Director J.A. Bayona
Genre Drama | Fantasy
Cast Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell
Rating PG-13
Release Date January 6th, 2017
“A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mom’s terminal illness”
A Monster Calls is an emotional drama directed by J.A. Bayona, who previously directed the Academy-Award nominated film The Impossible (2012). Bayona is currently listed as the director for the Jurassic World sequel, currently slated for 2018. The screenplay was featured in the 2013 Blacklist; a list of the “most liked” unmade scripts of the year. The film is based on the best-selling book of the same name, written by Patrick Ness, who received a writing credit for the film. After doing a bit of research, I learned that the novel was originally started by U.K. born British activist and writer Siobahn Dowd, who actually passed away tragically from cancer at the young age of 47. As per Ness’s author note in the book, “She had the characters, a premise, and a beginning. What she didn’t have, unfortunately, was time.” The film stars Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, and Toby Kebbell. Liam Neeson warrants a mention as he voices The Monster.
Well-written, touching, and deeply emotional, A Monster Calls is a must-see film that will leave a lasting impression. Complete with storytelling ability as close to a book as you can get, the impact of the story will leave you speechless. A Monster Calls packs a visual punch, but as I stated, the strength lies in the storytelling and the sheer emotional depth. Creating genuine authenticity, this is a film that carefully manages a sensitive subject without the risk of forcing an emotional response from the audience. At the root of the story, A Monster Calls is about acceptance and the necessary stages of grief. Regardless of age, demographic, circumstance, etc, losing a loved one is a very difficult pill to swallow and the emotionally driven script touches on that in a very special way. Talented director J.A. Bayona creates a unique reality of a world dominated by this young boy's imagination, and the two somehow come together seamlessly. Even though the film employs a considerable amount of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), everything feels so intimate that you will never second-guess what is unfolding right before your eyes. Real or not, it simply does not matter.
A Monster Calls includes a uniquely talented cast, each with their own unique talents. Young U.K. born actor Lewis MacDougall is absolutely amazing in his role as the boy who is suddenly forced into adulthood. Previously starring in 2015's Pan, MacDougall is relatively new to the acting scene but has a few other films currently in the works. Starring alongside him is the ultra-talented Felicity Jones, who plays a character so full of emotion you feel like she could literally explode at any moment. I can only assume that Jones played a large part in ensuring the chemistry between herself and the young actor, who form a strong mother/son bond, transcends the screen. It was amazing. Jones most recently starred in Inferno and The Theory of Everything, and it seems that she is incapable of turning in a bad performance. The ageless queen of actresses Sigourney Weaver, is fantastic in her role as expected. Toby Kebbell, who formerly starred in Ben-Hur and Warcraft: The Beginning, was surprisingly effective in his role as the absent father. Last but not least, our favorite hero Liam Neeson as the voice of The Monster is just perfect!
A Monster Calls is a fantastic film and a true work of art, a fact that is difficult to argue. Considering we just made it through the Holiday season, many of us more than likely feel run-down with the overly emotional, or sentimental films. I get that. But trust me when I say that A Monster Calls is in a class of its own, and quite simply deserves an opportunity to have an impact on you through the magic of storytelling. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even considering the high expectations I had, and I can't wait to read the book! Highly recommended.
