A Monster Calls

[Angela]

Loved the film and thought it dealt with a difficult and all too common subject of children coming to terms with terminal illness. It's a difficult watch for adults never mind children but worthwhile. It was reminiscent of the Story Giant book at times. Great casting and fantastic sound and visual effects 8.5/10

[Slotcaruk]

Watched this film last night in Birmingham (Resort World)
I enjoyed it but I got there at 6:00 a big problem was for most the people the Film started at 6:10 (Advertised 6:30) so the majority of the audience missed the start !
The film was unusual but I did enjoy it and would recommend it.

[alythonian]

Saw this in Edinburgh tonight. Had a day off so was the rest 5:50 giv n it was Times+. It was more than 1/2 full when we went in! I swear the retirees of Edinburgh have nothing better to do than Sutherland about! Still, I was greatly entertained by two ladies along from me one of whom had clearly just got a smartphone. She was trying to show her pal all what it did including the weather, but given the forecast she was predicting for tomorrow from her phone I'm guessing she had the right city, wrong continent. It did make me giggle and certainly passed the 40 minutes before the film. I wasn't sure what to expect snd if you ask me to describe it now and the target audience, I'd be struggling. I thought it was a beautifully acted and told story and it moved me to a very snotty nose, but it felt more like a BBC drama than a film. I skid thought Sigourney Waever a bizarre choice as Granny and her accent did do a Sheena Easton from time to time. It was moving and affecting, but I still am toiling as to who I'd recommend it to and for what reason. To say I enjoyed it would feel weird, so I can say I appreciated it.

[stuartboy]

Like Aly I appreciated this film rather than enjoyed it. I didn't really understand the Monster's stories though. I also thought the sinkhole/graveyard scenes were starting to become repetitive. That poor wee chapel. How many times did it have to crumble over and over?
Wee Connor was a great little actor. Believable and not forced. Liam Neeson playing Groot was rather good too, and I didn't mind Siggy's accent too much.
I was disappointed that it didn't have a more uplifting ending nor a twist in the plot to tie it all together.
I would like to see this again.
2 walk outs half way through in Edinburgh.

7/10

[baty]

Cardiff was quite full with more children than usual present. As the film progressed it brought back memories of friends who had gone down with this disease and yes, there were tears and a lot of sniffing from myself. I was not alone however, most of the audience could be heard sniffing.

Personally, I'm glad it had the ending it had, I felt anything else would have made it another American syrupy type
film.

[RandomHajile]

i was expecting a bfg type movie...

a hard watch but worth it, islington was sniffling thru the last 15min !!

really good but dont think its for young kids as its a 12A am sure loads of younger kids are going to be taken to this when they should in fact be 12 to see it

[Qwerty123456789]

Watched this in Cineworld Resorts world, upon entering we were told the film company started airing the movie nearly half hour early! This was slightly annoying, but despite this a very well structured film. The fables, if you would call it, were nicely presented with key messages being delivered.

Overall : 7.5/10

[stuartboy]

Did the fables make sense to everyone? I thought they were pointless and without any substance. It could well be that I nodded off during these as I had been up since very early. I just didn't get any meaning from them. Liam Neeson's Monster's voice was very hypnotic and soporific I thought.
If everyone else understood the fables then I need to see this again. With loads of caffeine on board!

[prettyxcool]

Lewis MacDougall is excellent as the coming of age boy, who was 'too old to be a child but too young to be a man". He really carried the film and had good chemistry with Felicity Jones.

It's a heartbreaking and moving story, but very dark. Not only has he to contend with, during the day, school bullies, an absent father, a strict grandmother and all the time having to cope with his mother's terminal illness, he is haunted at night by the monster tree in the middle of a graveyard. I did get lost with the fables though, the monster says it will tell Conor three stories, and then Conor must tell it the truth in return, which is supposed to help him cope with the inevitable. However, the sketches that comes to life are quite beautiful for the first two stories. 7/10

[wonderfullywackywebster]

Wanted to see the film as I had read the book which I enjoyed (and the lovely illustrated)

Overall I enjoyed the film. However, some parts were very harrowing and scary so I'm not sure how well that may have gone with younger people (I'm 20)!

An aspect of the film I enjoyed was the use of illustration. I loved Jim Kay's illustrations in the book so it was great not only see illustrations in the film but also see the idea of 'art' being a key aspect.

One thing I say is that I thought the monster's introduction felt quite rushed. I think if I had not read the book I may have been a bit confused.

However, I did really enjoy the film and it made a good new years day trip! :)