Monsters
Six years ago NASA discovered alien life in our solar system. They sent a probe to collect samples but upon re-entry over Mexico and soon after new life forms started to appear and half of the country was put in quarantine as an infected zone.
Andrew Kaulder, a photographer who makes a living taking pictures of these aliens, is ordered to escort his boss’ daughter Samantha Wynden back to the United States. When the two miss the last ferry to the US before quarantine goes into effect for six months, they decide to go through the dangerous infected zone with the help of some coyotes…
Sound and Vision:
Monsters is made on a low budget and this is reflected in the image quality. There are no scratches and dust, but messy skin tones, banding, aliasing, some jagged edges, edge enhancements, slight noise issues, grain spikes, random murkiness, and artifacting tend to spoil the fun a bit. However, taking into account the circumstances in which this movie was filmed, we can’t really say we’re disappointed.
The sound does a better job. Dialogues are clear, although a bit underrated, and the surround channels do get a bit of action just like the subwoofer. The realistic feel of the movie makes it look a bit like a documentary and if you keep that in mind, the sound is really great.
Extras:
None
Conclusion:
Monsters is a sci-fi movie that hits similar spots as District 9. It’s got that same realistic feeling and clearly has a message regarding border control in the US (versus Mexico). Also added is a clear love story which luckily isn’t thrown in your face. Altogether, this makes a very interesting film that may not appeal to everyone. Those that don’t like the realistic shooting will be turned off and so will those expecting blockbuster-like special effects with aliens attacking all the time.
However, if you don’t mind the “alien” setup, you’ll find a really intelligent drama that’s definitely worth checking out.
7.0