Monsters

Well here's an interesting movie that slipped under my radar. I guess the radar hasn't been finely tuned to movies that I used to love anymore: giant monsters, science fiction and umm... awesomeness. It doesn't help that my local theatre barely gets anything (decent) and my trips down south to better screens usually ends up so packed with other activities and other movies, that these little gems go unseen. I used to watch a lot of trailers too, but since that's been slowed to a snail's crawl, the chance for these films going unnoticed increase signficantly.

I was pleasantly surprised then to watch this the other night. The movie starts out strong: a military street battle against a giant alien-monster with lashing tentacles. We learn that scientists have discovered extraterrestrial life in our solar system and (perhaps through a pop-up that I missed as I devoured flavourful popcorn) brought them back to Earth. What we have established is a large portion of Mexico, bordering the USA, has been declared The Infected Zone.

Chances are these big monsters have made the Zone their home for now, but we're not really clear how. The story follows a photographer who must escort some rich guy's daughter to the brink of the Infected Zone and get her on a ferry to the US. I don't have to tell you much more to see where the movie goes, and I won't purposefully spoil the story for you. We follow the two as the movie focuses on these people moreso than the monsters, as well it should. It's not clear how long these creatures have been living here, but the people are used to it, as newscasts are prominently featured on various sets, giving us clues and updates. We see destroyed tanks, planes and helicopters littering the countryside and have to assume: these creatures are bad news and serious.

I think there was some commentary involved here; the pair are asking one another "what are you going to do tomorrow" and at the time of questioning, it's pretty safe to assume they will be home safe and sound, and can carry on with their regular life. But every day they ask, and every tomorrow, they are not home. There is uneasiness in their answers, almost as if going home is not all that it's cracked up to be: perhaps facing these monsters is easier to do than face the challenges of day to day life, or whatever situation they have going on. As they go through the destruction, snapping photos and looking on in awe, you can't help but think about war-torn countries in our own reality and what horrible things are going on. Whatever problems you think you may have in your life, is nothing compared to what's going on outside your bubble.

But then again, step back for a minute and enjoy the film for what it's worth and you have a pretty decent, if a little slow-moving, film. I'm always a fan of the world that these science-fiction film creates, and this movie delivers the right amount. We don't get full explanations of what these creatures are, but we get enough to draw some conclusions and wanting more. Sequel? Seems unlikely, unfortunately.