A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls

2016Movie108 minEnglish

12-year-old Conor encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic81
Google Users89%
Director: J.A. BayonaGenres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Plot Summary

A young boy, Conor O'Malley, struggles to cope with his mother's terminal illness and the bullying he endures at school. At night, he is visited by a sentient monster, a yew tree, who tells him three stories. Through these tales, Conor is forced to confront his deepest fears and emotions, ultimately leading him to a place of acceptance and understanding.

Critical Reception

A Monster Calls was widely acclaimed by critics for its emotional depth, stunning visuals, and powerful performances, particularly from the young lead. It was praised for its mature handling of difficult themes and its unique approach to storytelling, resonating with both critics and audiences as a moving and profound cinematic experience.

What Reviewers Say

  • A visually stunning and emotionally resonant fantasy drama.
  • Features powerful performances, especially from its young lead.
  • Explores grief and loss with sensitivity and profound honesty.

Google audience: Audiences lauded the film's heartbreaking story and incredible visual effects. Many found it to be a deeply moving and cathartic experience, appreciating its mature handling of sensitive themes and the standout performances.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for multiple Goya Awards, including Best Film and Best Director; won Goya for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Nominated for BAFTA for Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

Fun Fact

The voice of the Monster was performed by Liam Neeson, and the motion capture for the creature was provided by actor Terry Notary, known for his work on the Planet of the Apes reboot series.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**It's not a hateful or forgettable movie, but it's far from being lively or happy.** Despite its weaknesses, I confess I liked this film, and that maybe comes from the fact that it touched me personally. Being a film that is so focused ...
badelf

badelf

This is a very enjoyable tale. It's targeted to younger viewers, and therefore the characters are not at all complex. In spite of that shortcoming from an adult's POV, the overall effect is wonderful and emotional. Definitely worth the time...
Reno

Reno

**An alternate way to confront the reality.** Based on the British novel, made by a well known Spanish director. This film might remind you the titles like 'Finding Neverland', 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Neverwas' et cetera, but still...