For some reason, every second movie is about alien invasions. Literally! It seems to be a trend that has been reignited by the success of Neill Blomkamp’s masterful District 9 last year. I don’t know, it’s feeble to even try to pin-point what truly started it. This year has already seen the appearance of Strausse Brothers’ (of Aliens Vs. Predator Requiem - a masterwork in the field of shitness) Skyline, a film which seems a poor mans Independance Day. Then next year sees Jonathan Liebesman’s Battle: Los Angeles, Jon Favreau’s genre mixer Cowboys and Aliens, Oren Peli’s (of Paranormal Activity) Area 51, Greg Mottola’s comedy Paul, i’m sure i can go on.
However, within all these, there is the little invasion film just released, Gareth Edward’s Monsters. A tiny, independant film which does what so many of these films fail to do. Create a compelling, touching story based on characters rather than spectacle.
Based in an America where an alien force has landed on Earth and contaminated an area of Southern America and Mexico. It follows Kaulder (Scoot McNairy), a photographer for a newspaper who was ordered down to Mexico to check on his boss’s daughter, Samantha (Whitney Able) following an alien attack within the infected zone. Kaulder is only interested in getting a photo of a live alien, yet is given the objective to return Samantha home to America, a seemingly simple exercise which, due to various circumstances leads them into the zone.
It’s a simple idea that is hardly unique, with obvious similarities ranging from Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker to Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield. What is truly amazing is how low budget the production truly was. Shot on roughly $400,000 dollars, with only a two man camera crew, two main no-name actors and very little shots of actual aliens. All these things work in the favor director Edwards, as he utilizes everything that he has, making a daring directorial debut.
It’s amazing to discover that there was no solid script for the film, but rather an outline for what will happen in each scene, and thus left up to what is around them at the time and casting locals. It’s just amazing that it actually works, and gives the film a real gritty realism. The cinematography works, the score works, the story works.
The main actors, McNairy and Able are fantastic. They are both believable and likeable, and you invest in what is essentually a love story set in the backdrop of an invasion. It helps that they are in a relationship in real life, creating a great honesty.
It’s just great to seem independant filmmakers having the balls to tackle such an ambitious subject in such an intelligent, resourceful fashion. I would be interested in seeing what Edwards accomplishes next. For now, Monsters is A-grade in terms of the alien invasion genre, a layered and intimate love story, a journey, a damn fine alien picture. The only negative aspect i find is actually seeing the aliens, where mystertiously concealing them would have proved more fear inducing, but that said, the way they are handled during the climax is something wonderful.
This is a gem of independant filmmaking, one that shows even with a little bit of money, you can make a film that is head over heels better than 90% of Hollywood’s big budget output. Well done Mr Edwards.
4.5/5
