As an avid fan of Dylan O’Brien for many years now, you know I was beyond excited to hear about the new movie, then titled “Monster Problems” at its announcement in 2019, that he would be starring in. After many a pushed back release date, and a major name change, the film “Love and Monsters” was finally released via video on demand on October 16, 2020. That weekend I made sure to clear my schedule, rented the movie on Amazon Prime, and sat down on my couch with a package of M&Ms, ready to see if all the hype was worth it.
The movie opens with Dylan’s character Joel Dawson catching the audience up to speed with a hilariously blunt voiceover and some animated drawings about what’s been going on in the world for the past seven years. When Joel was 17, an asteroid was set to hit Earth, so in order to combat this, humans decided to fight back by sending rockets up into space to stop it. This worked in stopping the asteroid, however, the chemical fallout from the rockets caused all reptiles, amphibians, and insects to mutate into monsters. The surviving human population took to living in underground bunkers and communicating with fellow colonies through notoriously unreliable radio systems.
The main story begins after a now 24-year-old Joel locates Aimee, (Jessica Henwick), his girlfriend before disaster struck who he is still madly in love with seven years later. He devises a plan to make the 85 mile trip to her colony to find her and be with her once again. The other members of his colony think he is crazy, and as an audience member, I thought so too. Joel’s self-deprecating humor and perfectly timed one-liners make him a loveable, relatable character, however, there is no denying that he is incredibly naïve, has approximately zero survival skills, and freezes up in the face of danger. All this being said, he is tired of being seen as someone with no worth, so driven by that and the power of love, he sets off to the surface and begins his journey.
As much as I love Joel, I think the real star of the movie is Boy, the ultra-loyal, adorable dog he finds along the way. Boy is played by a tag team of Australian Kelpies named Hero and Dodge, handled by lead trainer Zelie Bullen. Hero is the lead dog, and somehow manages to act as the perfect companion for Joel. O’Brien described their relationship saying it’s like, “…the perfect marriage — a kid who’s in over his head and a dog who’s experienced and showing him the ropes.”
Joel also encounters another team of Survivors, old-timer Clyde played by Michael Rooker, and his feisty eight-year-old partner Minnow, played by Ariana Greenblatt. The two help show Joel the ropes of surviving the monsters, and also happen to save his life once or twice. The three have a close onscreen relationship and help to develop the overarching theme of family.
Director Michael Matthews sets up the world fantastically; the rolling fields and cliffs of Queensland Australia serve as the backdrop which is enhanced by towering CGI mutant frogs, snails, or centipedes throughout Joel’s endeavor. It’s a heart-warming, hilarious take on a post-apocalyptic movie, and I think we can thank Dylan for that. Dylan is no stranger to dystopian films after having played Thomas in The Maze Runner trilogy, but in Love and Monsters, his charisma and comedic ability are able to truly shine. His athleticism also helps to emphasize that “running for your life” energy, and he overall brings a passion and raw genuineness to his character.
The ending offers Joel some redemption to prove he is more than just the creator of a “mean minestrone,” and we get to see some hand to hand combat and a monster attack as well. I think it’s a perfect balance of intensity and humor; it’s a twist that is unexpected. Overall Love and Monsters is a feel-good movie centered on exactly what the title hints at, and I’ll definitely be giving it another watch. (Or two.)
You can watch Love and Monsters now streaming on Video on Demand