everyone should see it. Yes, it’s tough, but dealing with these situations can be. And the movie was just…I honestly struggle putting into words what it was to me. This will be in my memory forever as one of the few movies that really had a profound impact on me. This is not a movie to really sit down and enjoy but to just experience.
Happy Watching and don’t forget your box of tissues.
