A Monster Calls

 

A Monster Calls 2016

• Director: J A Bayona
• Seen by this director: The Impossible
• Based on book: no
• Cast: Lewis Macdougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Felicity Jones – On the Basis of Sex, Rogue One, The Theory of Everything, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Invisible Woman, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Hysteria, Like Crazy, The Tempest, Cemetery Junction, Doctor Who
• Sigourney Weaver – Many
• Toby Kebbell – Ser du månen Daniel, Destroyer, Kong Skull Island, The Conspirator, Control, Shakespeare Re-Told A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Northern Soul
• Why? The cast
• Seen:  10 December 2024.      

       Conor (Macdougall) is cruelly bullied at school. His mother Lizzy (Jones) is ill. Conor has nightmares about monsters. A monster. Is the monster real?

       His stern grandmother (Weaver) wants him to come live with her, he shouldn’t be burdened with caring for Lizzie and their home. He refuses. His dad (Kebell) visits from American but can’t take Conor back with him – there is no room with his new family.

       The monster (Neeson) – real or not – tells Conor stories, foolish fairy tales, according to Conor. But of course, the stories are filled with significance.

       Like most fairy tales, it’s sad and dark. The acting and visuals are good but it’s a bit trite. And FYI, when you lose your hair from chemo, you lose it all – eyebrows and eyelashes too. 

3½ * of 5