Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera) is having the worst time. Not only has her boyfriend broken up with her while she’s been undergoing cancer treatment, but he has also taken the musical they composed together and cast a famous actress in the role they wrote for her. Seeking comfort, Laura returns to her childhood home, where she finds a monster (Tommy Dewey) in her closet, and begins a surreal romance with him.
The story is based on the real experiences of writer/director Caroline Lindy (sans the monster, presumably). It’s an impressive film for a first feature. I’m immediately taken in by the stylistic choices: old Hollywood, warm colours and the dreamy-meets-gothic aesthetic. Your Monster aims to merge multiple genres – rom-com, horror, and drama – but unfortunately it never fully hits the mark on any of them.
I love a clever, tongue-in-cheek comedy, but it’s not always clear when the film’s cliches and tropes are being intentionally ironic. The film leans heavily on montages, which, although beautiful and well-performed (the chemistry between Barrera and Dewey is fantastic,) detract from fully appreciating the movie’s greater ambition of being a metaphor for rage.
Many won’t appreciate the editing of the final sequence, or the ending itself. Even when the symbolism becomes apparent, the conclusion feels both unfulfilling and overdone. I wanted more for our protagonist, and spending more time with her in realism mode would have made the ending more rewarding.
Your Monster is whimsical, dark, serious, and funny all at once. It’s a great concept, but the final package lacks the definition needed to deliver something truly fresh. It holds promise for Lindy’s future projects, and reaffirms that Barrera’s talents extend well beyond her work in the Scream franchise.
6/10
