Gareth Edwards’ ‘Monsters’ Gets a New Trailer and Poster
by Britt Hayes
Earlier this year I caught a little film from the UK at SXSW called Monsters. Directed by Gareth Edwards and shot for next to nothing (Edwards himself isn’t even sure how much the film cost), with all of the effects done by Edwards on his own computer. During the Q&A after the film, Edwards explained that he shot “hundreds” of hours of footage before getting it down to a four and a half hour cut, which was then edited down to 90 minutes. The film had a basic outline and plot beats, but no script or dialogue. Everything was ad-libbed by the actors to evoke a more genuine experience.
I gave the film a rather positive review, and I admire the work of actors Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able, who carry the film squarely on their shoulders.
The official synopsis:
Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and grow. In an effort to stem the destruction that resulted, half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain the massive creatures… Our story begins when a jaded US journalist (McNairy) begrudgingly agrees to find his bosses daughter, a shaken American tourist (Able) and escort her through the infected zone to the safety of the US border.
Some sites are labeling Monsters a horror slash sci-fi film and likening it to District 9. The poster below seems to blatantly echo that sentiment with a similar style (image courtesy of Digital Spy).
There’s nothing wrong with playing to the familiarity of your audience, especially when trying to drum up excitement for a small property. Another site likened Monsters to Paranormal Activity, when the two films have rather divergent themes and styles. There is exactly one cinema verité scene in this film, early on, and the rest is filmed guerrilla-style by Edwards. Monsters is determinedly not a found-footage film, and those expecting something in that vein will find themselves disappointed; likewise, those expecting a bloody horror film filled to the brim with monsters and action might want to keep their expectations in check.
Monsters seems to create its own sub-genre in science fiction romantic drama. I don’t want to nurture any notions that this is Jane Austen with aliens because it isn’t; however, some people hear “romantic drama” and Elizabethan maids and metaphorical swords are immediately conjured.
None of this is to say that horror and science fiction fans won’t walk away pleasantly surprised even if their expectations aren’t directly met.
Watch the teaser below:
