Review of 'Monsters'

A probe sent to collect samples of alien life from our solar system crashes in Central America which infects the entire area. Soon afterwards the entire area is quarantined. Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy), a photographer for a newspaper, is tasked with getting Samantha Wynden (Whitney Able), the daughter of his boss, home to the US from Mexico. When the ferry to go around the infected zone is cancelled they are faced with the difficult option of going through the infected zone to get home.

The biggest thing I had heard about this film was it's low budget but I had also heard it was good. I was not misinformed. Though the pacing is slow, the effects are quite good and the characterisation (and acting) is also very convincing. The approach of telling the story from the viewpoint of the normal person and not revealing everything is obviously here due to budget but I find it makes the story more interesting and believable. The creatures are never hidden from view appearing within the first few minutes of the movie (basically, big octopus-looking things). Not quite horror but suspenseful, for sure. Of course, there is the cliche of the two main characters getting together but the ending, though partially predictable is not entirely…All in all, very enjoyable.

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2011-09-17

Directed by: Gareth Edwards

Studio: Vertigo Films

Year: 2010

Length: 94 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/

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