By guest columnist Narrator26.
It’s very rare that I opt to view a film that is being promoted through its ability to make you cry, but A Monster Calls‘ buzz through word of mouth made for top priority viewing following a seemingly endless stream of excellent reviews. Having not seen so much as a synopsis or trailer, I went in completely cold.
What greeted me was a film intent upon earning my tears. Too often does a film push the ‘make audience cry’ button and expect an emotional response from a lazy musical crescendo and predictable plot turn for the worse. Thankfully, A Monster Calls‘ screenplay works well enough to develop a bond with its audience, whether they can relate to the central trauma or not, resulting in a deeply moving feature for teenagers and up.
The performances are great, its heart is in the right place and it challenges the viewer through its use of taboo themes and guilt; I have no quarrels in claiming that A Monster Calls is a well-crafted piece of storytelling.
That being said, don’t be expecting this film to convert you towards Hollywood weepies. If you’re not a fan of having your heartstrings pulled relentlessly, A Monster Calls won’t sway your stance. However, despite not coming close to shedding tears myself, I can still acknowledge that A Monster Calls is several classes above the clichéd and pathetic tripe that Oscar season often produces. A very good film that both surprised and moved me. Thoughts?
Narrator26 is a movie reviewer and film addict, you can find more of his spoiler-free reviews on his feed here.