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I've been watching lighthearted movies all week, and IMDb suggested this one as similar to a movie I'd just finished. I didn't realize this was quite the opposite of lighthearted, and got sucked into the movie, not caring what direction it took.

The two leads are your regular highschooler types; impulsive, wondrous, and at the same time, guarded. You could tell Mike finally had someone to reach out to, though Will was far too guarded at first. And when they finally got on the same page, that made for magic.

The chemistry between the two leads was undeniable, and I should have seen the inevitable conclusion, giving that the class assignment was about 'Romeo & Juliet'. It still caught me off guard, though.

Yes, it's a sad movie - but in sadness, where you can find hope and not despair, you know that you've connected with your audience. And that's just what this movie does.

Like anyone who has gone through an experience like this, like me, no no never can totally understand what's going on in this movie. While some scenes seem disjointed, the base of the story made me want to watch this movie multiple times. The horrifying ending of the story unfortunately happens way too often in this world. Without giving away the story I can say that I could not stop crying after seeing this. Even if you're not gay, this is a good story to watch to kind of understand what goes through people's mind and how awful things can get for them.

This movie started off so clunky that I almost turned it off. But the characters warmed up nicely so I kept watching. I was glad I did. I was starting to think I'd score this 7 or 8 (my 8 is the point where I try to buy my own copy of a movie). I was hoping the scene near the end was a dream. The reality made me so angry that I was thinking my score might be more like a 5. But there was still more film remaining. In the short amount of time remaining, I restored to a solid 7. I am disappointed that in 2013 when this was made, that it was still acceptable for parents of both boys to be so incredibly homophobic. However, I just recently saw the synopsis for a documentary that stated something like 20% of young men in shelters were kicked out of their homes when their sexual orientation did not align with their parents' wishes. So, for a cheap low budget movie, this meant enough to me to write my first review ever here on IMDB, even though I've been a 'member' for many years. I really encourage you to read the review posted as: "An unrefined, but very touching film that packs a punch." bennyjayruss30 November 2013 The single review I read prior to watching the movie did not give me any clue about the intensity of the ending of this movie. But on a fair note, maybe I would not have watched it. Who knows. But the review by bennyjayruss concludes how 'unforgettable' this movie surprisingly really is.

I agree with many of the comments left so far and none of them prevent me from absolutely loving this low budget indie Australian film. The story is not new, but these are stories that should be told and told again. Especially as there are so few from an Australian perspective.

As others have mentioned, in parts the production can be a little messy. However you quickly get used to this, and in the end (unintentionally) it makes the whole film feel more real. Imagine finding a slightly tattered rug, but once wrapped around you it was the warmest most comfortable rug you could find. That's how I felt about this film.

The two leads are great young actors. Considering this was Lucas Linehams first feature film, he has done an outstanding job and I look forward to seeing him in any upcoming roles.

I could imagine this movie being put on a school curriculum for students anywhere in the world to discuss the concepts of same sex attracted students, bullying and domestic violence. As a result of these themes, it does get upsetting at times. But please don't let that put you off seeing this very moving movie.

Another low budget movie that offers yet another gay themed, sad story. Acting and script were good enough. Hopefully, there aren't that many ultra abusive fathers out there. I would rather have seen a more optimistic ending, but we got hammered with the same old tale of self-hatred, shame and guilt. There was no wisdom or example provided that showed teens how to NOT engage in all these negative emotions in spite of the prevailing cultural values. No one should ever let culture shame them over who they are or how they were born. I'm gay, born in 1960, and I NEVER EVER felt inferior or shame, despite being bullied periodically in high school. I thought I was better and smarter. I never thought about killing myself because I was born gay. My sexuality was intensely private so I rarely discussed it. It would be nice to see a movie that shows how teens can have confidence in their minds and can have strong values without succumbing to either peer pressure or cultural pressure.

With a scenario laden with maudlin clichés, this movie is redeemed by its convincing acting and a direction that does not take itself too seriously (contrary to the overwrought "Were the World Mine," for instance). Most of the time the actors manage to make the phony dialogs sound true, a remarkable feat for this kind of indie movie. Unfortunately the use of music rarely seems motivated by what happens on screen, leaving the spectator with a weird feeling of disconnection between image and sound. As for the main protagonist's female best friend, a stock character of gay-themed teen movies, her existence does not seem motivated by the story as she almost completely disappears midway through, leaving a conflict unresolved--an unfortunate error in the scenario that goes to show the amateurishness of the whole thing. To conclude, this is a mediocre movie saved only by the touching sincerity of the narration and the two leading actors, especially Lucas Lineham who I'd like to see again on screen in the future.

Monster Pies isn't a very well made film, but it's terribly moving. Once it gets more exposure, there's no doubt in my mind that it will be seen as an LGBT cinematic treasure. It's an important film for Australia too, a country that has only had brief exposure to gay themes on television and in film (Priscilla being the most notable film). It took me a while to get into the movie, because it was hard to get past the shabby production value. As the leading actors took their stride and developed an infectious chemistry, the romance took off and led me on yet another incredibly moving experience. Isn't it weird though, that a film like this (which is far from great) is one that I'll never forget. It does pack a punch, and it will stay with you.

We follow the life of Mike (Tristan Barr), who is an awkward teenager that works in a video store, and also gets teased about his sexuality. In his English class, Mike gets paired with an attractive new student, Will (Lucas Linehan), who has a manly exterior, but hidden sensitivity. They have to create a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, which forces them to spend lots of time together. As they work on their project, they start having loads of fun and establish a unique connection. It's a coming of age story (which is prevalent in LGBT films), but it's more realistic and moving than most.

From the get-go, it's obvious that this is an extremely low-budget film. The font of the opening credits, and the horrendously performed opening exchange by Mike and his teacher just left me nervous about how the rest of the film would unfold. In the first 5 minutes alone, we're exposed to some of the most frequent romance movie clichés in the movie business. The long first glance, helping each other pick up dropped papers, having to share a book in class, being unintentionally over-enthusiastic about seeing him… trust me, this list goes on.

There are some really off-putting things in this movie. One of them being that Mike works in a Video-tape renting store. No, not DVDs, but videos. I haven't seen a DVD store sell VHS tapes since I was in 5th Grade, so it's a curious sight to behold. Another thing that put me off was the unoriginal comedy clichés, such as the classic "see anything you like" gag. I don't know what director Lee Galea was going for, but this film is so aware of itself. Many of the actors don't know the meaning of the word 'subtle,' the script is filled with moments straight out of other movies, and the choppy and amateur style bugged me. I want to have mercy on this film, but then I just wouldn't be honest to myself and my readers. While this grained on me in the beginning, I really got into the film as it focused more on Will.

On this sea of bad acting and shabby film craftsmanship, floated the revelation that is Lucas Linehan. His performance is the sunshine that turned the film into a really enjoyable one. There are some pretty great moments in the film, and they ALL include him. One of my favourites being when he looks back at Mike in the side-view mirror of the car. It was quick and subtle, but it showed us that Mike is on his mind. All of the moments where they rehearsed their Romeo and Juliet assignment were… extremely heart-warming. I just felt overjoyed at the 'wolfman kiss' scene. They did that really well, and Tristan Barr's facial expression afterwards was his greatest moment in the film.

As time goes on and the story progresses, everything feels so much smoother and more entertaining. The romance develops nicely, due to the chemistry the leads share out of the blue. After the 'wolfman kiss' scene, I really started to get into the character's and their story. The swimming pool scene, which was also cliché to the max, was done exquisitely. I really liked the metaphor they used to describe the two, and the LGBT community. Mike is Frankenstein, who is feared and misunderstood. Will is the Wolfman, who is trying to cope with his change into a monster. The monsters are the LGBT community, who are hunted by the villagers (ignorant and stubborn people: the real monsters). They used this metaphor as a way to recreate Romeo and Juliet, and I just loved it. I'd give it an 'A' if I was an English teacher. The music really impressed me too, ranging from classical scores like Fur Elise to beautiful love ballads by the school dance band. The second half just took flight and became a really solid film. Well, up until the mother exploded at Mike. When it comes to melodrama, it either has to be done perfectly, or not at all.

I felt really moved by the end of the film because of a lot of things. I absolutely adore the message this film sends to LGBT teens, which is to not be afraid any more. It's so important that kids know to come out and be who they are, because this world will never change unless people are honest with themselves. There was a really touching song that played too, which almost moved me to tears. Most importantly, it was because of the moving performance by Lucas Linehan, who was the heart and soul of the film. This isn't a refined film, but its message and emotional impact managed to make me like it a lot.

I'd give it a 7/10, but I'd like to boost its rating up. It deserves far better than a 5.1/10.

It took me a while to decide on a star rating for this film and here is the main reason; Seems like the writer wanted to cover too much ground. So, what you get is too many truncated story lines.

Although the two main characters, Mike, actor Tristan Barr, and William, played by Lucas Linehan, were well fleshed out, Other characters that seemed to have viable subplots, seem to just disappear.

Lee Galea the Writer/Director, (this may be the problem,) had a good topic, L/G/B/T/Q+ teen love, their, (this is not a grammar error BTW, but the new non-binary acceptable first person,) concept needed a three hour movie.

This is a very minor point, but the title. Since we all know how important marketing is, Monster Pies was a turn-off, sorry. I completely understood after watching the film, but when you have a limited market share to begin with, everything counts.

The biggest positive for me is that the main protagonists looked like they could be teenagers, and real teenagers. Other castings decisions seem to be somewhat forced at times. That does not mean they were not fantastic, e.g. the band, but was it like fulfilling a quota? This is part of the problem with non-developed sub-plots more than anything.

Also, my last point. It did actually make me tear up. So there ya go. A teen romance with main characters that I bought into.

I'm kind of astonished at the glowing reviews here. Did we all see the same movie?

The one I saw was chock full of scenes plucked from dozens of other movies and a plot that was picked up in a second hand plot store.

The actors seem adequate, but it's a little hard to tell because the material they have to work with is so awful. The film is in always in focus, and the sound quality is good. That's about it for positive qualities.

I suppose if you're young, or haven't seen many gay movies, you might mistake this for art. It's not. It's tripe. Cross it off your list.

This film tells the story of a timid teenager in school, who meets his first love when a new boy joins the class. They have a beautiful time together, but they are afraid to continue their relationship due to fear of both internal and external forces.

"Monster Pies" starts off very sweet, as the two guys begin their friendship and gradually progress from there. The two actors make their characters very likable, because they radiate of innocence and charm. They look so cute and convincing when they are with each other. As a result, I was unprepared by the ending. It is touching the way it ends, but I wish it ended differently.

I saw this film for the first time at MQFF (Melbourne Queer Film Festival) and it blew me away with it's sensitive characterizations, elegant cinematography and beautiful use of music. This film was made on a micro budget and should be used as a yard stick for other indie film makers to live up to. This movie shows what can be accomplished with determination, drive and vision.

The plot is a straight forward coming of age story and whilst we have seen this type of thing before, we've never seen it told in quiet the same way with sparse beauty and compassion. The two main leads are destined for future success if this is any indication of what they are capable of. They are both charismatic and charming. They anchor the film and give it a gravity, sense of humor and emotional core. All the support actors are outstanding as well - they range from heavy and down right nasty to quirky, off beat and genuinely funny.

The location filming in Melbourne's western suburbs gives the film a real slice of life feel that every Australian growing up in the burbs will relate to. The local area portrayed in the film becomes almost a character unto itself.

Both the score and songs are well used and add huge production value to this little film. The editing is slightly rough around the edges but it actually adds to the character of the film. I found it worked even better on a repeated viewing. We do tend to be so used to seeing bigger budget films that are slickly cut together whereas Monster Pies is a personal vision and works on a purely personal, one on one level. That is all part of the films magic.

The direction and writing from Lee Galea show a maturity and depth of understanding of both film and the subject matter. For a second feature with a tiny budget this film rocks. Lee is obviously a child of the 90's and pays loving homage to them with great attention to detail. From local video libraries to phones with cords. I for one cannot wait to see what he makes next!

Try watching this film with an open mind and heart and I think you'll walk away from it slightly changed forever. I know I have.

I don't really understand some of these harsh reviews for this film. I think the expectations for this film from some of these reviewers might have been too high especially for an indie film. Sure the film has its faults but in the end it still does its job by telling a story that needs to be told. The last half hour of this film really takes it to the next level and the movie is worth watching just to experience the last bit of it. Worth the watch.

I cannot believe that some "critics" awarded one or two stars to a lovely, enjoyable but ultimately sad film. What do you not like? It was shot on a limited budget with two untried actors who gave their most. It had humour, pathos and eventually sadness. I just don't understand how anyone could be unmoved with a film that exposes all the emotions that so many gay men feel unable to express. It was a lovely film, and I do hope the main actors go on to even greater fame. Thank you Australia for a beautiful film.

There was a time when gay movies had to end on an unhappy note. This was one of those times. It was really a sweet love story that developed unexpectedly between two teenagers, Mike and Will. In a lot of ways the both of them blossomed in the presence of the other.

Unfortunately, they had no allies and once the truth came out about them they felt all alone. Will's home life was terrible from the start and this made it impossible. Honestly, I blame Mike's mother for what happened to Will but the movie doesn't seem to see it that way.

I don't know what the message is supposed to be. If life isn't good you give up? That some pain is too hard to move past. It was sad and gave me lots of tears but I will say the the teacher who say the project of the boys loved it so much she wanted the entire class to see it. They really did have one ally but didn't know it. I wonder if it would have made a difference.

I know this won't be much of a review. I'm actually still trying to process the movie in my head.

The storyline was absolutely touching, and it's rare that a film actually leaves me in tears at the end, and this has to be the hardest I've cried after a film. Sure the acting could have been better most times, but everything else made up for it. It was such a job well done.

I really do appreciate the fact that an indie film has had such an impact on me. This is definitely something to add to my favourites to watch again in the future.

Again, I have never been so touched by a movie like I have by this one.

Not such a badly made movie as some would have you believe. It's done well enough to keep up ones interest but .....

Beware - this pot boiler has all the misery and dysfunctional family members and fellow students crap to create the tragic William and intimidated Mike. So you can pretty much see whats coming.

I found the ending very stupid and unnecessary, as people used to say, "It's a cop out". I think the writers reached the end of their budget and just brought the story to an end. Too bad because the writers & director could have William & Mike mature and make a greater statement at the school by showing no fear of rejection by others.

Check out 'The Way He Looks' - so much better at creating the characters!

The main review of "Monster Pies" on the IMDb page calls it "A few lovely scenes scattered at random through a very clumsy movie" how wrong the reviewer can be, those of us who love our movies be them short or full, do not always look for the complete perfect end product, sometimes a movie filmed with edge takes you closer.

I can assure you "Monster Pies" does take you close and introduces two fine young actors that I honestly Believe we will hear lots more about in the future. Lucas Linehan is what you look for in an up and coming young actor, and he is the complete package, you feel the emotion from him, I have just seen a new short movie he has appeared in titled "Sheets" which is on the Festival Circuit and again he brings out the best in the part he has a lead actor. Tristan Barr the other lead in "Monster Pies" delivers a superb role and demonstrates he has the same talent to go far.

I have to admit liking Australian drama and "Monster Pies2 delivers, I am sure many young people will identify with the part of William (Lucas) the uncertainty we can have when we are young and Mike (Tristan) who delivers his part so different from the role of William, but shows how people do identify often.

A good storyline and well delivered, don't be put off with one review!