Review by Claire Wu, 10
An ominous yew tree overlooking a graveyard. A twelve year old boy struggling with his mom’s dire illness, tormentors at school, and a recurring nightmare that seems too close to reality. An estranged father who has moved on with a new family in the United States. A grieving grandmother about to become in charge of a boy who loathes her.
“A Monster Calls” is a deeply moving and powerful fantasy story that covers the hardest truths we all have to swallow as we face life head on. Alternating between reality and imagination, this intricately woven screenplay navigates the tumultuous life of Conor O’Malley as he grapples with the imperative truth he has yet to speak.
Conor is a student who lives in the United Kingdom with his mother in the countryside, where she rotates between the hospital and their home as she seeks treatment after treatment in hopes of a cure. Before her debilitating sickness took over, she was a talented artist who enjoyed spending time with Conor as a toddler drawing and painting together. Even though she is now confined to bed, her unwavering love and devotion for Conor never changes, though he is coping with the loss of her presence in his world. Now a lonely student at his middle school, he spends most of his time with his sketchbook as an escape from his grim situation.
One night, as the clock strikes 12:07 a.m., he witnesses the unraveling of the yew tree a distance from his window, who appears to be a humongous monster at first glance. The Monster approaches him and reveals that he has come to tell him three true stories; after which Conor must tell his own. Each story holds special significance to different aspects of Conor’s life- whether it be his single mom’s terminal cancer, Harry and his fellow tormentors, or the overbearing presence of his grandmother. Will Conor be able to overcome his struggles and acknowledge his inner voice?
I watched this movie a year or two ago and it was truly unforgettable. The main character, Conor, is played by Lewis MacDougall, who was fourteen when he acted in the film. However, before he was cast in the movie, his mother died from multiple sclerosis in 2013, which is similar to how Conor's mother struggles with terminal illness in “A Monster Calls.” His acting was phenomenal, especially for his age, but his personal experience with life and death can clearly be seen through the raw anguish, despair, and fear portrayed by his character. Alongside Lewis, Sigourney Weaver (Conor’s mom) and Liam Neeson (voice of The Monster) are also featured in the movie, who are wonderful supporting characters. Besides the talented cast, the visuals of the film are extremely breathtaking, especially when the color scheme is a palette of gray, green, and dark brown shades to correlate with the serious tone of the story. The natural integration of fantasy into reality is another important part of the movie’s visuals. We get to see how the plot develops with the inclusion of The Monster’s three stories, which are not random but actually critical to the character development of Conor. In a sense, the yew tree is the only guiding figure in his life due to the absence of his parents, so the connection between the two characters adds dimension to Conor- he is turned from just another sob story child to a damaged boy who is truly engulfed by grief and loss.
Since this movie is actually based off of the novel by Patrick Ness that was originally conceived by Siobhan Dowd, there is the option of reading the book too. Dowd was an acclaimed British author and activist who started writing “A Monster Calls” when she was terminally ill with breast cancer, resulting in the novel being continued by Patrick Ness upon her death in 2007. The novel has illustrations that are haunting and equally compelling in the film, where the power of the story really shines through.
This movie is an important one to watch, regardless of age, race, beliefs, or other factors. It is astoundingly poignant and devastating; sure to cause reflection on those who you have lost in your life and even future losses to come. You will not be the same.