The 2024 horror/comedy film Your Monster is all about “coming out of the closet,” with a difference. A young damsel in distress gets reacquainted with the boogeyman who lives in her built in closet. The hairy childhood friend teaches her a thing or two as they sort out her personal demons.
the story
Laura Franco is diagnosed with cancer. Her long time boyfriend Jacob Sullivan, who she has been writing a play with, dumps her because it all becomes “too much.” Sullivan continues life without Laura.
She leaves the hospital and continues her treatment. Laura discovers an old childhood friend. A monster in her closet. The two strike up a new “grown up” friendship.
The main Cast
Melissa Barrera is Laura Franco.
Tommy Dewey is Monster.
Edmund Donovan is Jacob Sullivan.
Meghann Fahy is Jackie Dennon.
Kayla Foster is Mazie Silverberg.
behind the camera
Caroline Lindy writes and directs Your Monster. She gives us a tale that is as scary as it is funny. Her protagonist uses an old childhood closet monster to help her move on. It works but also feels a little familiar.
However, in terms of makeup, AKA VFX, David LeRoy Anderson rules with his conversion of Dewey into Monster. Sure, he is a cross between Teen Wolf and Beauty and the Beast but it works brilliantly.
Will Stone as cinematographer makes each frame look as it should. Editors Daysha Broadway and Jon Higgins put this jigsaw puzzle together with no braised edges. Brielle Hubert is spot on with production design, as are art director Abigail Rieger and set decoration by Sarah Dawn Hamlin is also nigh on perfect.
It works but
There are shades of Drop Dead Fred here, as well as allusions to other horror films on offer. *Okay, so Drop Dead Fred is a comedy, but the premise of an “imaginary” friend helping out with life’s injustices? Score.*
It is never overtly mentioned but the monster is clearly a part of Laura’s own id, brought out by her devastating disease and Jacob’s response to it. Her psychological response to stress and heartbreak brings her old childhood fears to living breathing life.
It mainly works because Barrera has learned her “horror” lessons well. Afterall, she did well in the new reworking of the Scream franchise. *It was only her errant outspokenness on Social Media that ended that gig.* She works well in the medium nonetheless and proves in Your Monster that she can walk the comedy/horror line adeptly.
kudos to
Barrera, obviously, but also to Tommy Dewey. The actor played the monster once before in Lindy’s 2020 short version of the film. It shows. His ease with switching emotions and direction mid scene is brilliant.
Kudos also to Fahy. She played the secondary role of Jackie. Her portrayal of, perhaps, the only “normal” character in the film helps to bring everything together nicely for the finale.
the verdict
Your Monster is a solid 4 out of 5 stars for effort alone. For the most part it entertains mightily. However there are a few loose ends and the “sex” scene between Laura and Monster muddied the water. This is dark comedy served up on a silver platter. It is enjoyable and fun, despite the oh so dark nature of the comedy itself.
The film is streaming on Max right now.
the trailer
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