What comes to mind when you think of Beauty and the Beast? For most people, it’s probably an animated movie from the 1990s, but the actual story is much older than that. This is a centuries-old fairy tale that has been made into film many times, but my personal favorite is the 1946 French version. But of course, there’s always room for new interpretations of this classic romance, so when I heard about Your Monster, I was immediately intrigued. The movie promised to give the story a modern, more comedic twist, and even a little bit of horror, and I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out.
Your Monster was written and directed by Caroline Lindy and stars Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster, and Megan Fahey. In the film, Laura is an actress and singer whose career stalls when she is diagnosed with cancer. To make matters worse, after a year of treatment and tests, her life is thrown into complete turmoil when her boyfriend Jacob breaks up with her.
But in the midst of all this chaos, Laura meets the true love of her life – a monster (appropriately known as The Monster) who is secretly living in her house. At first, these seemingly incompatible characters want nothing to do with each other, but as they spend more time together, they develop a Beauty and the Beast type of relationship. Laura is able to overcome her scary appearance, and in the process learns that it’s okay to let your emotions out and stand up for yourself sometimes.
Reading such a plot synopsis, you might think Your Monster would need to spend the majority of its running time getting to know its protagonist, but surprisingly, the movie only takes about 50 minutes to get to know its protagonist. Lay that foundation in ~10 minutes. It begins with Laura already sick, and shortly after the cameras start rolling, Jacob tells his girlfriend that they can no longer be together. The stress of her illness was too much for him, so he left her hospital room without saying goodbye.
I can’t help but feel sorry for Laura, because this is the stupidest thing to do. And as the poor woman grieves a breakup, Your Monster infuses her melancholy with light-hearted humor, making her nearly impossible not to like with a one-two punch of comedy and sympathy.
From there, you’re ready to lean into the characters as they try to get back on their feet, but that’s only half the battle. Your monster will also have to keep you interested for the rest of the way, but thankfully the movie gets through it without breaking a sweat. At the most basic level, the gags are good from start to finish, and the music is also surprisingly good. I didn’t know Melissa Barrera could sing, but let me tell you, this woman has great pipes.
But frankly, it’s all window dressing. The true heart of the story is the dynamic between the two main characters, Laura and the monster, and the weight of Your Monster rests firmly on their shoulders. If they weren’t great, this movie wouldn’t have much of a chance, but thankfully it’s almost guaranteed to warm even the coldest of horror-loving hearts.
Let’s start with Laura. This woman has pretty much been through the entire emotional spectrum, and actress Melissa Barrera brings it to life perfectly every step of the way. Sometimes she’s completely depressed, sometimes she’s super happy, and sometimes she’s angry, but whatever she does, it’s always 100% convincing.
Similarly, actor Tommy Dewey imbues the monster with a smooth, completely natural humanity that is completely at odds with its frightening, somewhat Neanderthal-like appearance, though somewhat paradoxically. That contrast is what makes this character so great. His charisma will catch you off guard and will slip past your defenses and charm your socks off before you know it.
Honestly, this guy is a joy to watch every time he’s on screen, and he has great chemistry with Melissa Barrera. These two actors make you believe that Lola and Monster are truly in love, and watching their relationship blossom before your eyes is like watching two best friends become a couple. It’s a thing.
Last but not least, I have to talk about the message of Your Monster. As I said before, Laura’s romance with the monster teaches her that it’s okay to let your emotions out and stand up for yourself. That’s a lesson we should all take to heart. Granted, the film primarily focuses on women’s need to break free from society’s expectations of “proper” feminine behavior, but men can also learn from Laura’s journey. No one should keep all their pain and sadness to themselves and let people treat us like living doormats.
On the other hand, I don’t have any major issues with Your Monster. Sure, there are a few things I could point out here and there, but the good things about this movie far outweigh the bad. Funny gags, good music, great characters, and an important message give this movie high praise from me, so if you want to enjoy a horror-comedy version of Beauty and the Beast, watch Your Monster. We recommend that you do so. You won’t be disappointed.
Your Monster is currently playing in theaters.
