A Monster Calls

Starring: Lewis MacGougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Ben Moor, Liam Neeson (voice)
Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
2016

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A boy (Lewis MacGougall) is visited by a tree monster as he attempts to cope with his mother's (Felicity Jones) illness.

Review:

Tim: A Monster Calls is a beautiful, heartbreaking film. It's a fantastic, visually impressive movie that cuts to very heart of what it means to be human. I really enjoyed this movie. This is a sad film, but it's one about deeper themes than you might expect.

J.A. Bayona is a director to watch. His first two films, The Orphanage and The Impossible were both solid movies, and here, he creates something truly great. He really is a talented director, as he crafts an effective, memorable film here. This is a story that had tons of potential, but was crafted into something great by Bayona.

I loved the layers to this story. In one aspect, this is a emotional drama about a young boy coming to grips with his mother's terminal illness. That aspect of the film is truly heartbreaking. To think about the overpowering emotions involved in that- about a boy losing the person he's closest to in the world, about a mother struggling to hold on and desperate not to leave her child- it's all incredibly emotional and Bayona does a fantastic job of ratcheting up the emotional component. I often complain about movies not hitting an emotional chord- that isn't a problem here, and Bayona accomplishes it without being manipulative or melodramatic. This is just a hard story about tough times in people's lives. So you have that aspect of the story, but there is a whole fantasy element as well- you have The Monster and his stories. This aspect was wonderfully interwoven into the fabric of the other story. You have this beautiful mix between reality and fantasy, so that you're never quite sure what is real, imagined, or something in between. I loved that aspect of the film. It makes for a mesmerizing viewing experience. You never quite know what to believe, so you're engrossed in the story.

Lewis MacDougall is fantastic in the lead role. He's able to convey so much emotion in his performance- you just feel for him so deeply. It's a wonderful performance from such a young actor. Felicity Jones continues to prove she's going to be one of the greats with another strong performance here. She was believable as she succumbs to the illness ravaging her body. It's a really strong performance. Sigourney Weaver might not have been quite as good as the others, but she still gives an effective performance. We don't see her enough any more, so it was a welcome treat getting to watch her here. I was shocked that I liked Toby Kebbell here- I usually can't stand the guy. He did a good job, though. I also have to mention Liam Neeson's excellent voice work as The Monster. He really did a fantastic job bringing this creature to life. His performance is one of the best of the film and it truly makes the movie better.

A Monster Calls is a sad movie, but it's a beautiful one. The script is intelligent and often brilliant, the performances are exceptional, and Bayona tells this unforgettable, heartbreaking story that makes you experience the full range of human emotion. I didn't expect to love this movie, but it surprised me at every turn. Great movies come in all shapes and sizes- Bayona does so much right here that I can't help at marvel what he created with excellent film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Orphanage, The Impossible, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe