The Monster

A24 | Release Date: November 11, 2016

6.0	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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TryASummersaultNov 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

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stop9091Mar 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?...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 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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johnbobs1Dec 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

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DeanomiteJan 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,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 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

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BITESCREENJun 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 seinemZerbrechliche 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

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