Monsters is one of those movies that falls into the “human drama with a monster backdrop” category. And that, my friends, is generally a good thing. Much like the comic version (and hopefully the TV version) of Walking Dead, this is about the people living in a world drastically changed. Unlike Walking Dead, which is a worldwide epidemic, the stage set in Monsters is limited to Mexico, a huge zone isolated by the U.S. government with perimeter fences to the south and an expansive wall at the northern border. The monsters in question sprung from a crashed American space probe sent out to collect samples.
The story revolves around a struggling reporter hoping to capture the human misery caused by the creatures, when he is contacted by the magazine’s owner to secure transportation back to the States for his daughter. When plans fall apart, they are forced to cross the infected area by river and road.
This is a great film. It does a fantastic job of showing how the world has changed though the eyes of the people that live in it. The changes in people’s lifestyles are logical progressions of living under a threat of giant monster attack. It has a war time climate, but one where the enemy is not natural, where everyone has a common foe, but no one has answers or a solution.
The film is simple and complex at the same time. The audience is spoon-fed nothing, instead tons of 
information is witnessed through the eyes of the protagonists. It could be dissected for hours, pulling out the allegories and veiled commentary on America’s role in the world today. It is not anti-American, but feels honest in it’s portrayal of global policy; that what you see is a natural reaction.
Along with District 9, Monsters again show us what we can make with little budget and a lot of talent. Let us pray that Gareth Edwards has more up his sleeve.
[...] reviewed the low-budget sensation Monsters, you need only visit his home on MovieFanFare. And, look here on FM for Dave’s written evaluation of the British [...]