Terrible Monsters

With an ominous name like Monsters, I thought that this 2010 film directed by Gareth Edwards would be a something I would enjoy. Not only did I like its title, but was under the impression that with a narrative of humans trying to live with aliens (in this case, monsters) I was going to see similar themes as explored in District 9 (2009).  

Now I think to myself, was it just me? Did I miss something? Or was this a film I should just taken for what it was? I realised no.

Monsters tries to open strongly or even ambitiously with its handheld camera work in night vision for us to witness a battle, where guns and missiles are used to attack a gigantic squid-like monster. This then cuts to the disruption of its title Monsters, setting itself up as an appetiser of what’s to come whilst, also implying that there are other monsters….

 When I saw this, I thought of the opening to Children of Men (2006) and similarities of handheld movement that is also interrupted by its title. Children of Men introduces a depressing, futuristic narrative of human infertility leading into a well structured narrative. But with Monsters, there is no connection to its opening sequence, or the military within most of the rest of the film. The film presents that the word ‘monsters’ could in fact be a metaphor for the US government ( funny coming from a British director) and their treatment of South America or Mexican people to be exact. But like the opening, this metaphor is touched upon but never really explored in any real depth, it is just obviously stated.

Obviousness comes also with the two main hipster looking characters, who re- explains any loose ends that had already been suggested or implied. We get to know Andrew, a photojournalist (Scoot McNairy) who has the job of getting his wealthy employer’s daughter back home safely. While, Samantha (Whitney Able) shows off her bilingual skills and complains about her fiancée. Throughout the film we seem to be involved in endless conversations which are deep, deep on a Facebook level.
 

I enjoyed the few times we got to view actual monsters, which gave Edwards a chance to show off his special effects. Or, the occasional time I thought I was watching Avatar (2009), in the films exploration of the way that the two main characters would try to connect with the locals and their habitat.  This was enhanced by the films location shooting and exploration of the culture of the Mexican natives. Although that was what warranted the confusion I had for where Monsters was actually heading or what it was suggesting.

Monsters, like District 9, used improvisation. However, as it is done badly then we get two characters that appear lost, uttering lots of boring dialogue and manage to come across as patronising tourists. Maybe intended, or not, perhaps it’s the two main characters who were the real monsters of the film and killed anything that could have been remotely enjoyable about Monsters.