Review of A Monster Calls (2016) by Ethan S — 27 Apr 2017

Before he embarks on directing the prehistoric sequel to Jurassic World, director J.A. Bayona presents a film that features a much different kind of monster. A Monster Calls tells the intimate story of young Connor O'Malley. Connor's life is in shambles. His schoolmates bully him and leave him emotionally and physically battered. At home, his single mother (Felicity Jones) bravely faces terminal cancer. Connor's estranged father lives with his new family in America, so it looks like Connor will have to move in with his stern grandmother played by Sigourney Weaver.

One evening, Connor encounters a monster that emerges from the large tree outside of his home. Liam Neeson brings a perfect balance of menace and wisdom to the voice of this animated creature. The monster informs Connor that he will tell the boy three true stories. At the completion of the third story, Connor must tell the monster a story of his own truth. Neeson's booming voice narrates as each story unfolds in the form of beautifully rendered watercolor animations. These fables intersperse with Connor's domestic drama and culminate in a crescendo emotion and self-discovery.

Based on the novel by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls brilliantly combines fantasy with the raw emotion of a child coming to terms with the mortality of his mother. Patrick Ness follows in the footsteps of other authors including Gillian Flynn and Emma Donoghue by providing a screenplay of his work that both preserves the intent of the novel while effortlessly adapting to the different medium of film. Lewis MacDougall brings an honesty to his role as Connor, effortlessly shouldering the emotional momentum of the entire film. MacDougall's performance is juxtaposed by a masterful turn by Sigourney Weaver as his grandmother. With Bayona at the helm, A Monster Calls is a modern day fairytale that sails through the difficult topics of love and loss while maintaining a heart and imagination that makes it one of the most unique and emotionally satisfying films of the year.