Director Caroline Lindy has expanded her 2020 short film Your Monster into a feature film of the same title produced by Vertical. The story revolves around Lola Franco, a soft-spoken actress played by Melissa Barrera, who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend Jacob, played by Edmond Donovan, while recovering from surgery.
Following the separation, Lola retreats to her parents' home to heal. But she faces further challenges when she discovers that her ex-boyfriend is putting on a musical that he helped develop. In the midst of these complicated life changes, Lola bonds with a literal monster from her childhood, played by Tommy Dewey. The monster encourages her to follow her dreams, open her heart and embrace her inner rage.
Your Monster walks a fine line between heartbreaking drama and eccentricity, with enough charm to make even the most hapless cat scratch its head. Its themes of love and courage (even in the strangest places) speak to a generation constantly asked to balance the promises of success and fulfillment. And while the film spirals to fantastical heights that would have Muppet Show fans applauding, the banal feels so freeing thanks to Barrera's soulful performance and a godlike, handsome monster who lurks in the darkness of emotion.
The walls of Laura's childhood home are a kind of character in themselves, a spiritual refuge for laughter and tears, anger and unfulfilled longing. Ambient sound design appears and disappears at perfect moments, like the orchestral sections between riffs, reminding us that soul music sometimes needs to be played loud and out of sync.
Ultimately, Your Monster delivers a sweet blend of intensity, fun, and self-questioning that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. If you've ever been confused or screamed into a pillow over an ex-partner or two (or maybe 20), Laura's story might make you feel like you can live with your rage on the dance floor as a monster.
When I pressed play on Your Monster, I was expecting something similar to My Demon Lover, one of my favorite movies from the '80s. Thankfully, the film is bolstered by another compelling performance from Barrea. You can watch the film on Ahda TV website: