A Monster Calls is a dark, fantasy drama film released on Sept. 23, 2016, in the United States. Directed by J. A. Bayona and starring Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, and Liam Neeson, the movie is an adaptation of Patrick Ness’s 2011 novel A Monster Calls.

In this film, we follow the story of a boy navigating his childhood in the middle of a difficult family situation. As the movie progresses, we witness how he copes with this reality and his grief through his imagination, specifically through a monster who visits him to tell three stories, in exchange for the boy telling a fourth and final one.

This film has a slightly dark tone that deeply reflects the psychological aspects of the story.

The music, carefully chosen for specific scenes, amplifies the emotions conveyed by the film, making us feel each key moment more intensely. As for the monster, it serves as a central symbol of the story; its design is striking and immediately captures attention, while its emotional backstory is extraordinarily well-developed, making every encounter narratively and emotionally impactful.

The performances are wonderful, especially MacDougall as Conor O’Malley, the young protagonist. He portrays his character with remarkable intensity, perfectly capturing Conor’s anger, sadness, and frustration throughout the film, making the audience feel these emotions as if they were their own. The other actors, such as Jones (Conor’s mother) and Weaver (Conor’s grandmother), complement the story by adding authenticity and warmth, while Neeson’s voice as the Monster brings a fantastic and symbolic element that draws the viewer deeply into the story.

This film conveys grief, vulnerability, helplessness, and loss in an incredibly intense and moving way. Thanks to MacDougall’s performance, we see how a 13-year-old boy navigates the responsibility of caring for both others and himself, facing complex and difficult emotions.

Furthermore, J. A. Bayona’s direction, combined with the presence of the Monster, creates an immersive atmosphere that draws us closer to Conor and his journey, stirring our emotions and prompting reflection on how each person experiences grief in different ways.

Among the film’s strengths are the outstanding performance of MacDougall, who conveys all of Conor’s emotions with remarkable intensity and authenticity; J. A. Bayona’s direction, which perfectly balances reality and fantasy; the music, which enhances every emotional scene; and the design of the Monster, both visually striking and symbolically rich. The cinematography and setting fully immerse the audience in the story. On the other hand, some moments of the film can feel very intense or sad, especially for viewers who may have experienced situations similar to Conor’s, which might be challenging. Additionally, the pacing in some parts can be somewhat slow, though this also allows the story and characters to develop with depth.

What I liked most is how the film mixes fantasy and reality in a way that actually helps you understand what Conor is feeling, instead of just telling the story in a simple way. The Monster is not just a character, but something that represents truth and acceptance, and I think that makes the message even stronger.

A Monster Calls is a film that really moves me and makes me think because it represents grief in a way that feels honest and not overly dramatic, but instead shown through the eyes of a 13-year-old boy who is just trying to deal with something he can’t fully understand. I think that is what makes it so powerful because it feels real and easy to connect with, even when it is painful. The combination of MacDougall’s performance, J. A. Bayona’s direction, the music, and the presence of the Monster creates an experience that is very emotional and stays with you after watching it.