Your Monster – Movie Review (4/5)

YOUR MONSTER is a romantic fairytale comedy-horror starring Melissa Barrera and Tommy Dewey. I fell head over heels for this genre-mix. A charming story with dark undertones and a brutal ending. Loved it. Read our full Your Monster movie review here!

YOUR MONSTER is a new comedy-horror with a romantic fairytale at the center of the story. And yes, it is very cute and funny right up until the moment when it isn’t. Actually, the opening sequence is pretty depressing as well, but that just serves as an excellent starting point.

With Melissa Barrera in the lead, we have a young actor, who is quickly becoming a horror icon in her own right. I have yet to watch her in anything, where she isn’t making it better. In this genre mix, she is the absolute star and proves (yet again!) that she can carry a story on her own.

Continue reading our Your Monster movie review below. Find it on VOD in the US and in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from November 29, 2024.

A different kind of monster

In Your Monster, we meet Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera) when she is at an absolute low point in her life. She’s battling a life-threatening illness and her boyfriend decides it’s just too much pressure, so he dumps her while she’s still in the hospital.

They’ve been together for five years, so being dumped by the love of her life – while trying to stay alive – is a real gut punch for the struggling actor. In fact, Laura has been working on a play with her boyfriend, which was meant to star her in the leading role of “Laurie”.

Basically, she’s lost both her life and career in one swift go. As she returns to her childhood home to recover, she discovers a monster (Tommy Dewey) living in her bedroom closet.

And sure, he does have that charming “monster”-look made famous in The Beauty and the Beast. All of them. From the TV series starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman to the Disney versions (animated and live-action).

Also, it turns out that – once he calms down a bit – Monster has quite a charming personality. Of course, the two of them connect and Monster helps Laura stand up for herself in all aspects of her life.

Avoid spoilers for Your Monster

Do yourself a favor and avoid spoilers for Your Monster as it really is a wonderful genre-hybrid of a movie. There are many elements to the story and it escalates in amazing ways.

Melissa Barrera (Scream, Abigail) is amazing as Laura, and it’s a treat to see her character evolve from a sweet and almost timid young woman to someone who claims her place in the world. That’s what happens when you feel empowered and believe in yourself.

The ending of Your Monster does turn it into a very different movie. It’s an ending that makes it very clear that this isn’t just a cute little rom-com but rather a comedy with a distinct and bloody horror element.

Watch Your Monster however you can!

Your Monster is written and directed by Caroline Lindy, and it’s based on her own short film from 2020 – Tommy Dewey also played Monster in that one. I’m not sure what I expected from this genre hybrid feature, but I can certainly tell you that it exceeded all my expectations.

Part of that is the story and the way it evolved, and Laura’s character arc especially. This leads me to the other main reason why I loved this movie; Melissa Barrera. She just has the most amazing ability to portray characters. Her portrayal of Laura is nuanced and feels both organic and realistic.

Also, to be fair, the entire cast was wonderful. Supporting characters are portrayed by great actors such as Meghann Fahy (The Perfect Couple, The White Lotus), Edmund Donovan (Civil War), and Kayla Foster (Call Jane).

I think it shows that I loved this charming genre mix, which is both a romantic-comedy-horror and a modern-day, feminist fairytale set in the world of musical theatre. Sounds sweet and fluffy, I know, but I assure you… there will be blood!

Your Monster is out in UK and Ireland cinemas on November 29, 2024, from Vertigo Releasing. It’s already out on VOD in the US.

Details

Writer & Director: Caroline Lindy
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster