Monster

I must point out up front that horror isn't my favorite genre, so this could account for the high scores by some for MONSTER and my closer to average score. However, my disappointment also is because apart from evoking an excellent scary mood and one pretty funny scene where the mother takes on the monster, there isn't a lot of substance to this film. It seems to almost all be mood--music, cinematography and action--but not a whole lot of depth. In part, this must be because it's a short film but my one complaint about the genre in general is that so many films try to scare you but don't really have a lot more to them than just fright.

Now these complaints still bode pretty well for the film makers--they did achieve the right mood and the film was competently made--I just want to see a bit more plot next time.

I don't like watching short films. I watched the short film version of that movie before watching The Babadook. It was an average thing. This short film did not surprise me.

It's a shame I came across this short 13 years after it was made. I loved the full featured film of 2014 when it came out. It's really nice to see the original inspiration for the 2014 film in this one.

I actually thought the monster in this one was scarier than the one from 2014. The little boy in this one is just as effective at annoying the adults as the 2014 film lol. But the boy was adorable just the same.

Monster follows a young boy and his mother who live together. The boy is frightened of a creepy doll that he eventually keeps in his closet. To help ease his terror, the mother lets him sleep with her in her room.

This is very atmospheric short and the jump scares work really well. I was genuinely on edge the whole time. I'd recommend watching this alone, late at night with the lights off. You are in for a treat!

This clearly inspired Kent's 2014 feature, the Babadook as both share many of the same horror tropes.

6/10

Jennifer Kent's Monster is a haunting precursor to her acclaimed feature The Babadook. This short film delivers a striking tale of maternal anxiety and psychological terror in just ten minutes, showcasing Kent's talent for blending emotional depth with suspense.

The story centres on a single mother and her young son, whose quiet life is disrupted by the appearance of a shadowy creature lurking in their home. On the surface, Monster is a straightforward horror story, but Kent uses this simplicity as a vehicle for exploring profound themes, particularly the fear of parental inadequacy and the looming presence of unresolved trauma.

Kent's direction is meticulous, using sparse lighting, practical effects, and tight framing to evoke unease. The monster itself, while only glimpsed, is an unsettling figure-a testament to how less is often more in horror. The film's atmosphere relies heavily on suggestion, allowing viewers to project their fears onto the creature, much like the mother and son project their struggles onto this ominous presence.

The emotional undercurrent of Monster elevates it beyond standard genre fare. The mother's strained relationship with her son is palpable, and the monster seems to embody her internal struggles, blurring the line between external and internal threats. This allegorical depth is a hallmark of Kent's work, later perfected in The Babadook.

While brief, Monster lingers long after the screen fades to black. It's an unsettling exploration of fear, both imagined and real, that resonates on a deeply personal level. A must-watch for fans of psychological horror and a brilliant showcase of Jennifer Kent's early promise.