User Reviews

Can I honestly urge you to put aside an hour and a half of your life to watch this? No, I don't think so. There's nothing wrong with this film. I am old, and remember radio plays (honest, they were entertaining, and tested one's imagination) and this feels like one of those. There's nothing 'cinematic' about it. It has one idea, and does it quite well. Should you be stuck inside on a rainy day and you've done all your chores, go ahead. You won't regret it. But going for a walk, tidying your house, finishing those jobs are more important.

Well acted, well presented, nicely structured. A good ending (if you've been paying attention to the hints).

Again, this goes to show you don't need huge budgets to create good sci-fi. Absolute props to Lily Sullivan who's crushing it carrying the whole thing as a one-woman show. Now you have to know before you go in that it is extremely slow paced sci-fi with little to no special effects, and everything hinges on the atmosphere, closer to a psychological thriller in that way. In fact I find the poster for the movie a tad misleading. While it kept me engaged for the vast majority of the time, there are some pacing problems in certain places so that was unfortunate.

But overall it's definitely something I would recommend for people who can appreciate "non-flashy sci-fi".

This is one of those movies that is surprisingly well done for a miniscule budget and, basically, one charachter on screen.

We have a tendency, these days, to watch movies with other things going on around us, this is not that kind of movie.

It would be great in a cinema but I doubt it will get a release there. Instead, be prepared to set up the room with no distractions, lower the lights and get into it. Remember Blair Witch, you need to be immersed.

If you do that then you will find a good story, well acted, some good clues but not much truly revealed, too early, and a pretty reasonable ending that ties it all together.

Whilst it is scifi, that is all in the concept rather than the action so its closer to a thriller than anything else.

With the cinematography, it was all too mono and dark. I guess they were trying to set a mood but it was the same throughout with no light and shade, just grey. This didn't suit the surroundings of a house with massive windows, in the open, and lost the chance to convey any passing of time from day to night and vice versa. With only one charachter for 90 minutes, it needed something more to vary the pace so they could have done a hell of a lot better with that and it would have driven the story.

If nothing else, I just love the house that the movie is set in.

With all that said, on the whole, it is well worth watching and deserving of a decent rating if it is watched as a movie should be. Its definitely not a 10 but is worth and hour and half of your life.

Monolith REALLY could have been something other than what it turned out to be. Despite only ever having one actor on the screen (all others only did voice roles) it engaged me and intrigue me but around halfway through the film it starts to unravel from a sci-fi/thriller into predictable and unimaginative plot lines that quickly send things sharply downhill resulting in what ended as an entirely underwhelming film.

It can't seem to decide if it wants to be about aliens or about mental illness as neither is made clear in any way shape or form leaving the conclusion entirely up to the viewer.

If I wanted to spend the majority of 90 minutes watching someone talk over the phone I should have just watched "the guilty" 2018 or 2021.

4/10 Thriller 4/10 Mystery 2/10 Sci-fi

Absolutely nothing special here. Save yourself the time despite the solid acting from the aussie actress.

Despite its intriguing premise and initial promise, "Monolith" ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging cinematic experience. The film stars Lily Sullivan as a disgraced journalist attempting to redeem her career by investigating a mysterious object, the titular "monolith."

While the film begins with a promising setup, it quickly devolves into a predictable series of tropes and clichés. The character development of Lily Sullivan's journalist is superficial and lacks depth, making it difficult for viewers to truly empathize with her struggles. As she dives into the world of conspiracies and questionable evidence, her motivations and ethical considerations remain disappointingly unexplored.

The pacing of "Monolith" is another area where the film falters. The build-up to the central mystery surrounding the black brick is drawn out and uninspired, while the climax of the story feels rushed and unsatisfying. Furthermore, the film's overreliance on clichéd conspiracy theories detracts from the potential novelty of its central premise. Instead of delving into the possible implications and ramifications of the black bricks, "Monolith" focuses on sensationalism, ultimately undermining the story's credibility.

Visually, the film offers some striking shots and engaging cinematography, but these moments are not enough to save it from its flawed narrative. The editing and pacing also contribute to the film's disjointed feel, making it difficult for the audience to become fully immersed in the story.

The off-screen supporting cast, while talented, is given little to work with in terms of character development or meaningful dialogue. The film's inability to flesh out its secondary characters leaves the audience with a shallow understanding of the world in which the story unfolds.

"Monolith" squanders a compelling premise with weak character development, disjointed pacing, and an overemphasis on conspiracy theory clichés. While there are moments of visual brilliance and Lily Sullivan's performance is commendable, the film ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying and cohesive narrative. Fans of the thriller genre may find some entertainment value in "Monolith," but the film will likely leave most viewers wanting more substance and depth.

This started out great, for at least the first 30-40 min - a great unknown world to most of us about podcasting and unsolved mysteries. Etc.

The idea of people calling in and talking about a black mystery brick that could be alien with powers is a great high concept. Unfortunately, the film struggles to outlay a clear story and real theme instead it jumps around with the editing and doesn't stay on track.

It could have really helped to show more of the core subject and delve deeper into the mystery and visualize that.

This had the potential to be something really great that could even compete with American films.

Lilly Sullivan is FANTASTIC in the role of podcaster, and she really sells it.

The film is shot fantastically, and the music is great as well as the look of the film.

The other characters (voices) due to low budget are somewhat good - but after a while NOT seeing them becomes annoying and frustrating.

Some of the special effects are great and the locations too.

Better story development and character development would have given this film so much more.

By the time you get to the end - with a. Really cool revelation - It feels too late and is lost.

To the Director remember that every scene should move the story forward, sometimes too much focus on reminding the audience of the past conversations becomes stale and repetitive.

The back-story should have been so much more compelling and emotive, but something was missing.

Overall, well done for an Aussie film.

I saw Monolith at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival and loved it! It is a brilliant low-budget Australian sci-fi thriller that Lucy Campbell wrote and Matt Vesely directed. Lily Sullivan plays a disgraced journalist in the movie who looks into the mysterious "monolith" in an effort to salvage her career. While the film's historical and cultural context is not explicitly stated, it is set in a world where podcasts are a popular medium for investigative journalism, so it is reasonable to assume it is present-day. The film's theme is centred around the idea of truth and the lengths people will go to uncover it. The tone of the film is dark and suspenseful, with a creeping sense of dread that builds throughout the story.

Lily Sullivan, who is the only person on screen for the entire movie, delivers a standout performance as the journalist, bringing depth and nuance to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional. The supporting cast, which is entirely voice-acting, is also strong, with each actor bringing a unique energy to their respective roles. With a distinct vision for the movie's tone and pacing, Matt Vesely directs with assurance and confidence. The haunting and atmospheric score by Benjamin Speed perfectly complements the movie's dark and suspenseful tone. Michael Tessari's cinematography is outstanding, especially in light of the movie's tight budget. The use of colour and lighting is particularly effective in creating a sense of unease and tension.

Monolith's use of symbolism is subtle but effective, with the monolith itself serving as a powerful metaphor for the truth that the journalist is seeking. The production design is impressive, with the film's restricted budget being used creatively to create a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly. The special effects are also impressive, especially, again, considering the film's low budget. The editing is precise and powerful, with every scene clearly contributing to the story's progression. The pace of the film is slow and deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually over the course of the story. The dialogue is well-written, with each character's voice feeling distinct and authentic.

Monolith is a low-budget sci-fi thriller that delivers a high-impact story. While the film's budget limitations are occasionally apparent, the film's strong performances, confident direction, and effective use of symbolism and atmosphere more than make up for any shortcomings. I would highly recommend Monolith to fans of sci-fi and suspenseful thrillers.

That's pretty much it. Acting is ok, but this story would have played out better on an audiobook... because that is basically what it was. Paid full price for this movie and both me and my girlfriend found our selvess robbed after the movie. Was not only not worth the money, but wouldn't have been worth the time of we saw it for free either.

Have 250 charachters left to write, so i will fill the rest of it with the same kind of empty substance that this movie contained... nothing but garbage that is. Hope i managed to save some elses time and money on this one.

If not, we certainly feel with you.

Yep, it's another one. If you're looking for sci-fi, horror, or both, look elsewhere, because you're probably going to be disappointed by the time you get to the end of this movie. It's something like the 46,754th movie in the last ten years that was made because someone was absolutely sure they'd managed to construct the perfect story to act as a metaphor for Dealing with Trauma and the world needed to see it. You know, for healing. And, to be fair, this one handled it better than most, but it still suffers from the basic failing they all do, which is that, because the writers only really cared about the metaphor, not the story, and because they're not very good writers, they eventually reach a point where they can't conclude the story AND the metaphor, so the story falls apart in order to make the metaphor clear. I think I've seen all 46,754 of them and not once has the story been able to stand on its own. The final act always, always only serves the metaphor and, viewed without it, is complete gibberish. This one is only different in that it managed the job marginally better, but not well enough that it's going to be a satisfying experience for anyone who doesn't think Dealing with Trauma is a super important thing to watch movies about. The day the movie industry finally turns its back on the generation of filmmakers whose worldview came from Facebook will be a great victory for creativity. Until then, we're going to get this facile, shallow, preachy, self-satisfied bait-and-switch again and again.

The story unfolds with a progressive discovery of mysteries that ends up capturing the viewers and dragging them into its plot.

Main character and only performer of the set, Lily Sullivan, in a salient performance, maintains the tension throughout the entire film with her soothing voice.

Deals with three sensitive trending issues, social media, mental health and secrecy.

Ending in an unexpected twist of the events even more shocking than the tale itself.

Low budget but a well treated image and a very immaculate location. A perfect use of resources.

Surprising finding alike Primer (2004), The Man from Earth (2007), Coherence (2013)...

I haven't been actually scared during a movie like this in awhile. From the cold open, the very first few mins, I was instantly so creeped out that from then on I was 100% in. And I loooove a slow burn, and an unexplained sense of dread, this movie is so good at making you feel like something terrible is gonna happen and you don't even know what you're scared of. Lol. On its surface it's a spooky movie, but it does have some deep themes, I implore you to read more about what the writer and director had to say on the movie after you watch it. It's really smart and well done. Lily Sullivan absolutely crushed it. She reminds me a lot of Victoria Pedretti and I consider that a huge compliment. If you like podcasts, true crime, YouTube docs, etc you'll love this. For fans of: The Fog (1980), The Invitation (2015)

No pun intended - it is not an easy feat to deal with stuff from the past. It is even worse if you do not know exactly what it is you have to deal with. And for the viewer it may be tricky to say the least. I am not an avid podcast listener, so I am not aware of all the ins and outs. That said, it doesn't seem to be too complicated.

But the podcast is just a shell - a shell that does only cover what is the core of the movie. Our main character who sort of has to shoulder the movie on her own. She is not the first to do just that and there have been other movies that did it better (looking at you Pontypool). But the movie is still more than intriguing. Especially the twists and turns are what make (or break for some) the movie.

The central performance is quite out there - in the best of senses. There may be stuff that gets repeated (interviews that you hear more than once) and the movie does use cliches - but if you hold tight, the movie will reward you ... not physical reward. And you also have to decipher certain things for yourself. Like a ring - one to rule them all ... or more than one? And what would that tell us? You'll be able to see it I am certain ...

I CANNOT believe this is Matthew Vesely's first horror movie, because it's one of the best i've ever seen, and horror is my favorite genre. I think the backlash this movie has received is mostly from older people who don't know what a podcast is and were too stuck on trying to figure out what it is the protagonist is doing to enjoy the art-piece on their screen.

This is peak innovative horror. There are no jumpscares, no loud noises, just this ever-present dread that that slowly resolves into something tangible as the protagonist learns more about what it is she's looking into.

Horror movies stopped being 'scary' to me a while ago, but this was so wonderfully unsettling that I had to make an account just to review it as highly as possible.

I need to stop watching movies for a while, because i don't know if i'll be able to enjoy them fully in contrast with THIS.

Enjoyed this a lot. But it wont be for everyone.

An intriguing and different story, well made and very well acted with a creepy atmosphere.

It is quite a slow burn but effective and probably best not to know too much going in as theres fun to be had watching the intelligent story unfold.

Ambiguous but in a good way that left me thinking about the film after it had finished.

Well done to all involved, the attempt to make something different is much appreciated and you did a great job proving you dont need a huge budget, big cast or lots of CGI effects to make a good film with an interesting story.

Pretty interesting concept and while I love stories, it jsut got me inside a lot! I am very happy with most of the movie (95%) so it is well worth it to just give it a try if you like to be puzzled and getting inside in the world of the creators. I like so the movie was pretty cool and enjoyable.

From the beginning I was intrigued and it held me right to the almost the end - however I do watch movies late at night, and sometimes I am just getting tired and sleepy it didn't bother me much this time.

I was happy to watch this movie because it was something new and different than usuall. Creating a podcast is also a subject that is interesting to me - so it was realy an awesome movie to be honest!

After a career ending misjudgement, a Journalist uncovers a vague conspiracy theory through her podcast, as she digs deeper, she realises she's closer to the conspiracy than she first realised.

One of those films that you could easily dismiss as mehh, but if you stick with it, I think you may get something out of it. It held my attention all the way through.

Tagged as a horror, absolutely not, in no way, shape or form does this have a single scare, it's more a mystery, with sci fi undertones, you'll be kept intrigued enough, to want to hear the conclusion.

The twist at the end of the film was the highlight, and definitely the most unsettling sequence.

A very competent performance from Lily Sullivan, who carries the film pretty much single handedly.

7/10.