Monster
Monster

Monster

2003Movie109 minEnglish

In 1989, prostitute Aileen Wuornos befriends and enters a relationship with a young woman named Selby. Determined to straighten out her life, Aileen's limited education lands her back on the corner. She's raped by a trick, who she kills. A string of murder and robbery follows that ultimately leads Aileen to becoming America's first female serial killer.

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Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes81%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users85%
Director: Patty JenkinsGenres: Biography, Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

Based on a true story, 'Monster' chronicles the life of Aileen Wuornos, a sex worker in Florida who evolves into a serial killer. The film explores her troubled past, her desperate search for love and stability, and the series of events that lead her to commit murder. It culminates in her eventual capture and conviction.

Critical Reception

Monster received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for Charlize Theron's transformative performance as Aileen Wuornos. Critics praised the film's raw honesty, its empathetic portrayal of a complex character, and Patty Jenkins' assured directorial debut. It was considered a powerful and disturbing examination of a real-life serial killer.

What Reviewers Say

  • Charlize Theron delivers a career-defining, Oscar-winning performance that is both terrifying and deeply human.
  • Patty Jenkins' direction is sensitive and unflinching, offering a nuanced look at a troubled life.
  • The film is a harrowing and thought-provoking character study, avoiding sensationalism.

Google audience: Audiences were largely impressed by Charlize Theron's incredible transformation and performance, finding the film to be a compelling and disturbing portrayal of Aileen Wuornos' life. Many viewers appreciated the film's attempt to explore the character's psyche and the tragic circumstances that led to her actions, although some found it difficult to watch due to its dark subject matter.

Awards & Accolades

Academy Award for Best Actress (Charlize Theron), Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (Charlize Theron), Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Charlize Theron). Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Fun Fact

Charlize Theron gained over 25 pounds and underwent extensive prosthetics, including false teeth and skin-disfiguring makeup, to accurately portray Aileen Wuornos.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Charlize Theron is really quite convincing as the down-at-heel Aileen Wuornos, a real life character who went from hooker to serial killer in late 1980s Florida in the United States. Her’s is a dangerous profession where she encounters some...
Andre Gonzales

Andre Gonzales

The movie was alright. It was more of a sadistic type of love story. What they failed to capture is really how nuts she was. Like do less of a love story and more of her psychoness. The bitch was crazy! All the crazy interviews with her and...
John Chard

John Chard

We can be as different as we wanna be, but you can't kill people! Monster is the bleak story of Aileen Wuornos, a prostitute and one of America's most notorious female serial killers. Based around facts of her life and death, the film pr...