Love and Monsters (2020)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on June 10, 2021 @ tonymacklin.net.

In the welter of remakes and sequels, on occasion a surprising, unique film bursts through. Love and Monsters is one of these rarities.

The film got an Oscar nomination (2021) for Best Achievement in Visual Effects. But what really sets it apart is its humanity. It's the humanity involved that most gives the visual effects their impact.

Directed by Michael Matthews with a screenplay by Brian Duffield and Matthew Robinson from a story by Duffield, Love and Monsters is the intriguing story of a world struck by a monsterpocalypse that drives most of the survivors underground. The surface is ruled by dangerous, often brutal monsters.The monsters are multiple - Sand-Gobblers, Shell-Boulders, Spuzzards, and other remarkable obstacles.

Joel's (Dylan O'Brien) mother and father were killed in an attack, so he has lived underground in a bunker with other survivors for seven years. Then Joel decides to set out on an 80-mile journey to find his high school sweetheart Aimee (Jessica Henwick). She lives in a coastal colony. It's a trek for love.

On the way, the inexperienced, naive Joel is helped by Clyde (Michael Rooker) and a feisty young girl Minnow (Ariana Greenblatt), who teach him some of the ways of survival. They both have suffered loss, but live on the surface. They add personality and humor to the threatening environment..

Joel, in a deserted building, meets a robot Mav1s (voiced by Melanie Zanetti). She sacrifices her last energy as she gives Joel crucial support.

But as he struggles to escape the monsters his best helper is a dog The dog named Boy proves to be an irreplaceable side-kick. He is especially helpful when Joel reaches his destination, which turns out differently from what the young man had imagined.

Joel comes from Fairfield, California, but the film was made in Australia, which offers wonderful natural scenery.

Dylan O'Brien, who was the lead in The Maze Runner (2014), is appealing as Joel. The character is 24 years old, and O'Brien will turn 30 this August, but he has a compelling boyish quality.

Amidst the splatter and goo of violence in Love and Monsters, Joel remains cool. And human.

As he says, "I'm alive because of the generosity of a few strangers and the kindness of a great dog."

What could be better than that?