Love and Monsters

Name: Love and Monsters
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy
Released: October 16, 2020
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Amali Golden, Ariana Greenblatt, Damien Garvey, Dan Ewing, Dylan O'Brien

2020

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Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 175 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 175 Ratings

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Love And Monsters (Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: October 16, 2020 | PG-13

Starring: Amali Golden, Ariana Greenblatt, Damien Garvey, Dan Ewing, Dylan O'Brien, Ellen Hollman, Jessica Henwick, Larry Cedar, Melanie Zanetti, Michael Rooker, Pacharo Mzembe, Senie Priti, Tandi Wright, Tasneem Roc, Tre Hale

Summary: Seven years after the Monsterpocalypse, Joel Dawson (Dylan O'Brien), along with the rest of humanity, has been living underground ever since giant creatures took control of the land. After reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick), who is now 80 miles away at a coastal colony, Joel begins to fall forSeven years after the Monsterpocalypse, Joel Dawson (Dylan O'Brien), along with the rest of humanity, has been living underground ever since giant creatures took control of the land. After reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick), who is now 80 miles away at a coastal colony, Joel begins to fall for her again. As Joel realizes that there's nothing left for him underground, he decides against all logic to venture out to Aimee, despite all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way. … Expand

Director: Michael Matthews

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire Ian Freer

Apr 20, 2021

Love And Monsters is a blast, an unassuming, immensely winning monster movie filled with great lo-fi creatures and a likeable cast. As a template for making a leaner, less bloated summer movie, Hollywood could do a lot worse. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Apr 15, 2021

Love and Monsters is mercifully zombie-free, while serving up a refreshingly different vibe from the word go. It’s not mock-heroic in a winking way; it doesn’t seem so pleased with its own punchlines. It’s rueful and shrugging. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Oct 17, 2020

While it might be legally accurate to say that Love and Monsters isn’t based on pre-existing material, it couldn’t be more obvious that it was conceived by someone who saw “Zombieland” on TV one night and thought to themselves: “I could do it better. And with bugs.” Lucky for us, they were right — or at least right enough that it’s a blast to watch them try. Read full review

Lovia Gyarkye

Oct 15, 2020

Love and Monsters lacks the self-seriousness of typical dystopian flicks but, despite its surprisingly perfunctory title and relatively thin plot, it doesn’t completely lack depth. Read full review

Tara Brady

Apr 16, 2021

It’s fortunate that Dylan O’Brien has just enough goofy charm to hold all the plundered Build-a-Bear bits together. Read full review

Molly Freeman

Oct 15, 2020

Love and Monsters may not be a wholly fresh concept, but a clever script and Dylan O'Brien's charm make for a super fun adventure comedy. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Oct 14, 2020

Give Love And Monsters credit: If nothing else, it does at least come up with a new (albeit ludicrous) twist on the killer-asteroid premise that once fueled two dumb disaster movies in the same year. Read full review

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User Reviews

RachelC

Nov 15, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie felt like a victory for everyone who's ever had a loved one who can't seem to conquer the thing holding them back. Whether it's depression, anxiety, or addiction, many of us have had to watch someone we care about ruin or waste their own lives because of a cycle they can't break.

Joel feels unloved and unlovable. He was experiencing one of the happiest and most hopeful moments when his world literally ended. In his mind, his failure to bond with and pair off with anyone in his bunker is evidence of his lack of value. Honestly, he's a bit like an incel in his thinking. He immediately projects any potential future happiness on a few brief conversations with his newly found, but long hunted-for girlfriend, Aimee. Setting off without proper preparations, he needs immediate rescuing by Boy, a dog who is so desperately lonely for company that he follows Joel, dragging his own sad baggage with him. Meeting Clyde and Minnow, two other survivors who bear the scars of their own losses behind masks with varying degrees of fragility. Joel learns some skills for coping with his anxiety which is necessary because he ends up being the one who has to save Boy after he separated from Minnow and Clyde. He saves himself and Boy again but has a falling out with his friend due to his friend's own weakness nearly costing them everything.

When he does meet up with the object of his projected love, he is very surprised that she's got better things to do than validate his newfound skill at just dealing with the stuff she's been dealing with for years. Unlike him, she spent her time moving forward while he remained stuck in the worst moment of his life.

Joel struggles with disbelief and self-doubt as he examines his reason for this quest, but a quick reminder that there's no place like home opens his eye to the idea that he could actually take an active role in making other people's lives better.

Like many people who are unaware of how they're really seen by others, he responds to the world around him by drawing a fictional version of it, and experiences it like he believes he's the protagonist of an epic adventure. Joel eventually lets go of the narrative of a world that revolves around him, and realizes that there are other people who have their own problems in the world, and that he might be able to help them. His discovery comes right before the most meta moment in an already self-aware monster movie. Joel realizes that the plot of every other post-apocalyptic movie has been transplanted into his movie. He seems disgusted by the cliche far more than the actions of the villains, which perfectly suits the tone of the movie, but could have easily fallen flat with a 'Good till the last twenty minutes when they tried to shove in some more action'. I think one of the gifts of this movie was its casting. With the exception of Joel and perhaps Boy, most of the other characters have limited screen time, but they manage to pack a lot into every moment. A lingering look of pain when Joel is given a goodbye hug from a bunker-mate who recently lost someone only to have a much later flashback showing the movie's first casualty, along with other bunker-mates dragging a nearly catatonic Joel to safety when he is paralyzed by fear and disbelief. Minnow and Clyde carry their loneliness and losses with them and their pain behind masks of varying degrees of fragility.

Jessica Henwick is a treat as we see her in flashbacks and the present as a firmly anchored and tough but sweet and kind young woman who becomes a leader on her own due to the fact that she had to.

O'Brien wears the screen naturally and excels in this kind of role where his goofy charm, much like in Weird City, is relatable to many people who are just regular guys in an irregular world.

I'm not really hoping for a full-length sequel, because I think it said what needed to be said. I can see where people refer to this story line as derivative, but I thought it was far more original then the dozen or so revamps of Batman/Spiderman/Superman etc.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

traumascares

Apr 28, 2021

Really enjoyed it - its a solid, enjoyable, fun movie. The most fun I have had watching netflix in a while. With a fantastic doggy actor!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jonnyscib34

Oct 19, 2020

If your into the end of the world movies that has suspense and humor this ones a great watch. I would highly recommend this movie
To all. Definitely can see a possible sequel!!!

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

Mikeguzman22

Apr 21, 2021

Basic story, great CGI monsters that can get you authentically disgusted and nice characters that make just enough to deliver a good movie that you will enjoy watching.

Nothing epic, just a good movie that does its job.
Definitely worth a watch.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Iamcritical86

Aug 21, 2021

I gotta admit, I thought the premise of this movie sounded utterly stupid, and although Love And Monsters WAS a little far fetched, and although I would've preferred a little more action and a little less love story, I'd still say it's worth a watch. Dylan O'Brien wasn't too hard to look at!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 18, 2020

For what it's worth, it was fun.
Completely forgettable, of course, but if you're just looking for entertainment that demands nothing more than turning off your brain and having fun, then I can say that this is a pretty good option.
I say this because I saw it with zero expectations and didFor what it's worth, it was fun.
Completely forgettable, of course, but if you're just looking for entertainment that demands nothing more than turning off your brain and having fun, then I can say that this is a pretty good option.

I say this because I saw it with zero expectations and did not end up disappointed or bored.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

risonyeong

Apr 21, 2021

3 stars is only for the cgi monsters. watched it no choice coz need to find out why it's nominated. conclusion: the quality of the nomination has dropped so much that only Tenet can win. but then 'clash of titans' has equally good cgi monsters but not nominated.
the actor was from maze3 stars is only for the cgi monsters. watched it no choice coz need to find out why it's nominated. conclusion: the quality of the nomination has dropped so much that only Tenet can win. but then 'clash of titans' has equally good cgi monsters but not nominated.
the actor was from maze runner. he was quite ok in that series but if u give the actors bad script, this is what u get. very painful movie. almost unnecessary silly. will ferrel is intelligent silly, if u get what i mean.
the only character worth watching is the ........ u guessed it....... dog.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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