A MONSTER CALLS REVIEWED
“A Monster Calls” should’ve been released back in October. This is a fantasy drama that needed time to find an audience and not be slammed by the sheer volume of films flooding into December. I get that Disney wanted to be the first to make Felicity Jones into a superstar, but I feel the better performance belongs to this film. Jones plays a dying single mother, who simply wants the best for her sensitive son. Unfortunately, her cancer is progressing to the point that she can’t for him anymore.
As the preteen tries to find a way to cope with his recent life changes, a giant tree monster appears to him. What appears to be a mix between Groot and a Yew Tree is revealed to be a sentient creature wise beyond comprehension. The Monster understands what has happened to the boy, but he also tries to get him to let go and move on. Unfortunately, our young lead can’t make that leap just yet. The boy’s grandmother comes into the picture to take over, as the dying mother heads to hospice care.
While many films have dealt with grief and death in 2016, none have nailed down the impact on survivors like this movie. I haven’t read the source novel by Ness, but it’s something I plan on checking out during the winter. This film might be too heavy for some viewers right now, so give it time. That being said, I hope that everyone goes out of their way to find this movie in 2017. It deserves your love.
FILM STATS
- 1 hr and 48 mins
- PG-13
- Focus
