Movies

Don't let the title fool you, this is not a monster movie. Don't let the cool-looking aliens fool you, this is not an invasion movie. This is an intimate love story... with aliens in the background.

As far as indie films go, the love story in Monsters is pretty standard fare. There are two unlikely lovers, lots of ponderous questions about 'big' issues and lingering shots of nothing happening. Were it not for the (mostly unseen) aliens, the film probably would have been pretty terrible. But something about shoving the 'indie' bits into a blockbuster works.

The limitations of a small budget means that a lot isn't shown, so you won't find cool action set-pieces here, but the limitations work in the film's favour. Director Gareth Edwards takes the time other alien movies devote to chaotic destruction scenes and uses it to develop the relationship of the two leads, photojournalist Andrew (Scoot McNairy) and his boss' daughter, Sam (Whitney Able).

While the reason for their romance is a little hazy, and their initial scenes suffer from a severe chemistry deficiency, by the film's conclusion, these are characters you do come to care for, characters that do feel simply real. This is Monsters' crowning glory. Despite the sheer sci-finess of the premise and the passable CGI, it still feels astoundingly real.

This isn't a film where much happens. There's no destruction, and no real sense of urgency, but it still satisfies. Probably because you've never seen a film quite like it.