The Monster is a 2016 American horror film written, co-produced and directed by Bryan Bertino (director of Mockingbird and The Strangers; co-producer of He’s Out There; Stephanie and The Blackcoat’s Daughter). The production title was There Are Monsters.
The film was released through DirecTV Cinema on October 6, 2016, before a limited theatrical release on November 11, 2016, by A24 (The Blackcoat’s Daughter; Swiss Army Knife; The Witch).
Main cast:
Zoe Kazan (In Your Eyes, Fracture), Scott Speedman (Underworld), Ella Ballentine (The Captive).
Plot:
A divorced mother (Zoe Kazan) and her headstrong daughter must make an emergency late night road trip to see the girl’s father.
As they drive through deserted country roads on a stormy night, they suddenly have a startling collision that leaves them shaken but not seriously hurt. Their car, however, is dead, and as they try in vain to get help, they come to realize they are not alone on these desolate backroads – a terrifying evil is lurking in the surrounding woods, intent on never letting them leave…
Review:
” … if you enjoy feeling cold and upset while watching a film, The Monster definitely taps into those old-school The Texas Chain Saw Massacre roots. And speaking of the monster, fans of creature features of the 80s are going to cream themselves at the seemingly practical effects work that looks like it was a nightmare to shoot. To see a high caliber filmmaker take a stab at this impossible subgenre is exciting, even if it’s a bit clunky in the end. With that said, the monster is pretty cool, and vicious, leaving a bloodbath in its wake.” Bloody Disgusting
“Overall, The Monster is a chilling movie that showcases two fantastic performances and the work of a filmmaker who’s willing to take some risks and makes it a priority to truly envelop the viewer in a nightmarish situation. It’s an engaging and worthy watch that teases great potential in everyone involved.” Perri Nemiroff, Collider
Cast and characters:
- Zoe Kazan as Kathy
- Scott Speedman as Roy
- Ella Ballentine as Lizzy
- Aaron Douglas as Jesse
- Christine Ebadi as Leslie
- Chris Webb as Monster
