A Monster Calls
3.5/5
Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Written by: Patrick Ness
Rated: PG-13
Our story begins "with a boy, too old to be a kid, too young to be a man, and a nightmare" (Ness 2016). Conor O'Malley lives in a dreary spot in the U.K. He spends his days at school, where a bully taunts and beats him. He comes home to his grandmother's house, where he cannot touch anything, for her fear of destroying any piece from her delicate legacy. His mother is sick, and his father infrequently visits. So Conor, a young boy afraid and confused by his world, calls for help. That night a monster came walking.
A Monster Calls is teeming with life, brought about through its tremendous cast. The monster is tremendously played by Liam Neeson. Through the use of motion capture, and practical effects, Liam Neeson interweaves fiery violence, and gentle compassion into this memorable performance. He supplies the monster with a gruff, deep, and strong voice. Even when the monster is whispering, his voice rumbles the floors, and makes the ceiling quake. In the same way Liam Neeson makes his fantastical character lifelike, and emotionally rich, all of the lead performing artists give their character's a sense of true humanity. Lewis MacDougall debuts, as Conor O'Malley. He handles the complexities of his character with an earnest openness, and sincere professionalism. Felicity Jones plays his mother with passion, grace, and humor. Sigourney Weaver is Conor's grandmother. Her commitment to her role, gives the character a beautiful balance between an evil witch and a loving parent. Every performance in A Monster Calls benefits the film.
Another powerful element within the film is its unique visual design, which is showcased through the film's dual environments. The real world is often shown using gray and muted tones of color. The rain drips slowly from the sky, and the world is a vast empty and dreadful place. When The monster arrives, he brings darkness, but one made of flaming reds and oranges. The stories he tells are illustrated, through wildly imaginative 3-D animated water color paintings. Their colors are rich, and inviting. In each of the film's environments are elements of uncertainty, terror, tears, and wonder. All of them give A Monster Calls an individually engaging and visually stimulating atmosphere.
Perhaps the film's greatest flaw is its difficultly understood nature. The story is meant to confound and only be fully understood at its climax. This long awaited conclusion may prompt viewers to express aggravation at the film's slow pace, while it may give other viewers a much needed catharsis. Because of this pacing, younger viewers who should watch this film may be inclined to turn off this confusing story. Adults will likely ignore this rich fairy tale, because of its young protagonist and fantastical plot. No matter what the age, A Monster Calls unfortunately has a hard time reaching its audience. The niche this film successfully speaks to will cherish A Monster Calls, and return to it time, and time again.
Though it is hard to properly state what A Monster Calls is about, director J.A. Bayona best describes this complex genre combining film. He says A Monster Calls is a "cinematicall story. It's about the bond between Mother and Son. It's a movie about truth. It's about love, and legacy, and it's about art."
Verdict: A Monster Calls is a unique film with a tremendous cast and a rich aesthetic, but it's complex story may offer audiences either unwanted confusion, or much needed catharsis.
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