The Overlook: The Monster

(imdb.com)

Speaking of the horror selection on Amazon Prime, here's another terrific one: The Monster. In an apparent week of creature features, The Monster tells the story of a struggling mother, Kathy, and her daughter, Lizzy, attempting to survive in a car as an unknown entity lurks outside. The pair, who set off to Lizzy's father's house for his custody time, are at ends with one another after Kathy announced that she'd like Lizzy to move to the father's full time. Because of these circumstances, viewers can expect a child wise beyond her years and a mother that is both grippingly compelling and entirely broken over her life decisions.

The two lead actresses are both equally terrific in their roles. Kathy is placed by Zoe Kazan (Olive Kitteridge) and Lizzy is played by Ella Ballentine (Les Miserables). The Monster is a relatively simple movie to follow and yet thanks to the pair, it is far better than it could have been. Kazan in particular, is a strong force throughout and her haphazard, unhappy parent is so intimately performed that she's understandable, rather than cringe-worthy. Ballentine is also great though, and where many indie films offer mediocre child stars, she's really special. Her role is one that resembles that of an adult and her acting prowess makes it believable.


Like other films that occupy such a small space, The Monster makes the most of its confinement trading atmosphere and dialogue for grandeur. Sure, there are numerous fear-inducing scenes, but this is a movie that is more focused on the long game. The story is one that continuously builds without letting up, and even when escape seems plausible, the audience will take it hesitantly because in this movie, things can and will go wrong.


The Monster isn't concerned with some neat, happy ending. Moments after the duo's car hits a wolf, many of the hopes audience members might have held of a cheery conclusion are dashed. After all, this movie is set on a remote back road, not some populated suburb or city and for anyone understanding enough of horror convention, would realize that the daughter is at an age where she may not be off limits for the creature's mealtime. All of this culminates into an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride of seismic proportions.


The Monster is one of the only "good" horror movies on Netflix. Thanks largely to the legwork of Kazan and Ballentine, this is a film that truly is terrifying. For anyone who is terribly afraid of country roads, this isn't the movie to see. No matter what the monster reveal is or was, it's definitely one of the only options on Amazon Prime that's worth a second look.