Running Time: 104 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster, Meghann Fahy
For her feature debut, writer/director Caroline Lindy crafts a touching Beauty and the Beast style romance with Your Monster. Expanding upon her 2019 short film of the same name, the story opens with Laura (Melissa Barrera) being discharged from hospital following surgery for her cancer diagnosis. The already delicate situation is made worse as, while in the hospital, the aspiring actress was dumped by her playwright boyfriend, Jacob (Edmund Donovan).
Moving back into her childhood home, Laura is struggling to cope with the breakdown of her relationship, and subsequently losing the lead role that her ex wrote for her. In a surprising turn of events, she discovers that in her bedroom resides a Monster (Tommy Dewey) who has lived in her closet since her childhood. As the pair bond over a shared love for musical theatre, Laura finds the strength to take back her life, starting with auditioning for the lead role in her ex's play.
Following her roles in Abigail and the Radio Silence directed Scream films, Melissa Barrera cements her scream queen status in this horror-tinged romantic comedy. Such a genre mash-up brings tonal changes that she must roll with, something she excels at as she delivers the laughs while also capturing a building rage that her character constantly tries internalizing and rationalizing. As the soft-spoken actress finds her voice again, the change is engrossing as Laura externalizes what she has long pushed down.
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The conduit for her pent-up anger is The Monster, Laura's beastly roommate charmingly played by Tommy Dewey. There is initial hostility as the duo are played as an odd-couple pairing where hilarity does ensure, although shared time sees their walls come down as they open up to each-other. Soon, the Monster helps Laura face how her justifications for what happened is avoidance, as she does not wish to admit how not okay her situation is. The chemistry sizzles between this pair, with Laura finding herself falling for this beast who recites Shakespeare soliloquies and finds new outlets for her rage.
In the role of Jacob, Edmund Donovan terrifically brings alive one of 2024's most contemptible characters. The performance perfectly captures the treacherous nature of this theatre director who desires his ego to be stroked, ready to mask his awful treatment of others through performative actions. It becomes clear who is the true monster inhabiting Laura's life, and with every moment that passes in this weasel character's presence, one yearns for the other characters to mimic Airplane! by lining up to readily attack him.
With such a work that bounces between genres, there are some instances where the balance falters and leads to moments of tonal clashes. This is admittedly a small issue when it is easy to be swept up in this tale, courtesy of the strong emotion and character drama which Lindy has crafted. As such, Your Monster is a roaring success.
Your Monster is available in cinemas now
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