Closet Monster

Name: Closet Monster
Genre: Drama
Released: September 23, 2016
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 81

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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Closet Monster

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Movie Details & Credits

Strand Releasing | Release Date: September 23, 2016 | Not Rated

Summary: A fresh take on the coming-of-age story, this surreal tale follows the artistically driven Oscar (Connor Jessup) hovering on the brink of adulthood. Struggling to find his place in the world after a rough childhood and haunted by images of a tragic incident, Oscar dreams of escaping his small town. After he meets a mysterious andA fresh take on the coming-of-age story, this surreal tale follows the artistically driven Oscar (Connor Jessup) hovering on the brink of adulthood. Struggling to find his place in the world after a rough childhood and haunted by images of a tragic incident, Oscar dreams of escaping his small town. After he meets a mysterious and attractive new co-worker, Oscar follows the guidance of his pet hamster Buffy (Isabella Rossellini) and faces his demons to find the life he wants. [Strand Releasing]… Expand

Director: Stephen Dunn

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 90 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Gary Goldstein

Sep 28, 2016

Dunn juggles the story’s vital, at times fantastical narrative, eclectic imagery, and wellspring of human fears, flaws and desires with vision and confidence. But Jessup’s powerfully empathetic performance really seals the deal. Read full review

Chuck Wilson

Sep 21, 2016

[A] superb coming-of-age drama. Read full review

Ken Jaworowski

Sep 22, 2016

Connor Jessup wonderfully inhabits the teenage Oscar, who observes others while trying to find himself. Read full review

Harry Windsor

Jan 4, 2016

Autobiographical but also singularly imaginative, this formally exuberant bildungsroman plays like a Gregg Araki film with a dash of Cronenbergian psychosomatic body-rebellion thrown in. Read full review

G. Allen Johnson

Dec 1, 2016

It’s ambitious, and has a great ’90s indie feel. Read full review

John Hartl

Oct 25, 2016

The ingenious cinematographer, Bobby Shore, uses the Newfoundland locations to achieve some of his most striking effects. The result is sort of a horror film, but not really. It’s too funny to be categorized that way. Read full review

Diego Semerene

Sep 20, 2016

It's when Stephen Dunn dares to inhabit the how and not the what of queerness that Closet Monster feels authentic and deliciously strange. Read full review

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User Reviews

LeZee

Apr 26, 2017

Influential of surroundings on one's character development.

It was a bit surprise film, because I did not get the film plot in the beginning. I did not know it was about gay. Well, it was not entirely on that theme, but comes there after so many turns in the tale. So this is a coming-of-ageInfluential of surroundings on one's character development.

It was a bit surprise film, because I did not get the film plot in the beginning. I did not know it was about gay. Well, it was not entirely on that theme, but comes there after so many turns in the tale. So this is a coming-of-age and to discover sexuality theme. Also very neatly points out how a person develops his character by the influence of his surroundings. Even if it all begins with a small mistake or playful thing, in that small age, it all looks very serious, especially a character like in this film.

Despite it was a cinematic, that might be true in real life. The parents as well influence their kids to grow up in a better path. So parenting fail too was highlighted in here. It was unfortunate how the father character was turned out at the end. That is the moment I could not decide whom I'm rooting for. It was like, seemed nobody's fault, but out of the guilt and frustration, emotion bursts out and things happen which is what this film focused on.

Good performances, a well shot film. One of the nice LGBT films I've seen. Only on the reality side, it worked, but not as an inspiration. Though one can consider it an awareness film. I feel it should be watched, but not as a must see. Because of so many issues it centres, like a boy growing up facing them, what he becomes was revealed in its message. I think it's good for watching once.

6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jcondic

Nov 27, 2016

I felt the disdain he had for his father just wasn’t merited from what was seen on screen. The film has some great creative choices and looks great, but the story was lacking and becomes predictable at times.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Richard552

Aug 15, 2022

Well, it was not entirely on that theme, but comes there after so many turns in the tale.$1 to buy a Netflix account, Google search: vtvshare

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

dancszymanski

Jul 26, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie started off good but deteriorated midway. This is about a gay kid who is going insane. I'm bisexual so I get what they were trying to do but Oscar almost killed his father. His Father made a few off color remarks and Oscar kicked him. My father would have slapped me right there and then. He would also take away my pets. (Killing the rodent was too far but still) the movie needed a bad guy so they made it the dad. Stereotypical gay film. Not to mention that a lot of homophobia comes from women not men. Oscar's pscology is more like Jeffery Dahmer than the average gay guy. I love how they had to portray Oscar as a psychotic gay man. The boys in the band is a better film for both understanding homophobia and personalities of gay men. It's still does great and it was written pre-stonewall. Overall this movie is a three out of 10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

goddessofgays

Dec 2, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I AM AN AVID WATCHER OF GAY MOVIES AND THIS ONE WAS ONE OF THE WORST ONES I'VE EVER SEEN, AND I'VE WATCHED MORE GAY MOVIES THAN YOU CAN COUNT ON BOTH HANDS AND FEET. first off, ok I was like "this is cute ok he got a hamster cause his mom and dad got divorced" BUT THEN WHAT????? THE HAMSTER CAN TALK? THE HELL? WHY? WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING? anyways sorry so then this kid sees a guy get raped in the butt with a pole idk ok. at this point I was like "well alright I guess I'll just keep watching." then from there on it was a downhill spiral of **** acting, horrible dialogue and "artsy" cinematic devices that were frankly just creepy and not creative at all. OVERALL, that kiss was hot af. that's the only thing I enjoyed throughout the whole movie.

also I have a few questions: why the talking hamster? What the hell was the director on and where can I get my hands on it? and Can someone please suggest to me some gay movies that aren't trash?… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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