FFF Review: MONSTERS

It is always a joy to watch a unique, imaginative and daring film that 10 years ago would not have existed due to the high price of film equipment. Funding can be a pain in the ass (especially if you aim for a genre film, and ESPECIALLY if you aim for a genre film that breaks the genre's rules), so it's truly refreshing to see a film shot for approx. 8000$ in mexico, with two actors, dozens of voluntaries, a cheap camera and a 35mm filter.

A lot has been said about MONSTERS, how unusual the film is, how dedicated the director and how daring his work schedule: Gareth Edwards drove to mexico with two actors to shoot a love story in an alien/monster infested zone. As mentioned before, he had only a camera, a 35mm filter, a mike, and a van. Everybody apart from the two main actors are genuine mexican people going about their everyday work (acting is reduced to a minimum, with few lines spoken aside from the protagonists).

Instead of focusing on the monsters and their attacks, Edwards set out to explore the rich landscape of human emotion. As the two protagonists get to know each other better, so do we. In this aspect, the film is a lot closer to Lost in Translation or Y Tu Mama Tambien. However, it has to be noted that the visuals are absolutely stunning, the (very well done) CGI and special effects are gorgeous and the above pictured scene that takes place in a destroyed village is absolutely haunting nonetheless.

So what exactly is MONSTERS? It could be seen as an allegory for post 9/11 or post Katrina america, in which couples are not only faced with their internal struggles, but also the sudden realization that the world around them is crumbling. And this is where MONSTERS packs its punches: it makes the protagonists (and us) realize that life is too brittle to waste the chances that are given to us, because in a few more hours, we might be confronted with a lot bigger problems than that our camera was stolen, our food too salty or our partner upset about something we've done.

MONSTERS is not perfect - it is very slow, though could have lasted for another 30 minutes to convey the inner life of the characters - but it is an absolutely essential and stunning film that gives the promise of a brilliant director who's just delivered his debut feature.

Rating - 9/10