I love a good post-apocalyptic flick as much as the next person. Still, too often, they follow an all-too-familiar premise and offer little in the way of originality. "Love and Monsters" offers up a devastated world filled with big nasties but adds some comedy and a quest for love.
Joel (Dylan O'Brien) is just trying to survive in the world he finds himself in. Seven years ago, the world united to blast a massive asteroid headed for earth. They were successful and the nations rejoiced. The fallout came with the rockets' chemical components plummeting to earth and mutating some of the earth’s creatures.
They ultimately wiped out 95 percent of the world's population, and those left fled underground in an attempt at survival.
Each colony is a community with each member offering something useful. Joel's role consists of fixing the radio and making a mean minestrone. He's not much of a fighter, so he's not been on the surface in seven years. As he states early in the film, he has a freeze problem, but he's working on it.
During his time operating the radio, Joel reconnects with Aimee (Jessica Henwick), the girlfriend he left behind when the monsterpocalypse began. Realizing that his life resides above ground and with the girl of his dreams, Joel decides to make the trek to meet up with her and reclaim his life.
It's well known that people don't last long on the surface, and with 80 miles between him and Aimee, Joel has his work cut out for him. He quickly teams up with Boy, a canine companion, to help guide his way. Boy has his own emotional baggage as he totes an abandoned red dress with him along their journey.
Along the way, they encounter grizzled hunter Clyde (Michael Rooker) and his young orphaned cohort Minnow (Ariana Greenglatt). The latter teaches the duo some ins and outs of surviving on the surface that will prove invaluable. Once he makes it to Aimee, Joel learns that a lot has changed in their time apart and she reveals the fairy tale he told himself the past seven years might not end the way he hopes.
"Love and Monsters" is a goofy, silly monster flick that could easily have gotten lost in the mucky VOD landscape of 2020 if not for a sweet and heartfelt performance from O'Brien. His performance takes his character through every beat of the hero's journey. Even as predictable as it is, O'Brien's awkward and nerdy charm makes it a winner.
"Love and Monsters" is a refreshingly fun take on the post-apocalyptic genre. It doesn't hide the fact that the story is one of love and purpose and puts the monsters firmly in the background. It's the first film I've watched in a while that had me smiling for almost its entirety and that's a welcomed change.
https://youtu.be/-19tBHrZwOM