A Monster Calls Review

It's a complex and difficult question tackled in Patrick Ness' award winning 2011 book A Monster Calls, how can you help children come to terms with the idea of loss? In 2017 JA Bayona's film adaption of the same name attempts to answer the same question.

A Monster Calls follows the story of young Conor O'malley (Lewis MacDougall), Conor lives with his Mum (Felicity Jones) who is suffering from cancer, he's bullied at school and fears that he may end up having to live with his Grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). Then one night at 12.07am he is visited by a monster (Liam Neeson) who informs him that he will tell him three stories and then Conor will have to tell him a fourth which will reveal his 'truth'.

There's much to be impressed by with this film. From a technical point of view Bayona is really adept at blending the use of incredible visual effects with the dying art of models and miniatures. The striking churchyard scene feels far more immersive by blending the two forms than it otherwise might have done. Then there is the monster himself, Neeson's voice really is perfect for the monster, but the visual effects are truly exceptional, there are moments where you genuinely cease to believe that they didn't just find a big tree monster somewhere and cast him in the film. There are also utterly charming animated segments which illustrate the monster's stories, they're beautifully old fashioned and lend the sequences a nostalgic warmth to the storytelling.

Since this is Conor's story it's invaluable that the performance from newcomer Lewis MacDougall is really special, he's not the perfect little boy enduring it all in a hard time, he captures the frustrations, the sadness and the outright anger at the unfair situation that he as a young person has been forced into. It's a shame then that the film falls down in terms of the characters that surround him. Sigourney Weaver, shaky English accent aside is ok as the Grandmother, and Toby Kebbell does well in what few scenes he has as Conor's Dad, but the real let down is the characterisation of Conor's Mum, Felicity Jones is every bit as great as you'd expect her to be, but she isn't given enough to do as Conor's Mum to quite feel the connection that Conor has with her, of course we know that Conor loves his Mum, but there needed be more time spent showing this person he might lose.

The maturity that Bayona approaches this film with is its major strength, when it finally reaches the moment where Conor reveals his 'truth' its far more emotional complex than you'd expect of a film aimed towards younger audiences. There have been many reports of the film evoking emotionally devastating responses from audiences, ultimately though the film is a bit too slight to really tug at the heart strings, its more a case of it being quietly affecting than emotionally devastating.

Bayona has created an emotionally mature film with a really impressive breakout performance from young Lewis MacDougall. It's an important story solidly told with some real visual flare. It might not be flawless, but this may end up being a very important film for young people in years to come, if this helps but one young person (or old for that matter) through a difficult time then Bayona, and more to a point Patrick Ness, have done their job. 

(4 Stars)