MOVIE REVIEW: Monsters (2010)

I think by the time actual aliens invade our planet, the human race won’t be interested. Kind of like, “What are you gonna do…attack us? Eh, seen it.” Gareth Edwards’ Monsters (2010) is a yet another film that explores life after our first encounter with otherworldly foreigners.

Due to some American tomfoolery, a NASA “thing” crash lands in Mexico, releasing alien lifeforms. They lay their eggs on trees throughout the the U.S.-Mexico border, growing in water, then stepping on land as ginormous tentacle spiders that look like they could take down Godzilla in one fell swoop. A huge wall is constructed to protect America as the Air Force fights to contain the creatures within the Infected Zone.

Andrew (Scoot McNairy) is a photojournalist working in Mexico. He’s tasked with the job of escorting his boss’ daughter, Samantha (Whitney Able), back to the U.S. Their first method of travel is by train, but the tracks are so badly damaged that they have to hop off and make the journey to the border on foot. After learning that air and water travel will soon be restricted, the necessity to get Samantha on U.S. soil becomes more dire. Options dwindle quickly, and the pair must travel through the Infected Zone. This choice is more dangerous, but for many that can’t afford the ridiculously expensive other means of transportation, it is a risk worth taking. Let’s acknowledge the giant pink elephant in the room: there’s an obvious comparison of this future alien-blocking wall to the one set up right now at the boundary between the United States and Mexico.

Many times, Edwards forces the audience to reevaluate predisposed ideas about protection and even notions of what defines something as “monstrous.” Although the film is entitled Monsters, the ferociousness of the  alien invaders is relatively downplayed. I actually don’t remember them even being referred to as “monsters” throughout the entire film, only “creatures.” And here’s the thing, the viewer will not see one of these creatures initiate violence. Yes, they flop around and kill some people, but wouldn’t you be a tad disheveled if someone was tossing bombs your way?

In one of the film’s most pivotal scenes, two creatures are seen communicating with one another and possibly mating. The encounter is wondrous as well as thought-provoking because it really hits home that these creatures may not be as harmful as they are portrayed to be. There’s a line at the end of the movie where Samantha admits her desire for them to stay where they are, on the outskirts of the Infected Zone where the creatures have broken through. It speaks volumes about civilization, particularly American civilization, that she’d choose to “risk” her life in a dangerous environment rather than return home.

It’s all about perception. The film focuses primarily on the “monsters” that torment Andrew and Samantha during their lives in the U.S. Many of the main characters’ problems are self-inflicted in order to maintain the standard of living that is expected of them.

Instead of making a movie about the impact of an alien invasion on Earth, Monsters turns the lens of the camera towards us for a more introspective look at our society. And yeah, the creatures are bug as hell and frightening, but If we as human beings are unable to examine the world from different angles, then who are the real monsters here?

If you enjoyed Keyoka’s review, you can find the rest of her work right HERE on Sci-Fi Bloggers. You can also follow her on Twitter @keyokakinzy.

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