Review of The Monster (2016) by Mac S — 24 Jan 2017

The Monster is a low budget horror film from the same writer/director Bryan Bertino. From the filmmaker that made an unsettling horror film like The Strangers. Bertino likes to put realistic characters into an unsettling situation all while having a plot that focuses a non-healthy mother/daughter relationship.

It follows on a simple plot; an alcoholic/heavy smoker young mother Kathy (Zoe Kazan) is taking her daughter Lizzy (Ella Ballentine) to her fathers. It would be a long drive in a wilderness location. Until they get caught up in a storm, were their car loses control and breaks an axle. Both stuck in the middle of the highway with no traffic. They become stalked by an unknown monster that lurks the woods.

What I really liked about The Monster is Bertino does write a powerful emotional script about an irresponsible mother, that verbally and physically abuses her daughter. It also gives a strong performance with a young talented actress like Ella Ballentine. The script follows on realistic characters in real life situations. Then, adding these characters traveling in a distant highway on a rainy night and a monster lurking the area. I also liked that the film did not rely on much CGI on the monster but falling into the old school practical effect on the creature. The whole prosthetics trick displaying the monster, which you do not see in current horror movies. The music composer also put in effort in delivering an unsettling score.

The Monster film does have its flaws which Bryan Bertino fails in this and The Strangers. I know how much he likes to write realistic characters. But they make terrible choices when being attacked by the monster. There are moments, were one-person pauses to look at the other for long periods of time when the beast can be lurking just behind or near them. Without giving much away, but a character also makes an illogical decision that could have worked on their defense against the monster. But guessing it would have made the movie a lot shorter, if she did made a smart choice. Also, Scott Speedman has a brief appearance in the film during a flashback as Kathy's boyfriend. An underrated actor, but feels like his role could have extended.

The Monster is a fair horror movie that puts realistic characters into a nightmare. The film does lack in being scary as well. And did not have much thrills to put you on the edge of your seat for a horror film.