A Monster Calls: A Film Review

I'm really excited to be chatting about A Monster Calls today. In both book and film form, A Monster Calls is a striking tale of a young boy that is dealing with a lot of terribly difficult things when it comes to his family, and the way that a visit from a monster at his bedside window encourages him to face the truth. It was clever, observant and nuanced, and the emotional through line was very pronounced and well written - both in novel and film form.

I've always heard plenty of praise for this novel, and so, when the opportunity to see the film early was presented to me, I gladly accepted and finally took the plunge and read this story. Macky, too, had the incredible opportunity to attend the official New York City premiere of the film, and so we're both going to be reviewing it today. (Spoiler alert: We both loved it and we would highly recommend it!)

Eager to catch A Monster Calls for yourself? Well, you're in luck because the film is already officially out in Los Angeles and New York as of today! Don't worry if you live in other states though - the film will also be opening nationwide on January 6. Macky & I would both highly encourage you to take the time to see this incredible story come to life on screen, whether or not you've read the actual novel.

If you're looking for more details on the film, never fear - I'm including the synopsis, rating, running time, social media links and trailer below. I'm also sharing a bonus video featuring Liam Neeson (who plays the Monster in the film) reading the first chapter of A Monster Calls- and it's well worth watching as well.

Rated PG-13 | Running Time: 108 minutes

Directed by J.A. Bayona (“The Impossible,” “The Orphanage”)

Written by Patrick Ness, based on his novel A Monster Calls
Starring Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Lewis MacDougall, and Liam Neeson

A visually spectacular and unabashedly emotional drama from director J.A. Bayona (“The Impossible”). 12-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) is dealing with far more than other boys his age. His beloved and devoted mother (Felicity Jones) is ill. He has little in common with his imperious grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). His father (Toby Kebbell) has resettled thousands of miles away. But Conor finds a most unlikely ally when the Monster (portrayed by Liam Neeson in performance-capture and voiceover) appears at his bedroom window one night. Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth that powerfully fuses imagination and reality. 

For More Info: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
#AMonsterCalls