Rent Monsters (2010)

Not that bad, but not great - Monsters review by PW

This isn't a classic but I thought if entertaining enough (if you like monster films). The story is fairly simple, but that is not such a bad thing and I thought the special effects where well proportioned and not overwhelming as they are in some films.

Clever & Original - Monsters review by GI

Monsters is an impressive film not least when you consider the small budget and crew that was used. Most of all though it takes a familiar genre narrative and manages to produce a really original story and visual experience. First time director Gareth Edwards has arguably never topped this. The film begins six years after a NASA probe, returning to Earth having been searching for life forms in the solar system, has crashed in northern Mexico. Soon after strange creatures have begun to emerge in the area and a huge 'infected zone' has been created which completely cuts off Mexico from the USA. The story then begins with photo-journalist Andrew (Scoot McNairy) who is working in Mexico being ordered by his boss to assist his daughter, Sam to get back home. When their passports are stolen they are forced to take the hazardous journey across the infected zone. We are then set up for a growing romance between them, which whilst a little routine and obvious is acted tenderly by the two leads. But most impressively are the creatures and the images of the destruction they have wrought. But this is not an Alien (1979) type scenario and perhaps the film's title is a little misleading because the exposure to the creatures leads to interesting interpretations. I've no doubt the influence of H.G. Wells' The War of The Worlds and Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey are to be found here but overall this is a surprising film, clever, fresh and very enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

Where are the Monsters! - Monsters review by CS

This film is similar in many ways to the equally trashy 'Cloverfield' or much better 'District 9'. Looking very much like a student made it as part of an art project, the story is so basic that nothing much really happens at all in the film. Male journalist is tasked with taking his employers rich daughter back to civilisation through alien infested South American jungles. Cue 2 hours of walking through Jungle and a boat trip down the river. Lots of looking thoughtfully but not very convincingly at the poor special effects, ie house/boat/car etc superimposed in tree as if a hurricane had just dumped them there, but we really know it was done by photoshop! Even the so called Aliens, which you finally get to see at the end of the film are very basic and the credits state that they were done by the Director on his computer, so how basic is that? Nothing happens in this film much and I found the acting slightly wooden, as though the actors were themselves struggling to bring meaning to a meaningless plot. I thought this was also making an attempt, just like its far superior predecessor 'District 9', at social/political commentary, drawing comparison with the conditions faced by people living in South America under current government regimes and interference by the USA. The Alien angle is really irrelevant to this film, as the story is so simple and has been done so many times before, that the characters could have been placed into any situation to act out the same scenario. All in a very boring, insipid and uninspiring piece of cinematography. 1/10

This film had a lot of promise - Monsters review by CP Customer

...but it didn't keep it!

with a title such as "Monsters" you would expect there to be some in the film, but they conveniently only come out at night when you can't see them. Hmm.

I think the reason for this is that they were left over from the Kraken scene in the original 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954) and remain just as convincing.

A remake with a decent FX budget- and some action- would've transformed the film, in my opinion.

No plot, no aliens, no enjoyment. - Monsters review by CP Customer

Sadly, Monsters is not another thrilling alien epic film to add the collection. It is instead utterly dull, another example of how CGI is no replacement for plot when it comes to creating a good film.

We were given very little actual background information on not only the aliens, but on the reason they came to Earth and why some people insisted on wearing gas masks and others didn't. The main actors lacked chemistry or sympathy, in particular the leading male who, despite being in a long-term relationship, thought it would be a good idea to sleep with a prostitute, steal cameras from dead bodies and, in the final scene, also get off with the main female actress too. The last romantic moment was bizarre, as the two of them hadn't so much as flirted but when they saw two aliens fling tentacles at each other in a demonstration of Monster love, they suddenly were overcome with passion enough to have a brief kiss.

As a last gripe - the aliens appeared to be little more than overland cephalopods which, scientifically, wouldn't be able to support themselves with their weedy tentacle limbs. No matter whether they are glowing or not.

Pro's and con's - Monsters review by CP Customer

In some ways I thought that this is actually a very well thought out film. Our 'heroes' as it were are placed in a foreign land and are desperately trying to get home. The Mexican setting which is portrayed as a bit shabby and impoverished adds to sense of discomfort that you feel for the characters and the clever use of dusty signs warning of the "infected area" gives a sense of realism to the drama of the situation that they and the people around them are facing. The film could have had a bit more pace to it and I do wish that every romance wasn't at the cost of an existing relationship which so often is the case these days but the chemistry between girl and boy is definitely there. In terms of con's, don't get this thinking you are in for a fright as I'm afraid it is not scary at all. In fact I think this may have been intentional (when you see the final scene, you will know what I mean).