The movie reviewed here is definitely NOT for children, and probably not for many other people either. Please see my previous post on why horror films are reviewed on a Christian website like K_Line Christian Online.
- GENRE: Sci-Fi Horror
- ACTORS: Whitney Able, Scoot McNairy
- RATING: R
- PARENTAL NOTE: Not intended for children. Some bad language. Big bad monsters, of the type that might scare small children and timid adults. Moderate violence.
- INTENDED AUDIENCE: This movie is intended for fans of the genre, and may not be appreciated by others.
- GENERAL PLOT: (No spoilers) Simple plot. A Man and a woman must traverse a monster infested “infected zone” in northern Mexico to reach the presumably “uninfected” USA.
REVIEW: First of all, make sure you are watching the right movie. There are several movies with the same or similar title. When I started watching this film, I was looking forward to a cheesy fake monster movie on the order of vintage 1960’s Japanese cinema. I wasn’t disappointed in that regard. But this movie turned out to be a lot more. For example, the monsters. Generally, the less seen of monsters in a movie like this, the better. But we are shown a full view of the monster prototype in the opening scene. Does it look ridiculous? In a way, yes, it does look silly. Or maybe not. It is presented in a manner (often mostly off screen) that seems plausible. Then there is the monster graffiti on the walls in Mexico. If the monsters are depicted in graffiti, there must be something to them.
Surprisingly perhaps, there are some real redeeming points worth mentioning in MONSTERS. In many movies of this ilk, the characters are shown revelling in debauchery; and sex is shown as casual, expectable and without consequence. Not so in MONSTERS. In this movie we see very little of the actual debauchery. An arm and pair of feet projecting from under the sheets show us that a prostitue is in a bed–suggestive, but not explicit. And we are shown that sin has it’s consequences–a missed relationship with a son, and a missed opportunity to escape the monsters.
- RECOMMENDATION:1 This is a horror movie. Many people will be highly offended by every movie in this genre because of the violence, language and other questionable elements. However, if you are a fan of this genre–I highly recommend MONSTERS. It has a simple, but compelling story to tell. The characters, though imperfect, are mostly likable and interesting. Good and evil are shown. We are shown the benefit of virtue and the consequences of sin.
- RATING (out of 5 stars):
MOVIE RATING SYSTEM:
Start with zero (0) out of five (5) possible STARS
- Add one STAR if it looks like the movie was made by professional film makers–not 4 or 5 guys with a camcorder.
- Add one STAR if the film has a story, theme or plot (optional for horror and/or zombie movies); or if the movie makes any sense.
- Add additional STARS for special effects, acting, good moral message(s), realistic zombies, scariness,
interesting theme or plot and the like. - Subtract STARS for extreme bad acting, COMPLETELY awful themes/messages, overall INCREDIBLE trashiness, graphic and persistent lewdness, and the like.
