A Monster Calls

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Limited Opening in December. Wide release January 6, 2017.

Runs 108 minutes

Conor (Lewis MacDougall) is facing awkward adolescence and trying to cope with his Mother's (Felicity Jones) illness. He has nightmares every night. He fears many things - his Mother's death, abandonment and the thought of possibly having to go live with his chilly grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). In his distress, he somehow summons a giant tree monster (voiced by Liam Neeson). The monster helps Conor face his fears through a series of stories (told in animated watercolor) that at first don't make much sense to Conor. But, as his Mother's illness worsens and Conor must prepare himself for the worst, the stories begin to have more meaning to him. The monster helps him realize that people are just people, things aren't always what they seem and Conor will be able to handle anything placed in his path.

I really wanted to love this movie. I thought it was very good. But, it is very dark and heavy. Thematically, I think it might be too much for kids. It is  about grief and loss and even a young boy's coming of age. Heavy topics. It is gorgeous to look at. The watercolor animation is very cool. The acting is top notch. But, it didn't hit me as hard as it probably should have. I liked it. It is worth seeing. I just didn't love it as much as I expected. 

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