A Monster Calls (2016) User Reviews

Yew can do it

[almaric777 · 8/10 · 24 October 2017]

I don't know who you would market this movie to. It's not a kid's movie, tho it tries very hard to look like one. It's not an adult movie (a boy and a talking tree), tho its themes certainly are mature. Both child and adult will squirm under the relentless emotional requirement with only a faint wisp of humor to lighten things up. Melancholy overload anyone? No?

But if you make it to the end, you'll have received an unexpected cathartic cleansing and a life lesson in your pocket that is hard, but beautiful in its truth.

Once you stop blubbering, that is.

A Grimm Tale Indeed

[jadepietro · 8/10 · 16 January 2017]

(RATING: ☆☆☆☆ out of 5)

THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.

IN BRIEF: A visually stunner caught up in the undergrowth of its own conventional storytelling.

GRADE: B

SYNOPSIS: A child suffers the harsh realities of life and retreats to another world.

JIM'S REVIEW: J. A. Bayona's A Monster Calls is a visually imaginative downer of a tale about a young boy who must learn to cope with grief. Based on the award-winning children's book by Patrick Ness and adapted by the author himself, the film uses animation and live action to tell its tale of woe. The results of this dark tale are enlightened by stylish direction and a highly effective performance by newcomer. Lewis MacDougall.

Mr. MacDougall plays Conor O'Malley whose life is filled with too many harsh realities: a mother suffering from terminal cancer (Felicity Jones), a distant grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) and a more distant father (Toby Kebbell), a cruel bully (James Melville). Real life offers no solitude, so Conor retreats to an imaginary world which brings with it a giant yew monster (Liam Neeson). During his visits, the tree creature provides some respite for Conor. He gives him sage advice by telling some stories to help this child through the darkness to find some solace in the real world.

A Monster Calls is more of an allegory and the film's narrative structure uses the format of interspersing animated vignettes as parables to the parallel story of Conor and his terminally-ill mother. Yes, the film is manipulative from the start, with its undeniable melodramatic set-up and ultimately tragic conclusion. The real world story is dull and so relentless in its brooding melancholia compared to the free-spirited other worldly realm and, at times, this reviewer wanted to stay in the latter. But the filmmakers treat their serious subject with such dignity and honesty, avoiding the maudlin and sentimental for the most part. There is so much to admire about Mr. Bayona's film. (The subject is not an easy task to sell to the general public. Not surprisingly, the movie is doing lackluster business in the States, although globally it is doing well. Nowadays, American moviegoers are looking to escape reality, such like the main character.)

Technically, the film soars. From Oscar Fuura's stunning photography to Fernando Velazquez's haunting music score, the film looks death squarely in the face and celebrates life. Seamlessly edited by Benat Vilplana and Jaume Marti, A Monster Calls uses its sumptuous visuals to its advantage. With swirls of bright watercolor washes adding a vibrancy to the film's story-within- a story format, the film efficiently contrasts the real from the unreal. Kudos to director Bayona and his team of artisans on their handling of this delicate theme.

The lead performances are all first-rate, Mr. Neeson voices the Monster perfectly and his motion capture performance is wonderful and so heartfelt. Ms. Jones brings superb understatement to her role as Conor's sickly parent. Her chemistry with Mr. MacDougall seems genuine and authentic. This young actor, in his film debut, is remarkable and runs the full gamut of emotions without one false note. Providing supporting work in their rather stock roles are Ms. Weaver and Mr. Kebbell who are merely serviceable, possibly due to the writing and characters.

A Monster Calls is indeed a Grimm tale, but one that deserves your attention. And be forewarned, bring a hankie with you.

"And if you need to break things, then by God, you break them."

[Muzan03 · 8/10 · 9 November 2016]

As someone who had read the book and really liked it, I found the movie as compelling and it excels at additions that are not in the novel such as the last scene which happened after the ending of the book. However, they also removed some good parts from the book, but were offset by visuals and score and the spot on performances of the characters especially Lewis MacDougall (Conor) who nailed his role in the movie. He sure knows how to cry. And that needs pointing out as a lot of kids in movies are sometimes annoying and difficult to watch. Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) and Sigourney Weaver (Aliens) who were both Academy Award Best Actress nominees were as good as anyone would expect them to be. And Liam Neeson's voice was the perfect choice for the monster's. Haunting, cold, deep, and soothing. Also, the other thing I found striking was how the book played out as a movie. Aside from a few differences (the adds and minuses), almost everything else is as what the book is. Impactful scenes as how they were narrated and readers imagine them to be and dialogue and life lessons as how they were said in the book were same as in the movie. If you have read and liked the book, then watch this. If you have not, watch it still, as long as you have a heart and know what you're getting into, chances are you'll like this gem of a movie.

"I'll. Be. Right. Here."

[bob-the-movie-man · 9/10 · 5 January 2017]

The worst thing about this movie is its title. The second worst thing about this movie is its trailer. Both will either a) put people off seeing it (it succeeded in that with my wife for example) or b) make people conclude it is a 'nice holiday film to take the kids to', which is also an horrendous mistake!

This is a crying shame because it is a riveting drama and a superb piece of film-making that may well catapult it already into my top 10 films of 2017. But it is not, I would suggest, a film that is remotely suitable for kids under 10 to see, dealing as it does with terminal illness, bullying and impending doom. For this is a dark (read pitch black) but hauntingly beautiful film.

Lewis MacDougall, in only his second film (after last year's "Peter Pan") plays Conor - a young but talented and sensitive artist growing up as a 12 year old in the North of England with his single mum (Felicity Jones). She is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer and is forever medically grasping for a new hope (D'ya see what I did there?). Young Conor believes fervently that each new treatment will be 'the one' but the building tension, the lack of sleep and his recurrent nightmares are destroying him mentally and physically. As if this wasn't enough, his distracted nature is leading to him being seriously bullied at school and there is the added stress of having to live in his grandmother's pristine and teen-unfriendly house when his mother is hospitalised.

Towering over the nearby graveyard on the hill is an ancient yew tree and Conor is visited after midnight by this "monster" (voiced by Liam Neeson). Is he dreaming, or is it real? The tree dispatches wisdom in the form of three 'tales', with the proviso that Conor tell the tree the fourth tale which "must be the truth".

A tale of grief, guilt and a search for closure, this is a harrowing but rewarding journey for the viewer.

The film is technically outstanding on so many levels:

• the art design is superb, with the gorgeous 'tale animations' being highly reminiscent of the beautiful ones in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1";

• the use of sound is brilliant, with sudden silence being used as a weapon with which to assault the senses in one key sequence; - the cinematography by Oscar Faura ("The Imitation Game") is faultless, capturing both the dreary reality in a Northern winter with the comparative warmth of the strange dream-like sequences;

• the music by Fernando Velázquez is used effectively and intelligently to reflect the sombre mood;

• the special effects team led by Pau Costa ("The Revenant", "The Impossible") shines not just with Neesen's monster, but with the incorporation of the root and branch effects into the 'normal' surroundings.

As the BFG illustrated, having a whole film carried by a young actor is a bit of an ask, but here Lewis MacDougall achieves just that like a seasoned pro. His performance is nothing short of staggering and - although a brave move by the Academy - it would be great to see him nominated for a BAFTA acting award for this.

Confirming her position in the acting top-flight is Felicity Jones, heart-wrenching in her role of the declining mum, and Sigourney Weaver is also excellent as the po-faced but grief-stricken grandmother. Liam Neeson probably didn't add much by getting dressed up in the mo-cap suit for the tree scenes, but his voice is just perfect as the wise old sage.

The only criticism of what is an absorbing and intelligent script is the introduction of Conor's Dad, played by Toby Kebbell (Dr Doom from "The Fantastic 4"), who is literally flown in from LA on a flying visit but whose role is a little superfluous to the plot.

This is exactly what "The BFG" should have been but wasn't. It draws on a number of potential influences including "Mary Poppins"/"Saving Mr Banks" and "ET". Wise, clever and a thing of beauty from beginning to end, this is a treat for movie-goers and a highly recommended watch. However, if you have lost someone to "the Big C" be aware that this film could be highly traumatic for you..... or highly cathartic: as I'm not a psychiatrist, I'm really not that sure! Also, if you are of the blubbing kind, take LOTS of tissues: the film features the best use of a digital clock since "Groundhog Day" and if you are not reduced to tears by that scene you are certifiably not human.

(For the graphical version of this review, please check out http://bob- the-movie-man.com).

Absolutely blown away

[assassin-42523 · 9/10 · 14 December 2016]

When I first walk into theater, I was not expecting much of this. Yeah, the first moments were so cliché I thought this would just be a mediocre movie at best. But after the movie, everything changed, and this became one of the best movies I've seen in years The director use beautifully rendered CGI to deliver the emotions of a struggling young boy coping with reality. It was already a hard concept that few movie successfully delivered, and yet he make so many people I know broke down in tears. Moreover, he also make use of the visual to express the incredibly complicated yet meaningful plot of the movie, constantly changing between fantasy and reality, truth and lies, acceptance and the growing of a boy into adulthood. The main actor while only a young man has already show signs of greatness, you can only wonder if he had already gone through all of this. He also actually took the time to developed each character, making the audiences attach to each and everyone of them. Which is why the ending was even more dramatic and sad for many of us And the soundtrack, oh man, the soundtrack just hit me where it really feels, this is probably the best part of this movie. Whether it's total silence for contemplation of characters or full- on orchestral work for the climax or the sad violin, man, they totally nailed it.

about truth

[Kirpianuscus · 1 September 2020]

I do not know the novel of Patrick Ness. So, to define it as a good or bad adaptation is impossible. I know only than it is a simple amazing film. For so many reasons.

• I know, very well, the taste of angry. The film gives its nuances in almost cruel manner;

• I know the profound fear of loss. The film gives the fair nuances of it.

• Lewis McDougall is great as Connor. And , just great.

• It is a nice gift to discover the work of Sigourney Weaver and Felicity Jones. Or the short appearence of lovely Geraldine Chaplin.

• It is a film to remind and to feel it . A sort of confirmation of truths deep inside you.

• At the end, you know- it is a film about yourself . The connection with th family members, the selfishness, the so useful imaginary friend, the stories passing generation by generation.

So, more than a good film with spectacular special effects. A film about ...true truth.

A beautiful modern tale suffering from focus issues

[krifranc · 7/10 · 26 September 2016]

The trailer for this movie was perfect, a real tearjerker focusing on exactly what the synopsis says: a little boy coming to terms with his mother's terminal illness with the help of his imagination. As someone who just lost his mother to cancer I was sobbing while watching the trailer and put this movie on my "must-see" -list. Unfortunately, the movie left me a bit cold.

First the good parts. The relationship between the boy (Connor) and the monster works very well and the animations that go along with the monster's stories are absolutely gorgeous. I'm usually quite sceptical about combining different visual elements because it rarely works but here the tone and amount is just perfect. Another aspect of the film that works is the chemistry between the dying mother and her son. Oddly enough, this is the movie's biggest flaw since the mother has such a small part in the storyline.

The first half of the movie strikes as unfocused, as if the director didn't know what he wanted to say. Quite often movies based on novels suffer from lack of focus because the director was unable to cut away portions from the source material. That is also the case with A Monster Calls. The heart of the story, the mother, is pushed aside in the very first minutes and we are introduced to a number of characters that add nothing to the story. More screen time is given to school bullies than to the mother which seems very odd. Apparently the director couldn't help himself and just had to dwell in bullying. A pattern which seems to be a norm in children's movies. Then we are introduced to the father, a character completely irrelevant to the story. His only purpose is to show that Connor comes from a broken family. I haven't read the novel the film is based on, so I can not say what his purpose was supposed to be. Perhaps his role was to showcase how important the mother was for the boy, since she's the only parent he's got. None of that comes through in the film, though. The father walks in and out, amounting to nothing.

Then there's the grandmother who is introduced as an uptight caricature with too many minutes wasted on stressing her strictness. This is a real shame since the character also provides the most heartfelt moments in scenes establishing the shared grief she and Connor both feel. Something really amazing could've been accomplished with this pairing without the needless "evil grandmother" tropes. A real missed opportunity, I feel.

Once the film has established just how hard a life Connor has, the focus goes back to where it should have always been: the mother and Connor's acceptance of her state of health. This is clearly the strong point of the story and the ending is executed beautifully. The emotional impact of the last half an hour or so also reminds the viewers of how impactful the entire film could've been had the father been reduced to a side mention and the minutes dedicated for school bullies cut in half in order to raise the profile of the mother. By doing so, A Monster Calls could've accomplished something groundbreaking by talking about cancer to children, many of whom will unfortunately be affected by it. This message, however, gets lost with the director juggling with too many elements.

Emotionally Honest

[kraytdragon-sean · 9/10 · 5 January 2017]

A Monster Calls is the rare movie geared toward a younger demographic which refuses to pull an emotional punch. The movie explicitly states that the protagonist, Connor O'Malley, is "too old to be a kid and too young to be a man". The introductory tagline is the perfect way to relay the film's tone to the audience. From the brutally honest acting to the gorgeously animated "stories", A Monster Calls allows raw emotion to emanate from the experience. Magic on the screen happens due to the unique specificity of our hurt hero. The fantastical elements found in a typical family movie organically merge with the painful reality of adulthood. For example, a fight will begin building up in Connor and the anger will call out the monster. The monster is never a simple vicarious outlet for the young adult. Instead, the monster is a well-executed manifestation of perceived guilt towards a deeper truth. Liam Neeson's monster revels in the humanity of the moment while also holding a magnifying glass up to it. Life continues to get worse for Connor and each appearance leads to a gradual slip of harsh reality. Refreshingly, A Monster Calls never hides that uncovering important personal insight is a painful process. The climax makes up for one of the most touching revelatory moments in modern cinema. The value of the film is revealed in how both children and adults in the audience gain a better understanding of the inherently personal nature of grief. The way we deal with a loss can come across as something else entirely for ourselves. A wide release of the film will hopefully begin to kindle in an audience a desire for introspective cinema. In a sense, specific scenarios are able to paradoxically tap into a universally human truth. Movies like A Monster Calls show a better alternative to the next soulless generic blockbuster movie.

A beautifully created but sad & heart breaking story of a teenage boy

[MichaelNontonMulu · 7/10 · 18 October 2016]

This movie was a drama film about a boy who had to face so many life challenges at a young age. As described by the Monster, Connor was too old to be called a child but to young to be called a man. It was a heartbreaking and touching movie with most of the scenes especially in the end were very sad. But the moral & message of the story was actually quite deep.

The monster in this movie was not a scary monster and it was not supposed to be a film where people are being hunted by the monster or vice versa. However the special effect & the sound effect of the monster was very good. Liam Neeson's voice also added the element of warmth, strength and power.

Meanwhile, the story itself was actually adapted from the novel by the same title written by Patrick Ness. The movie was supposed to play in US theaters this month but it was delayed till early 2017. So Indonesians are quite fortunate to have the opportunity to see this one before the US. Just take note that it is only playing in 21 Cineplex cinema chain.

For me personally, the most memorable part of the movie was the 1st of the 3 stories told by the Monster. I think the similar feeling that Connor had in the end, had greater impact on my wife. Anyway, for those who love to see touching heart breaking drama with some fantasy & good but brief special effects, then this movie would be suitable for you. However for those who are looking for fantasy action movie, then you would not like to watch this.

for my complete review, pls have a look at michaelnontonmulu.blogspot.co.id

One of the most impressive coming of age story I've ever seen

[abrojosaputro · 10/10 · 14 October 2016]

Been quite long since the last time I wrote something about anything, but I guess this one deserves a bit more words than others.

Every once in a while you might watch something that absorbed you completely and got you thinking about it. Not because it's perfect but because it touched you personally.

A Monster Calls tells a story about a boy named Conor who has to cope with his mom's illness while going through his adolescence. Sounds like a typical coming-of-age story, but it's not. Bayona has created one of a kind, exquisite, complex and profound story for all ages while at the same time didn't forget to look gorgeous (I'd totally buy their watercolor artworks) and well-acted. The most impressive part of the movie for me wasn't the technicality but the emotion and imagination involved while creating this.

But at the end of the day, Bayona won me over simply by reminding us all that sometimes it's when you hold something closest to you that you're finally able to let it go.

6.5/10

[Giacomo_De_Bello · 6/10 · 13 October 2016]

Young boy Conors's (Lewis MacDougall) mother (Felicity Jones) is ill from cancer and gravely so, she is terminal. Having difficulty dealing with this horrible situation Conor is always visited by a tree monster (voiced by Liam Neeson) at 12:07. On one occasion the monster comes and tells him he is going to narrate him three stories and once he is done Conor will have to tell a fourth one and said story will have to be 'the truth'.

What a premise right? If this doesn't get you excited immediately I would question one's film fandom, especially considering the talent involved all around from actors to director to composers to source material. Add to that the buzz that came out from TIFF and you can imagine the excitement I had in managing to see this very early on.

With deep sadness in me I have to calls to spades and say that "A Monster Calls" was a disappointment. Whilst still being an above average effort in filmmaking and having some incredibly inspired work behind it, the final product, the sum of it all, is a partially pleasing or cathartic experience with tonal shifts and a little messy directing.

What is the film's core problem but also its natural fascination is its fantasy element. It is brought to life on a sole visual and sound level incredibly well. I mean the CGI here is flawless, MacDougall's performance contributes to giving an enormous weight to this creature whose artistic value is probably close to what a Guillermo del Toro would do. Add to that the voice of Liam freaking Neeson going really low on his tones with some beautiful sound enchantments, and you have your unforgettable monster.

Character wise too, the monster manages to emerge from the screen and really be a three-dimensional presence in the film that you just treat as another character in the narrative. He also has something to say as it is clear by the film and all of this mystery surrounding him plus the various traits and shadows he is given, making him a kind and calm presence at times, gives the monster an aura that was fascinating and hard not to be compelled by.

The movie of course, given the themes, has its deeply emotional moments that tug on your heart-strings and whilst we will talk later about how some of these moments fall completely fat, there is an inherent emotion established, especially between the monster and the boy, which makes for some really touching scenes enhanced by Fernando Velasquez's beautiful score that repeatedly came in and gave me chills. If there is one thing the film nails it's the music, which actually nails down the tone of the whole story, contrary to the film itself, which brings me to the problems.

The movie does not manage to balance its fantasy element easily and this makes for very heavy tonal shifts and problematic storytelling and directing. Firstly, the monster's mythology is never, ever clear to the audience. You see there is a difference between explaining everything (which should never be done) and rationalizing something, meaning that you establish some rules for your particular world, you stick to those few rules in order to make the audience understand and, in fact, rationalize the glorious fantasy craziness that's going on on screen. Well, "A Monster Calls" unfortunately doesn't do that. You never understand it the monster is imaginary or a dream, you don't understand how it is supposed to come in, you just cannot manage to get a grip in how it interacts with the boy and consequentially with the world. It is breaking established limits left, right and center. Worst of all is the telling how the three stories. Don't get me wrong the movie blends animation beautifully and intelligently, the problem is that other than the first story the others aren't delivered to you completely, it creates a annoyingly chaotic story-line which in the end suffers from this: the resolution doesn't hit hard because you get to only partially understand and enjoy the fantastic element of the film.

Moreover, when in the real world entirely, the film is plainly flat and uninteresting. I do not know what direction Bayona was giving Sigourney Weaver, but it made for what is possibly her worst performance. Outside of the dream world, "A Monster Calls" becomes clichéd, unemotional and almost boring. The directing switches and becomes really, really flat, with aimless shots and terribly disjointed storytelling. Toby Kebbell could have been easily cut out of the film as he plays a character that brings exactly zero change to the picture. Felicity Jones' brilliant talents are unfortunately relegated to a one note performance that reaches a very high point at times in fact of acting, but impact on emotion and story was sadly bland as there was just nothing to grasp in the family drama that both written and directed chaotically and unconvincingly.

"A Monster Calls" underwhelmed me and I could not be sadder it did, I wanted to love this film with all my heart, be captured in its world and experience this deeply thematic and cathartic tale: I only got a glimpse of that and what a glorious glimpse did I get, but overall it seems that we'll have to wait some more time before getting another experience like "Pan's Labyrinth".

Only truths will quench the fires of the heart

[Blue-Grotto · 9/10 · 16 October 2016]

A scary looking tree in the middle of a graveyard haunts the dreams of a little boy, Conor, who already has enough troubles while awake. A mother (Felicity Jones) with terminal cancer, bullies, absent father, dictatorial grandma (Sigourney Weaver) and now a threatening monster (Liam Neeson) to visit him at night; poor Conor does not have a lot going for him. On the plus side, the monster has only three stories to tell, yet when finished he insists that Conor tell a story of his own that reveals the truths in his heart. The monster's stories touch upon themes gnawing at Conor; the good and bad in every person, the consequences of actions and an invisible man who becomes more invisible by being seen. Still Conor refuses to acknowledge the truths. "You don't know me," he shouts "these stories are not real!" The monster then lays down the law, "I know everything about you, now speak the truth or die!"

A Monster Calls includes some amazing visual effects, fantastic scenes and brilliant dialogue. The film explores in compelling and thrilling ways how fantasy combines with reality, how people deal with their fears (for better and worse) and the tremendous power of stories. The actors are convincing and captivating and Neeson's voice is mesmerizing. You'd rob a bank if his voice told you to. Animation is used to illustrate the monster's stories. A Monster Calls is based on a novel by Patrick Ness. Seen at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Apart from the climax it's an average film.....

[stuart-12777 · 6/10 · 20 January 2017]

Having gone to see the film on the recommendation of two renowned film critics, I just had to share my review.

This film is not a classic and is nothing like or even close to the beauty, fantasy or story of Pan's Labyrinth which has been a comparison.There are other monster, dragon, fantasy films that are much better.Apart from the last 30 minutes which are admittedly very well acted, tearful and sad, most of the film is a disappointment losing it's story line and identity along the way. The child actor is good but the rest do not not engender warmth into their characters. In short it is a film that does not worthy it's current 7.8 rating.

Yet another mis-advertised movie...

[Rob_Taylor · 4/10 · 4 March 2017]

So, if you watch the trailer for this film, you might be forgiven for thinking that it is a fantasy romp suitable to take your children to see. The fantastic elements of the film are prioritised in the trailer and the addition of a stirring, epic theme might make you think it is all going to be good fun.

But look again. The dialogue should tell you that there is something dark going on in this film but don't be tempted to think it is just an "obstacle" for the characters to overcome. It really is dark.

What the film is, is a coming of age drama about a boy whose mother is dying of cancer and his struggle to come to terms with that. The fantastic elements are, much like Bridge to Terabithia, simply the way that the boy makes sense of the events over which he has no control.

Unlike Terabithia, however, A Monster Calls has no light moments preceding the darker moments of the film. It is all darak. Dark, and dreary, and terribly depressing. The eventual catharsis the boy experiences at the end of the movie can in no way wash away the downward mood swing this feature will engender throughout its runtime.

So be warned, despite the trailer, this is not a kid's movie in any way, shape, or form. If I'm honest, I'm not sure who would find this movie entertaining. At most, it might make you think a little but, if you've ever had any kind of childhood trauma you might consider giving it a miss. It really is that depressing.

On the plus side, it is reasonably well acted, especially by newcomer Lewis MacDougall. Others, less so, and I have no idea what Sigourney Weaver was doing with her accent other than to say I've never heard anyone English talk like that.

Visually, it is very striking, but that is really all that is going for it as a form of entertainment. The band Fallout Boy once wrote a song with the lyrics "The best of us can find happiness in misery..." This movie puts a lie to that assertion. There is no joy to be found is this movie, only despondency and sadness.

Mostly, I think this just goes to show you should never trust a movie trailer to judge a film's content by. Another recent example of this was Mr. Holmes, which portrayed its subject matter as a light hearted romp as well. At least that one doesn't leave you feeling miserable by the end of it.

In short, not a fun movie in any way and woefully misrepresented by its marketing media, which seemed intent on simply getting as many bums on seats in the auditorium as possible.

SUMMARY: Horribly depressing look at life, and its end. Not for children, ever. Not really for adults, either. Well made, but dreary and terribly badly marketed. Avoid.

Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Healing.

[Heyitsbennett · 9/10 · 26 January 2021]

I just went through a massive grief episode about a week before I watched this movie, so I was a little nervous it would make me cry and feel it all over again. And yup, it definitely made me cry, but in a healing way. The message in this movie is beautiful and healing and incredibly real for those who have gone through grief. It helped me heal while listening to the stories and message in this movie, and at the end I felt calm and relief. This movie was a physical description of everything I've felt bottled inside, and it was cathartic to see it play out so perfectly on screen. Incredible.

One of the most emotionally powerfully films I've seen in a while

[joshbarton15 · 10/10 · 10 December 2016]

Based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls is one of the most emotionally powerful films I've seen in a long time. Directed by J. A. Bayona, this is a film you'll want to be making sure you have a pack of tissues ready for.

Conor O'Malley (Lewis MacDougall) lives at home with his terminally ill mother (Felicity Jones). Bullied relentlessly at school on a daily basis and with no friends, Lewis finds himself spending most of the free time he does have helping his mother.

One night, Conor encounters a monster (Liam Neeson) in the form of a giant yew tree. With the help of the monster, Conor learns a number of valuable life lessons, as well as facing the nightmarish reality he knows will come soon enough.

Reports of A Monster Calls causing audiences to flood theatres with tears during the festival circuit have been well documented however, even they couldn't prepare me for J. A. Bayona's stunningly beautiful film. The warning of emotional distress was even there for all to see as the classification certificate appeared on screen prior to the film.

This is an incredibly moving story, depressing for the most part however, thanks to the fantasy elements of the story and the relationship Lewis has with the monster, it can be strangely uplifting at times. The film packs one hell of an emotional punch towards the end but it doesn't just spring it on the audience because you can sense that is exactly where it's going from the very beginning.

The performances of Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver and Toby Kebbell are all good but there is no debating here that the film ultimately belongs to the young Lewis MacDougall, who manages to deliver a performance that would make you think he's been acting for years, when this is in fact only his second film. MacDougall really makes you empathise with Conor and his performance in the final stages of the film is sensational.

The visuals deserve a special mention as well, the monster in particular brought to life quite brilliantly through special effects and a gruff vocal performance from Liam Neeson. They go hand- in-hand with Bayona's visionary style as a director to make A Monster Calls a must-see film.

Powerful Melancholia

[billygoat1071 · 9 December 2016]

Can't remember the last time I cried in a movie theater, but man A Monster Calls perfectly sums up my biggest anxieties of growing up: the fear of loss, fear of change, that moment when you feel like you are never entitled to express your frustration that you become violent. The existence of this movie is more than enough for me. It's not quite subtle, though, but I didn't mind. Either way, I needed this. So it's like... Inside Out... and ParaNorman... and Bridge to Terabithia... except it's better... way better... Did I mention that it's also incredibly stunning? The acting is great: Lewis MacDougall is one of the most impressive kid actors I've seen this year, he amazingly carries this film that it would be a shame if he doesn't get nominated along with probably Felicity Jones.

Overall, it's powerful. It also gets a little too devastating. Even with all the pretty colors, it just straight-up acknowledges the pain and complexities of life and humanity. Reality stinks, but life's a journey. And dealing with it has always been a part of it.

(Saw this movie last month, but again, better late than never.)

a fairy tale, not for kids

[cdcrb · 6/10 · 29 December 2016]

this film is rated pg-13. no child under 13 without a parent or guardian. I saw many young girls in the audience and from my point of view this film is inappropriate for young people. it's a disturbing story about dying, bullying and real life. a young boy has violent and disturbing nightmares and no one is there to console him. a monster arrives to teach him about life. a lesson you don't need to know until you are a lot older than 13. the monster teaches the boy by telling him fables, where bad people do bad things and get away it. just like real life. by no means is this a holiday feel good time movie. that said, lewis macdougal is excellent as the young boy and the monster is really good. liam neesan does a great job. you know your child. maybe he or she is tougher than I know.

Eccentric, Eerie and Hauntingly Beautiful

[Harun_Karali · 10/10 · 10 September 2016]

As a fan of J.A. Bayona's previous work "The Impossible", I had fairly high expectations for this and to say that I am astonished would be an understatement. "A Monster Calls" is based on the book that Patrick Ness published in 2011. After this breathtaking adventure I assure you, You will be inclined to read the book. As this is an adventure that builds on your emotions and thrives on your imagination. Conner is a young man that is trying to cope with the fact that his mother who is diagnosed with a terminal illness isn't long for this world. But as his mind races with fears and his imagination takes hold, he creates a creature that would give adults nightmares, But as he realizes the creature is friendly, He grows close to the "monster".

This is one of those movies that must be seen in theaters, mainly because it's two hours of escape from reality, where you can turn the page back, to a time where your imagination used to run wild. A time when, your biggest responsibilities were picking up your socks. In other words, a time when you were really free.

A truly fantastic ride

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 6 June 2017]

"A Monster Calls" is a Spanish/American/British co-production from 2016 that results in an English-language movie and boy has this one been successful with the awards circuits. It runs for 105 minutes approximately and was directed by J.A. Bayona, thus the Spain reference. The screenplay writer is Patrick Ness and he is also the one who came up with the original novel here. Looking at the awards, the IMDb rating and the RT reception, you can certainly say that he did a good job overall. Lead actor Lewis MacDougall is probably not too famous (yet?), but Weaver, Jones and Neeson (all Oscar nominees) are of course household names by now. And they are all giving strong performances too. Weaver and Jones add a lot of heart to the story while Neeson gives one of the more memorable voice acting performance in recent history.

This is the story of a teenager who not only has to deal with bullying at school, but also needs to come to terms with his mother's mortality. And he finds a strong companion not necessarily in easing his pain, but in directing it properly. The consequence is also that the moments when he says he wants it to be over and when they are at the mother's bed are really touching and got my eyes wet. Sadly, these moments alone are not enough to really appreciate everything before that. There are always minor flaws in terms of storytelling, nothing too serious, but enough to make a difference for the negative side in terms of the quantity. For example the third story was really really weak compared to stories one and especially two. The protagonist standing up to the bullies added nothing to the film in my opinion. And actually it also did not feel too authentic. And there are other flaws too, like the part with the dad is not really a worthy addition because it does not add anything in terms of character development other than perhaps showing the protagonist is far from alone, but Weaver (and Jones) provide that to a sufficient degree too.

Nonetheless, the weaknesses in storytelling are somewhat made up by the strengths in performances, even if I did not like the lead actor as much as some of the others I guess. This is certainly one of the most depressing 2016/2017 films, probably not one of the best, but still fairly good. It could have needed some more cutting though, maybe should have stayed at 90-95 minutes max and it would have been a really strong film if they had left out the right (i.e. wrong) scenes. I still recommend it though, just not that enthusiastically.

Dramatic as well as spectacular Spanish/British/US co-production based on a prestigious novel and masterfully directed by Juan Antonio Bayona

[ma-cortes · 8/10 · 1 February 2019]

Stirring and tragical story based on a notorious novel and competently directed by Juan Antonio Bayona . Including an engaging screenplay by Patrick Ness , based upon the novel written by himself from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd . A devastating event happens in the life of a little boy , twelve-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) , as he seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mother's (Felicity Jones) terminal . Meanwhile , he must face his stiff-upper-lip grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) , his estranged father (Toby Kobbel) and the school bully . This is one family's moving story of sadness and love . As Conor is caught in a chaotic self-destruction , when he then is visited by the tree-like Monster (Lian Neeson) , who tells Conor it has to come to tell him three true stories . However , nothing is more powerful than the human spirit . Stories are wild creatures. Courage conquers all . Will he survive ?

It's a grade A picture , a gem , absorbing , riveting , highly moving , incredibly tense .This is a very touching story about a boy who feels very damaged , unsettling , guilty and mostly angry , as well as his relationship with a benevolent and wise tree-like monster that has points in common with Treebeard the Ent from Lord of the Rings . This is a psychological/exciting/thrilling drama in which a boy becomes involved into a terrible tragedy . It is a smart and sensitive flick filled with intense drama , thrills , emotion , tear-jerker , state-of-art special effects , and pretty entertaining , though overlong . The complex plot deals with a tree-monster who tells three tales and after which Conor must tell the Monster his own story: the truth behind his nightmare, which Conor refuses to do. Interesting and thought-provoking screenplay based on a novel that was originally started by Siobhan Dowd who left it unfinished, at her death. Patrick Ness finished the book with credits to her idea. This stirring pic is a tightly-knit drama centered on the relentless personal fight , as it follows an affected boy suffering extreme bullying , and a seriously wounded mother , as she struggles to survive . The picture makes up for it with an evolving atmosphere of anxiety and fear . Everything in Juan Antonio Bayona 's impressive film looks so real that you might think it's a highly fantastic movie full of imagination and color , thanks to the sensational animated images and cartoon resolution . And a great main and support cast , such as Lewis MacDougall , Sigourney Weaver , Felicity Jones , Toby Kebbell . And Liam Neeson, who provides the voice of the Monster , appears as Conor's grandfather in the photo of Conor's mother as a little girl being carried by her father .

Lavishly produced by Enrique López Lavigne , Belen Atienza , Patrick Ness , Bill Pohlad , Jeff Skoll , Patrick Wachsberger , among others.There is the urgent hand-held camera-work, a trademark refined and perfected by cameraman Oscar Faura , which lends an air of pseudo-authenticity to carefully staged reconstructions, putting us right there in the huddle of the action . Shot in various locations as Castlefield, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, Cabrils, Barcelona, Catalonia, Delph, Greater Manchester, England, UK , the school scenes were shot at Colne Valley High School in Linthwaite, Huddersfield, England. Furthermore , an emotive as well as enjoyable musical score by Fernando Velazquez .The motion picture was compellingly directed by Juan Antonio Bayona who proved his usual aesthetics and nail-biting filmmaking as well as he formerly made in ¨the orphanage¨and ¨The imposible¨or ¨Lo imposible¨ . Bayona has directed 1 actress to an Academy Award-nominated performance: Naomi Watts (Best Actress, Lo imposible or the impossible (2012) and Sigourney Weaver in this ¨A monster call¨. Rating : This excellent film results to be above average , a really magnificent movie . Essential and indispensable seeing . The picture will appeal to J.A. Bayona fans .

Monster Calls

[btreakle · 7/10 · 7 April 2023]

Monster calls was pretty cool a little bit animation a lot of drama based center around a young man who mother has cancer and eventually passes away. Cast and a pretty good job of telling the story from the perspective of the boy and his struggle to deal with losing a mother. In addition the little boy had to deal with schoolhouse bullies and evented this monster to help him deal with some of the problems he was experiencing in life. Not really a movie for kids 10 and under I would say but it does teach a Is valuable. The movie was rather long and drawn out but still worth the watch. I recommend this film.

A Monster Calls - Movie Review

[MattBrady099 · 8/10 · 13 November 2016]

"There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between."

Before seeing the movie, I didn't know much about "A Monster Calls". The only information I got from it is that it's based on Patrick Ness novel and the trailer had a "Iron Giant" vibe to it. I also liked the director (Juan Antonio Bayona) previous movies, so I guess that's what peaked my interest in seeing it. And I came out pretty surprised of how good it was. Not just that, but how moving and heartfelt it was.

Juan Antonio Bayona is the type of director that knows how to tell a compelling story in his films. To screw lose the sentiment, until your eyes are filled with water to the point where you can't help but spill out. And in this movie he dose exactly that and how smart he was with it's decisions of the emotional scenes.

There's a lot of great actors in this and none of them are put to waste. Liam Nesson was excellent as The Monster. Sigourney Weaver was great as the Grandma. Felicity Jones and Toby Kebbell were also great as Connor parents. But I think the real stand is Lewis MacDougall as (Connor). Even at the age of 14 this kid literally carries this movie and really dose reflect Connor's inner conflict.

That's what I notice in Bayona movies. All of the kid actors in his movies are pretty solid and I would go as far to say that they better than the adults. This is very rare for me to say that, because most kid actors suck. Yes there are good ones out there, but only some, as most of them don't fully bring their all.

The visual effect's were pretty stunning and impressive of how it interacted with the real environment that it was in. In all honesty, I was pretty surprised. And what I mean by "surprise" is that I was expecting The Monster itself to be the only effect in the movie. Because The Monster tells three stories to Conner and all three are done in a visual dye artwork that's beautiful to look at. It's good to be surprise.

For problems I had with the movie are slim, but if I had to pick, I would probably say that films message can be a little repetitive and oblivious towards the end. I think that may bug some people. But still, it's a great message that's speaks the truth and actually sticks to it. I mean, if the message was terrible or nothing special, then this might be a big complaint. The film doesn't have an happy ending and neither a sad one. There's no Hollywood ending or anything like that. It would say it's mixed.

Overall rating: "A Monster Calls" is entertaining, sad, and unforgettable tale that sticks with you after it's over. The film tells the truth and nothing but the truth of life. You want everything to be alright for this kid, but you're left with a feeling of stillness. Like you can't do anything about it, even with all the magical things that's happening. It just gotta let it happen....

that's life.

Emotionally resonant and visually vibrant.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 19 August 2018]

'A Monster Calls (2017)' is the kind of 'fantasy as allegory' that's so often made all the less ambiguous, one way or the other, precisely because of its format. Film isn't quite able to achieve the kind of unspoken uncertainty that novels often inherently carry, considering the all-encompassing perspective of written first-person narratives, but not every story is meant to work both literally and figuratively - though many often do and I can't speak to the intentions of the source-material (which I haven't read). My point is that some material perhaps has more impact if it makes itself as definitive as possible. Such is the case with this feature, which never really has any pretences about its more outlandish elements and always frames them as the coping mechanisms of a child - though the occasionally more tangible moment does break this illusion somewhat. While the stranger elements perhaps don't work as well as they would have in a piece totally told from the perspective of our unreliable narrator of a protagonist, the film comes together to tell a tale as old as time in a distinct way that actually allows it to be widely accessible and incredibly emotionally resonant, to boot. 7/10.

A Bit Pointless?

[misha_kerogazov · 5/10 · 31 August 2020]

I read non-spoiler reviews before watching the movie and there was so much praising that probably I had a bit to high expectations. We could see where it's going and how it's going to end in about maybe 5 minutes of the movie and I kept watching expecting some plot twist, some intrigue, something that would make we go "wooooow", but allas, nothing happened. It's ended as anyone would expect it to end. There were some words of wisdom, but not to extent to be awesome or something you never heard. I'm giving it 5 out of 10 because actors did a good job, but besides of the actors you need to have a good story and this one wasn't it, just a very sad and depressing story.

Verdict: Not recommended unless, out of sudden, you want to get sad or dpressed