The Silence of Fear: How Monster Falls Short of its Promise
As a horror enthusiast, I was excited to dive into Monster, the latest Indonesian thriller to hit Netflix. With its unique premise of mute characters, I expected a tense, edge-of-my-seat experience. Unfortunately, the film’s gimmick ultimately proves to be its downfall.
The eerie atmosphere of Monster sets the tone for a thrilling ride
The film’s strongest asset is its young protagonist, Alana, played by 13-year-old Anantya Kirana. Her character’s determination to escape her captor’s clutches is admirable, and her performance is convincing. However, the film’s decision to restrict dialogue to only character names quickly becomes a hindrance. The constant grunting and screaming grows tiresome, making it difficult to become fully invested in the story.
Alana’s abduction sets off a chain of events that will keep you on the edge of your seat
Monster’s setup is simple yet effective: Alana and her friend Rabin are kidnapped and taken to a remote house in the woods. As Alana navigates the house, she uncovers the extent of her captor’s atrocities, including a gruesome discovery in the bedroom. The tension builds, and I found myself wondering how Alana would escape her predicament.
The isolated setting of Monster adds to the sense of unease
However, the film’s screenplay, written by Ali Sudio, ties itself in knots to maintain the mute characters, leading to contrived and implausible situations. The film’s nods to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining are appreciated, but ultimately, Monster fails to deliver on its promise.
Monster’s homage to The Shining is a nice touch, but not enough to save the film
In conclusion, while Monster shows promise, its unique premise is ultimately its downfall. With a more focused script and less emphasis on the gimmick, this could have been a truly terrifying experience. As it stands, Monster is a disappointing addition to the horror genre.
Monster is now streaming on Netflix, but is it worth your time?
