Love and Monsters, a Paramount production movie, directed by Michael Matthews, was released Friday, October 16, 2020. Personally, I watched the movie “On Demand” from the comfort of my own couch. It was about $20 to rent it for 48 hours, but don’t let that deter you from it! As an adventure apocalyptic movie, Love and Monsters takes on the journey of self-discovery and bravery. Rated pg-13, Love and Monsters is mostly perfect for the whole family to watch. Although disclaimer: there are a few pop-outs and a small sex scene in the beginning.
Love and Monsters tells the story of a goofy, awkward, young man named Joel, played by actor Dylan O’Brien. Just seven years before the story takes place, a giant asteroid was heading to Earth and threatening human existence. As an act of desperation, many of the world’s top nations fired missiles at it, in hopes of avoiding catastrophe. While this did end up destroying the asteroid, millions of chemicals from the missiles rained down on Earth causing animals to become mutated giant beasts. This chemical rain and mass animal mutations caused about 95% of the human population to die leaving 5% to bunker underground. Frustrated with his position in his underground bunker, Joel decides to leave his bunker and travel to see his high school girlfriend.
Being a huge Dylan O’Brien fan, when I heard Love and Monsters was premiering this October, I knew I had to watch the movie. In the past, Dylan O’Brien’s acting had been nothing less than phenomenal. I personally have been a fan of his since his start on the MTV show “Teen Wolf.” Since his breakthrough performance on “Teen Wolf,” Dylan has played several other big characters. He landed several leads and supporting characters in movies such as “The Maze Runner” series, “American Assassin,” “The First Time,” and “Deepwater Horizon.”
After watching his latest movie, Love and Monsters, I can confidently say this movie and Dylan’s acting does not disappoint.
The movie starts off with Joel in his bunker and the viewer begins to learn more about Joel’s past trauma and his loving personality. While Joel loves all the members of his colony, he lacks the one relationship he craves: love. After a conversation with Aimee over the radio, his high school girlfriend, and a frightening monster breaking into his bunker Joel decides to make the 85-mile trip to visit his girlfriend. Although once the trip begins the viewer learns just how unprepared Joel is. Luckily, along his trip, Joel meets a dog named “Boy” and 2 other travelers who guide him on his journey.
The story has a feel-good theme and many humorous moments as Joel nearly escapes death. This added a light heart feel to the movie, to break up the deeper or more emotional scenes. Which, I must be honest and admit I did end up crying at a few points in the movie! Nevertheless, the movie shares the message of the value of human connection, bravery, and the courage to be your own hero.
In particular, I must comment on Dylan O’Brien’s acting. His ability to dive between heart-breaking emotional scenes to awkward laugh out loud moments is incredible. During the movie, I laughed, cried, and even gasped. The movie takes many twists and turns and although I don’t want to spoil anything, I can say the movie has a happy, though unexpected ending.
It even blows my mind that much of the editorial and CGI work was done during the quarantine. To top that the movie was originally expected to premiere on Valentine’s Day 2021, however, the production team decided to move up the date to October.
After watching the movie, I went to bed and couldn’t stop thinking about it. So much so, that the next day when I woke up I watched the movie again! Even though I knew how the movie ended, it still held the same entertainment value! In fact, I noticed many details I missed the first time.
My final thoughts: I would definitely recommend anyone to cuddle up on their couch or head to their local movie theatre to watch Paramounts’ latest movie Love and Monsters, starring Dylan O’Brien, for a movie night.