Not every horror comedy is destined to be a classic. For everyBeetlejuiceandFright Night,there’sTremors 4: The Legend BeginsandThere’s Something in the Barn.That’s why we can appreciate something in the middle, such as revered writer Diablo Cody’s quirkyLisa Frankenstein,a recent film that feels closely related to writer/director Caroline Lindy’s new outing,Your Monster.Lindy’s tale lands like a latter-dayBeauty and the Beast(at least the 1980s TV series version) doused with humor and modern-day relationship angst with a blatant reminder that true connection comes from within.
The story tracks a downtrodden and quiet actress named Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera fromIn the Heights) who’s forced to dust herself off emotionally and move forward with her life. Laura just never imagined that the terrifying, yet oddly charming monster (Tommy Dewey fromCasual) secretly living in her closet would be her path to salvation. For the most part, the premise works in this film, which is as much about falling in love with your inner rage as it is with truly loving yourself. It’s a nutty,oddball romantic-comedy-horror moviethat wins you over with its frights and big heart.
When Brokenhearted Gal Meets Pesky Monster
Your Monster
Soft-spoken actress Laura Franco’s life crumbles, but she regains her voice after encountering a terrifying but oddly charming Monster living in her closet.
Your Monsterimmediately wins you over with its strong performances that enhance filmmaker Caroline Lindy’s script, which, at times, leans too heavily into the me-me-me suffering of our dear Laura here.The effective soundtrackdigs in the knife deeper, although there’s a quirky thrill in hearing Georgia Gibbs’s “You Can Never Get Away from Me” or Brenda Lee’s “Someday You’ll Want Me,“among other heart-tugging classics. We get it: Laura is in free fall.
Imagine her surprise (and ours) when “Monster” emerges one day from her cluttered closet and bemoans the fact that she’s hanging around the house too much while he, too, has been doing that for some time. What? Laura has a roommate? It’s a kooky meet-cute, but it goes down well. There’s an instant affection and curiosity for Monster, thanks to Tommy Dewey, who’s perfectly cast in the role, channeling, well, his sexy/aloof character inCasualwith some Joel McHale tossed in for good measure.
A freak-out or two later from Laura, and the duo come to terms with their living situation. Basically, they agree to live together, as roommates. Like other roommate comedies, fromNew GirltoWhat We Do in the Shadows,we’re pulled through a tale that ultimately finds these two very different characters having to bend and/or compromise if their arrangement is going to work. The set-up gives Laura a distraction from her severed relationship with Jacob (Edmund Donovan fromTell Me Lies) and also gives Monster a chance to interact with another human being, which, in turn, draws out his own humanity.
A Mixed Bag of Genres
The plot must go beyond that, however. And in this film, it wanders into a lot of places, switching genres at any given beat. The filmmaker usually makes these somewhat abrupt transitions work, leaning into the overall quirky vibe of the film. It may take getting used to. You see, Laura and Jacob aren’t really done, as there’s a stage musical to launch, which Jacob is involved with as its pretentious director. Welcome to your newstage musical film. Still, more fun than frivolous.
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The tone shifts yet again when Monster decides to give his stay-at-home beastly non-duties a rest and meet Laura at a Halloween costume party. His identity would be “safe” there and there’s nothing finer in his eyes, perhaps, than seeing Laura dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein. Aside from Jacob, Laura has another rival in Jackie (Meghann Fahy) and alleged “best friend” Mazie (Kayla Foster), who plays a significant role in the event unraveling here.
But is Monster actually scary? Sometimes. There’s a hilarious bit when Laura sees the true extent of his strength and the horror of what this beast is actually capable of. It’s enough to scare off her existential sorrows, but Laura likes to hang onto those, and the film nearly drowns in that weepy device. Still, there’s great fun in watching it play out and seeing how anything gets resolved, if at all.
When a Kick-Ass Ending Leaves You Wanting More
Inevitably, Laura and Monster realize that they have grown to care for each other. But is it more than just platonic (and more than Monster being an externalized manifestation of her inner angst)? It’s here that the main actors shine the brightest, creating a believable rom-com-like will they/won’t theywhatever. Think of how well Diablo Cody managed to pull that off inLisa Frankenstein, andit’s similar here, but the filmmaker seems to save her best hand for the ending, which appears to lead you in one direction but fully surprises by the final frame.
That makesYour Monstera solid go-to for the Halloween season. Beyond that, the edgy vibe and a stand-out performance from the marvelous Tommy Dewey make this screwball horror comedy pure fun. The film lures you into its web of intrigue and keeps you interested. Aside from a few creative potholes, the filmmaker steers the story effectively, makingYour Monstera witty, often biting, and altogether quirky monster mash that ultimately rises to the occasion.Your Monsterhits theaters October 25.
