A Monster Calls...

[RolandCuthbert]

This movie kind of caught me off guard. I am not into many of these types of films. But it is so well written and directed. A little boy named Conor is dealing with his mother who has a terminal cancer. He is having problems dealing with the reality that she is going to die. He has strained relationships with his grandmother and his estranged father. There is also a school bully.

One night he is visited by a gigantic strange tree like monster. The monster announces that he will return to tell Conor three stories. And Conor then will have to tell a fourth. In the end, the monster helps Conor to deal with all of the obstacles in his life. The movie is surprising in its gentleness and masterful story telling. A very thoughtful film about how people deal with relationships and loss.

I guess the reception of the film was below expectations. It was probably billed as a children's film. But it does not have that children's feel. It has the feel of "A Series of Unfortunate Events", if you have seen that movie.

[jacquesvol]

Thanks for writing this take!

[RolandCuthbert]

You are welcome sir.

:D

[Whatthefluff]

I loved the book.

[Plumy]

Waw I liked "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (who burned the house though ugh so evident) and I watch this trailer and it seems interesting! Thank you!
I'm going to watch it with friends 😃

[Plumy]

I just watched it alone because no one wanted to watch it with me, now I see...
Thanks for making me cry

[RolandCuthbert]

Oh, I am sorry little one. I did not mean to make you cry. I just thought it was an amazingly well done complex film about relationships and loss. The stories the monster tells are just fascinating. Thought it probably would be better in book form. If it comforts you any, I shed a couple of tears myself.

But not because of Conor's mother. But because I could see parallels between his character and my experience. Life is not always simple.

[Plumy]

The movie is amazing yes, I'm happy that you recommended it even if I cried, it made me cry for reasons I can't tell...
The stories were interesting to me
In the first story the morale is a bit like I usually think, no one is really bad, even though the prince was really mean to the point it broke my heart...
In the second story, I agree that believing in something is half of the cure, but why the apothecary man didn't help him? The man of faith was begging...
I understand a little the third story, it is true that being invisible isn't nice, but fighting a class mate hurting him to the point of needing hospital care is not nice either...
The fourth story is so unfair, I don't want to think about it...
Thank you for sharing feelings of cry, it comforts me a little after watching it alone...

[RolandCuthbert]

Oh,

Well, this film is more complicate than "A Series of Unfortunate Events". But it had the same feel and tone. It is only about the difficult relationships we have in our lives. Who does the witch from the first story remind you of? You have to trace the stories back to the problems in Conor's life and back to your own. That is what the movie is truly about.

It isn't fair to yourself to think yourself evil for having human thoughts. It is more important that you define yourself through your actions.

[Plumy]

Thank you for explaining, it is definitely not easy to understand...

[RolandCuthbert]

I know. It doesn't really feel like a children's film. I think that is what surprises everyone. It is a very deep emotional journey.

“You do not write your life with words... You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”

[beebella]

I read the book a few years ago. Haven't seen the movie yet bc I feel like I won't like it as much as I liked the book, but maybe I'll check it out sometime.

[RolandCuthbert]

Well, you may not like the movie. Books tend to tell a better story.

[beebella]

Ok, I won't watch it then. 😂

[dragonfly6516]

Hadn't heard of it, but now I'm to look it up and watch.

[Anonymous]

Amos 2:9
Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath

this is in reference to the nephilim
the children of the angels thats what the movie is about

[That2kKid21]

I only read the book