Directed and written by newcomer Brit Gareth Edwards, Monsters is a Sci-Fi Thriller set six years after Earth has suffered an Alien invasion. The story centers around Andrew Kaulder, a journalist (Scoot McNairy) who has been asked to escort his bosses daughter Samantha Wynden (Whitney Able) across the alien infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border. This plot strikes up images of an epic road trip across dangerous lands, but in reality it doesn't quite succeed in doing so.
Throughout the film the couple watch news reports and learn about alien attacks which have destroyed towns and lives and after some trouble they eventually decide the only way back to the safety of America is by travelling through the infected zones where the aliens mainly live. Whilst travelling through the infected zone their guides and security guards seem to be killed off one by one but this doesn't create fear in the viewer, the creatures look almost laughable - like giant octopuses which feed on humans and electricity. Gareth Edwards comes from a visual effects background and from the Q&A after the film, seemed very proud of his creation of the aliens. I was expecting a lot more from them seeing as the film is titled Monsters, they didn't wow or scare the audience in any sense.
From when the two main characters Andrew and Samantha first meet it's obvious there is chemistry and this is played on very well in the film. It's not over the top or a love at first sight moment but throughout the film its obvious they are growing closer to each other. From the Q&A Gareth Edwards revealed the pair are actually a couple off-set, he first cast Scoot McNairy who then recommended Whitney Able to play his on screen partner. Casting these two actors was a very wise choice by Edwards as it is a very believable romance and they play their parts well.
The cinematography in the film was beautiful considering that a crew of two were using relatively cheap cameras and editing equipment. Shot entirely on location, mainly without permission and using any people that happened to be in the area as extras, the production side of the film has to be marvelled at with a budget of approx $15,000. I guess the themes of the film are how we can still have human connection in even the most extreme of conditions and the possibility that the idea of aliens inhabiting the Earth could happen one day but the title of the film confused me a little as the film is really about the two characters, they are the main feature in the film rather than the Monsters.
The revelation that the beginning of the film was in fact the end was a very clever move, I won't give too much away but I don't think I've seen this done before. I went to the screening having high hopes for the film and it started with an explosive opening of an alien attack but after that it was just too slow and not many events happened, if it wasn't for the chemistry of the two main characters I probably wouldn't have watched it.
I attended the Preview and Q&A at Empire Leicester Square on Saturday 28th August as part of FrightFest. Monsters 2010 Vertigo Films The film will be released in the UK on 12 November 2010
Throughout the film the couple watch news reports and learn about alien attacks which have destroyed towns and lives and after some trouble they eventually decide the only way back to the safety of America is by travelling through the infected zones where the aliens mainly live. Whilst travelling through the infected zone their guides and security guards seem to be killed off one by one but this doesn't create fear in the viewer, the creatures look almost laughable - like giant octopuses which feed on humans and electricity. Gareth Edwards comes from a visual effects background and from the Q&A after the film, seemed very proud of his creation of the aliens. I was expecting a lot more from them seeing as the film is titled Monsters, they didn't wow or scare the audience in any sense.
From when the two main characters Andrew and Samantha first meet it's obvious there is chemistry and this is played on very well in the film. It's not over the top or a love at first sight moment but throughout the film its obvious they are growing closer to each other. From the Q&A Gareth Edwards revealed the pair are actually a couple off-set, he first cast Scoot McNairy who then recommended Whitney Able to play his on screen partner. Casting these two actors was a very wise choice by Edwards as it is a very believable romance and they play their parts well.
The cinematography in the film was beautiful considering that a crew of two were using relatively cheap cameras and editing equipment. Shot entirely on location, mainly without permission and using any people that happened to be in the area as extras, the production side of the film has to be marvelled at with a budget of approx $15,000. I guess the themes of the film are how we can still have human connection in even the most extreme of conditions and the possibility that the idea of aliens inhabiting the Earth could happen one day but the title of the film confused me a little as the film is really about the two characters, they are the main feature in the film rather than the Monsters.
The revelation that the beginning of the film was in fact the end was a very clever move, I won't give too much away but I don't think I've seen this done before. I went to the screening having high hopes for the film and it started with an explosive opening of an alien attack but after that it was just too slow and not many events happened, if it wasn't for the chemistry of the two main characters I probably wouldn't have watched it.
I attended the Preview and Q&A at Empire Leicester Square on Saturday 28th August as part of FrightFest. Monsters 2010 Vertigo Films The film will be released in the UK on 12 November 2010