The Monster

Name: The Monster
Genre: Drama, Horror
Released: November 11, 2016
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 69

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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6.0

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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The Monster

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: November 11, 2016 | R

Summary: A divorced mother (Zoe Kazan) and her headstrong daughter must make an emergency late night road trip to see the girl’s father. As they drive through deserted country roads on a stormy night, they suddenly have a startling collision that leaves them shaken but not seriously hurt. Their car, however, is dead, and as they try in vain to getA divorced mother (Zoe Kazan) and her headstrong daughter must make an emergency late night road trip to see the girl’s father. As they drive through deserted country roads on a stormy night, they suddenly have a startling collision that leaves them shaken but not seriously hurt. Their car, however, is dead, and as they try in vain to get help, they come to realize they are not alone on these desolate backroads - a terrifying evil is lurking in the surrounding woods, intent on never letting them leave. [A24]… Expand

Director: Bryan Bertino

Genre(s): Drama, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

The Playlist Andrew Crump

Nov 11, 2016

It’s what we don’t see, at least not in full, that makes the film scare so effectively. Bertino holds his monster in reserve, conceding its presence through brief and mostly obscured glimpses of its shape. Read full review

Justin Chang

Nov 10, 2016

Not least of the surprises here is that even when The Monster is trying to scare you witless, its every scene insistently reaffirms its characters’ humanity. Read full review

Justin Lowe

Nov 12, 2016

Deliberately skirting the Halloween horror corridor, Brian Bertino’s tautly composed monster movie serves as a brutally effective metaphor for the turmoil of adolescence, with all of its rebelliousness and confusion. Read full review

Matt Donato

Nov 10, 2016

In the end, The Monster does more by way of thrilling tension and heartfelt admissions than it does through any scares, but that doesn’t make it a bad horror film. Bryan Bertino reveals a gushy soft side, only to tear out his heart and hoist it for all to see. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Nov 10, 2016

Part of the ticklish enjoyment in The Monster is how the director, Bryan Bertino (“The Strangers”), plays with genre registers and how, after opening with disquieting stillness and an isolated child, he slowly yet surely turns up the shrieks. Read full review

Ethan Sacks

Nov 9, 2016

Bertino is just concerned with making you feel for his characters — and that he manages to do competently, despite their deep flaws. Well, that and spill some popcorn along the way. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 9, 2016

The Monster is as dull and predictable as its title, a creature feature in which the melodramatic flashbacks are the only bits with bite. Read full review

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User Reviews

TryASummersault

Nov 14, 2016

A well executed emotionally driven horror drama with an amazing acting performance by the young girl. Excellent atmosphere and camerawork and an effectively well crafted and somewhat realistic looking monster. Definitely worth a watch.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BITESCREEN

Jun 21, 2017

Zerbrechliche Figuren erleichtern die Identifikation – vor allem im Horrorfilm. Denn wer mitfühlt, leidet auch mit – und schreit im Idealfall vor Angst. Bryan Bertino greift für The Monster auf denselben Trick zurück – und verpasst seinem subtilen Creature-Feature eine stark angeknacksteZerbrechliche Figuren erleichtern die Identifikation – vor allem im Horrorfilm. Denn wer mitfühlt, leidet auch mit – und schreit im Idealfall vor Angst. Bryan Bertino greift für The Monster auf denselben Trick zurück – und verpasst seinem subtilen Creature-Feature eine stark angeknackste Hauptdarstellerin: In tiefster Nacht düst eine alkoholkranke und überforderte Mutter durch den verregneten Forst – um die Tochter feige bei Papa abzuladen. Die Strafe folgt prompt: Erst zwingt ein angefahrener Wolf den Wagen in die Knie, dann attackiert ihn ein schleimiges Monster. Es folgt eine Mischung aus Alien und Cujo: Im Auto und auf offener Straße beginnt ein dicht inszeniertes Duell, wobei Bertino erfreulicherweise in beiden Räumen für klaustrophobische Spannung sorgt. Leider verliert das Karren-Kammerspiel an Schrecken, sobald das Monster seine fiese Fratze zeigt, während Flashbacks in die schnapsgetränkte Vergangenheit im actionreichen Finale etwas deplatziert wirken.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

johnbobs1

Dec 12, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A film of two halves; In two different ways. One half is the distinctly horror themed atmosphere and plot, and the second half concerns the relationship between our main mother and daughter character duo. For the first half of the film, I watched avidly as the atmosphere and dread of the dark forest took hold, and the dynamic of the mother-daughter relationship proved genuinely interesting. Sadly, the second half of the film threw all this potential away, with sloppy horror tropes and predictable scares, and an ultimately depressing, over acted and unoriginal conclusion to the story and dynamic of the main characters. Give it a miss.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Deanomite

Jan 15, 2020

Zoe Kazan gives another pretty good performance, Ella Ballantyne also did well for a little kid. The photography was a little too dark and the script just didn't work for me. I am always ready to accept dumb actions of characters in crisis, but there is a limit. Really, when characters useZoe Kazan gives another pretty good performance, Ella Ballantyne also did well for a little kid. The photography was a little too dark and the script just didn't work for me. I am always ready to accept dumb actions of characters in crisis, but there is a limit. Really, when characters use their fight or flight response and adrenaline gives them courage or super strength or maniacal fear, that's what makes a good movie, not having that robs the audience of a relatable experience. I think movies like this would benefit from giving the creature some personality, a little goes a long ways. Also, too much melodrama, i really got the Titanic-Jack-on-a-door-you're-gonna-have-babies vibe.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

stop9091

Mar 20, 2017

A movie with many good qualities, completely ruined by a nonsensical and cliched plot.

The worst offense is that the characters take the worst possible choices at any moment - "there's something dangerous outside the car... what do we do?... LET'S GO OUTSIDE AND CHECK!". Several other plotA movie with many good qualities, completely ruined by a nonsensical and cliched plot.

The worst offense is that the characters take the worst possible choices at any moment - "there's something dangerous outside the car... what do we do?... LET'S GO OUTSIDE AND CHECK!".

Several other plot point just don't make sense or are extremely weak, most notably the monster is obviously extremely strong... but it dies in a cheesy way which not even a human would die in.

The weakness of the script also shows in the fact that while the drama is solid, the movie tries unsuccessfully to make a metaphor of it; the ending speech, which clarifies the metaphor, is just pretentious and disconnected.

As written, there are many good qualities, but I can only take so much nonsense. With better screenwriting, this could have been a really good movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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