Monolith

A strong willed, but seemingly on the way out journalist runs a podcast covering unsolved mysteries from her parents' lavish, isolated home. When she receives an anonymous email she follows it up and is told of a strange black brick that had altered the life of an ex maid. Investigating further she discovers an art dealer who has acquired a few of the bricks and had them scanned - he sends the results to the journalist. As the investigation progresses further and more people contact her, she begins to realise that she may in fact be directly involved in the mystery herself.

A tense and interesting low budget independent sci-fi thriller filmed entirely in the house and with just one actor seen, the unnamed journalist, played convincingly by Lily Sullivan. The investigative element involving interviewing various affected characters over the phone is well done and is actually the best part, as the possible ways in which the brick might be affecting people slowly emerges leading in turn to how the mystery might be directly involving the journalist. It is sci-fi and inevitably it brings the threads together with a bit of out there weirdness, but it's well enough handled and overall this is a fascinating and tense 94 minutes.

This film is evocative of the highly atmospheric podcasts I listened to in the early 2010s. Same setups: a journalist seeking the truth gets involved in a strange sci-fi conspiracy documented episodically, it's played as if it's real life. For that, I really enjoyed this film. The atmosphere was great and I really felt intense dread as the movie played on. The main, and only on-screen, actress did phenomenal with the role I didn't mind the length either, it's just the type of low budget film that can, and should, work. But the ending is very quick and falls flat. I dunno, it leaves me feeling wishy-wash about the experience.

After a career ending misjudgement, a Journalist uncovers a vague conspiracy theory through her podcast, as she digs deeper, she realises she's closer to the conspiracy than she first realised.

One of those films that you could easily dismiss as mehh, but if you stick with it, I think you may get something out of it. It held my attention all the way through.

Tagged as a horror, absolutely not, in no way, shape or form does this have a single scare, it's more a mystery, with sci fi undertones, you'll be kept intrigued enough, to want to hear the conclusion.

The twist at the end of the film was the highlight, and definitely the most unsettling sequence.

A very competent performance from Lily Sullivan, who carries the film pretty much single handedly.

7/10.

Monolith maintains more of a single setting and person concept as it uncovers the mystery behind random blocks of black stone that just appear in people's lives.

The main character is a disgraced journalist that has moved to a new home that is more isolated to avoid the public. She is tasked with creating a new "mystery pod cast" and begins with these blocks.

As the film progresses, little details from talking with others who have found these blocks creates more uncertainty regarding what they are, why they are, and what do they do.

Monolith starts with a realistic focus on the main character and her stress from recent events of her problematic journalism. The film unfolds slowly around the bits of information and this leads us wanting to know more, but in this situation, there isn't clearer information.

If you are expecting tradition film plotting, don't watch this. If you want to experience the uncertainty and the mystery without needing an answer to resolve the tension, Monolith creates this atmosphere and suspense. Lily Sullivan as the lead character and only person on screen is captivating and holds this film with a tight grip even as she loses hold on her reality.

Can I honestly urge you to put aside an hour and a half of your life to watch this? No, I don't think so. There's nothing wrong with this film. I am old, and remember radio plays (honest, they were entertaining, and tested one's imagination) and this feels like one of those. There's nothing 'cinematic' about it. It has one idea, and does it quite well. Should you be stuck inside on a rainy day and you've done all your chores, go ahead. You won't regret it. But going for a walk, tidying your house, finishing those jobs are more important.

Well acted, well presented, nicely structured. A good ending (if you've been paying attention to the hints).