Year of Release: 2020
Director: Michael Matthews
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt, Dan Ewing, Ellen Hollman, Tre Hale, Pacharo Mzembe, Amali Golden, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Tasneem Roc, Thomas Campbell, Joel Pierce, Melanie Zanetti, Bruce Spence
Genre: Action, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
Watch it on Amazon
Synopsis and Review
Originally slated to be released in the movie theaters back in 2020, "Love and Monsters" was one of the features who fell victim to changes in release schedules due to Covid 19, eventually being released on video on demand in 2020 and subsequently internationally by Netflix in 2021. The narrative follows the story of Joel Dawson who is also the narrator of the feature. He's the one who introduces what has happened to the planet and why people are for the most part living in underground bunkers. Turns out there was a massive asteroid on its way to Earth, however a plan to bomb it was carried through, resulting on its destruction. However the fallout residues from the asteroid resulted in alien particles becoming embedded in the Earth's ecosystem, which generated mutations in cold-blooded animals. These evolved into massive monsters who virtually destroyed most of humanity. Joel who at the time of these events was living in Fairfield, California, had a girlfriend by the name of Aimee, and they got separated, as Joel attempted to escape with his parents, and Aimee tried to rescue hers. 7 years later, Joel is living in one of the bunkers with other survivors. He's the only one not partnered, he's the cook for the group, but he's well liked and loved by everyone in the group. While attempting to communicate with other colonies in other bunkers leveraging a radio, Joel realizes Aimee is still alive and not that far from where he currently is. Even with his limitations and lack of experience in being outside of the bunker, he decides to go and check on her. While everyone on the bunker asks him not to go, he embarks on the journey, and soon finds himself in trouble, only to be salvaged by a stray dog, whom he soon realizes is named Boy. As they both continue their journey, they find more survivors and more dangers.
"Love and Monsters" is Michael Matthews sophomore directorial effort, following his debut with "Five Fingers for Marseilles". The film which is written by the duo of Brian Duffield (who has in his filmography the Natalie Portman fronted "Jane Got a Gun" and also "The Babysitter") and Matthew Robinson (who has worked on "The Invention of Lying" and "Dora and the Lost City of Gold"), while not the most original in its premise, manages to create a somewhat sweet and uplifting narrative from what could have easily become a re-hash of "Zombieland", only with monsters. The central hero has to come to terms with growing up and standing up for himself, since his bunker family has sheltered him from the world and from its challenges. This unexpected hero journey isn't uncharted territory of course, but Michael Matthews manages to illustrate the narrative with little pretension, peppering it with influences that at times brings to mind Ron Underwood's "Tremors" and Steven Spielberg's "AI". However and while the film is certainly sweet and quasi Disney-centric in its narrative, it could have certainly benefited from additional character development, some additional humor, and some edginess, considering the film takes place in a world where everything seems to have turned toxic or dangerous. Sadly these undernourished aspects of the film also result in making it less memorable: the protagonist is the sensitive guy with no real life experience, nor romantic one for that matter, with motivations that are quite limited, and the supporting characters become a cluster of clichés with no discernible traits amongst themselves (Aimee is the beautiful love interest, who is taking care of elderly survivors). The transitions between the external shots and the in-studio ones are also a bit demonstrative of a lack of consistency in terms of tone, with the in-studio work almost bringing to mind futuristic/Mad Max/New Age combo, that doesn't really gel with slightly darker/edgier look of the outside world. The cast isn't particularly memorable, save for the always iconic Michael Rooker (just give this gentleman his own show already), the same going for the production team, though the visual effects are solid for a film of this budget. It's watchable but ultimately a forgettable endeavor.
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