The movie tells the story of 12-year-old Conor, who seeks the help of an ancient yew tree monster to cope with his single mother's terminal illness and the bullying of his classmates.
Director J.A. Bayona presents appealing worlds (real and imagined) awash in color and detail, but while his movie and its monster are very interested in exploring and explaining humanity, they don't quite get people.
[A Monster Calls] does have its share of painful honesty. But it also reminds us that truths spoken in and about love can sustain us through the darkest nights of the soul.
As the movie rumbled toward its inevitably devastating conclusion, the chief emotion I felt wasn't sadness but annoyance at the dashed grander potential.
This is a tough movie that takes on adult issues and doesn't shy away from the grim realities of its subject matter. But that's what makes this grim children's story work. It's a work of lovely darkness.
A magnificent film about the power of the stories in our lives, how they can help us in the most difficult times and teach us to continue the struggle despite the vicissitudes. [Full review in Spanish]
There are times when certain segments of the movie feel a little forced and heavy-handed, but regardless of those minor flaws, A Monster Calls still manages to inspire, move and entertain. A box of tissues is essential.
The movie delivers its meaning repeatedly to make sure that no one misses the point; its lessons, rendered even more explicitly than the ones in Conor's classroom, are missing only the chalkboard and pointer.
