As a New Yorker born and raised, there’s one specific sub-genre that has always been a comforting media blanket for me: fantasies that take place in the Big Apple. From the time-traveling hijinks of Kate and Leopold to the animated drama of Disney’s Gargoyles, along with the chaotic sweetness of Enchanted, there’s just something so delightful about watching a fairy tale unfold within a place known for its metropolitan aesthetic. Sadly, there aren’t too many new pieces of media that fall into this category. Of course, Hollywood produces comic book genre flicks that take place within New York, but none of them check those comforting boxes in the same manner. Thankfully, writer/director Caroline Lindy’s feature debut Your Monster fulfills that gaping nostalgic hole with a delicious horror-plus-musical twist.
L-R: Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco and Tommy Dewey as Monster in YOUR MONSTER. Photo Credit: Will Stone. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
Based on Lindy’s 2019 short film of the same name, Your Monster tells the story of aspiring theater actress Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera), whose life is as far from a fairy tale as humanly possible. Not only did she get diagnosed with cancer, but her longtime musical writing boyfriend, Jacob (Edmund Donovan), can’t handle the news, resulting in the pair horrifically parting ways, which means Laura’s Broadway dreams might never come true. And even though her supposed best friend Mazie (Kayla Foster) tries to help Laura deal with the situation, our leading lady finds herself moving back into her mother’s house, as she drowns her sorrows in Amazon orders and various pies.
L-R: Tommy Dewey as Monster and Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco in YOUR MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
But Laura’s tale takes a fascinating turn when Monster (Tommy Dewey) enters the picture. A figure from Laura’s childhood closet, Monster is the perfect blend of multiple iconic romantic creatures of pop culture’s past. Take the aesthetic of Ron Perlman’s Vincent, blended with the color palette of Disney’s take on The Beast, and then add in a pinch of Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles personality, and you have Lindy’s unconventional leading hunk. He’s messy, annoying yet emotional, charming, and (most importantly) supportive — all the things that Laura needs in her corner as she tries to reenter the musical theater scene.
What follows is a rom-com made for a demographic that often feels on the outskirts of the genre, because while it is occasionally fun to watch beautiful people romance each other on the big screen, it’s even more entertaining (in the mind of this writer) to see two flawed individuals find the beauty in each other. And that excitement is increased when said characters are played with authentic chemistry, which is the case with Barrera (Scream; In the Heights) and Dewey (Saturday Night). On their own, each actor nails the comedic and dramatic arcs of their roles with ease. But it’s the moments where the pair have to flourish as a couple that feel like the film’s greatest source of magic within its celluloid frames.
Kayla Foster as Mazie in YOUR MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
Take, for example, a simple sequence involving Monster reading Shakespeare to Laura (as a way to prove his acting chops). Not only does it evoke the ‘80s TV Beauty and the Beast in its intimate uses of the written word, but there’s a genuine goofy-but-flirty energy between the pair that feels so organic that it’s easy to see the romantic course their relationship is heading towards. And while it’s clear that Lindy did her monster romance homework in regards to the references and familiar narrative journey this unlikely pair go on as the film progresses, it’s a testament to Barrera’s and Dewey’s talents for making these essential moments feel even more exhilarating from beginning to end.
Similarly, every great monster love story needs figures to fill out the more antagonistic roles. In the case of this movie’s “Gaston,” of sorts, we have Edmund Donovan’s Jacob. While certainly not eating dozens of eggs on a daily basis, Donovan’s (Civil War) character matches Disney’s iconic villain with his own brand of musical theater egotism. He’s talented, put on a social pedestal by his fellow industry peers, all the while continuing to make horrific romantic choices without a care in the world — all of which Donovan plays to believable, douchebag perfection.
Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco in YOUR MONSTER. Photo Credit: Will Stone. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
In that same vein (pun intended), we have Kayla Foster’s Mazie, a character who delivers empty promises of affection like a ninja uses throwing stars. She’s a “great friend” in her mind, but never seems to prove that to Laura with her actions. And as the film progresses, it’s clear that Mazie is far from the support network she believes herself to be. This becomes even more obvious as the movie travels down its various winding twists and turns, during which Foster (Framing John DeLorean) portrays Mazie with a delicious blend of delusion and camp.
But the secret weapon within Lindy’s debut feature is its genuine love for musicals and the culture surrounding it. From Laura’s fantasies of being a Broadway leading lady to her admiration for Fred Astaire (Funny Face), this is a movie made for those who feel alone in their passion towards the artform. And in a landscape where liking musicals is considered “cringe” by the TikTok crowd, it’s refreshing to see a movie that isn’t afraid to showcase why musicals can be so important for those both in front of and behind the stage/camera.
This rings particularly true in the case of the film’s featured original song, “My Stranger,” which bookends Laura’s fantastical journey. Written by Daniel and Patrick Lazour, the song both plays a vital part in Jacob’s musical that Laura stars in and explores her feelings towards her new romantic developments. While it’s best to not describe the context of the scene said song is used within, if you ever had any doubts in Barrera as a musical theater performer, this moment will change that for the rest of pop culture history.
Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco in YOUR MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
Though with all this praise, one element of Your Monster doesn’t quite gel as well as its other ingredients, and that would be its horror aspects. While some casual viewers might think that anything involving a monster puts said movie automatically into the horror category, it really isn’t until the film’s third act that we see anything remotely in the vein of Barrera’s previous spooky roles. And while there’s a tad bit of setup towards the movie’s very R-rated finale, there’s no denying that it feels quite jarring when paired with the offbeat sweetness of its central relationship, so much to the point that it makes you question everything you just watched (in maybe the way Lindy and company didn’t intend).
L-R: Tommy Dewey as Monster and Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco in YOUR MONSTER. Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
Regardless, while Your Monster doesn’t land neatly on its feet (or paws), that doesn’t detract from what is otherwise a perfect movie for unperfect people. It isn’t afraid to dig into the scary sides of being your authentic self amidst the curveballs life throws your way. But even more so, it speaks to the importance of not losing yourself in a relationship and instead finding someone who will support your dreams, rather than use them to their advantage. And that’s a happy ending I think we’d all love to have at the end of our stories.
In theaters October 25th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Your Monster website.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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