An unfortunate fact of life is that at some point, most of us will experience varying degrees of trauma that we will have to work through and manage. How each of us handles those difficulties and strife can differ greatly, especially considering there isn’t necessarily a cohesive formula to follow. Coming straight off the success of Showtime’s Yellowjackets, Christina Ricci plays Laura, a distraught mother attempting to escape her abusive husband and start a new life, only to be confronted with demons more dangerous than those she left behind in Monstrous.

Set in the 1950’s, we are introduced to Laura and her 7 year old son, Cody (Santino Barnard) as they are in the process of relocating to rural California from Mesa, Arizona. The mood is upbeat as the two approach their new home, with Ricci effortlessly pulling off the light and breezy demeanor of someone desperately trying to keep up appearances. It’s clear from her clipped dialogue and smile that never quite reaches her eyes that she’s simply going through the motions of portraying as though everything is peachy, when it is anything but.

There’s obvious tension between mother and son, as Cody struggles with homesickness and resentment towards Laura, while she simply is doing her best to provide stability and love for him. The bulk of the movie contains scenes between just the two of them, and both actors give it their all in these performances. Barnard pulls off the sullen and reticent nature of Cody with believable precision, which in turn is a contradiction to Ricci’s poignant portrayal of the magnanimous Laura. There are moments with the duo that feel so real, it’s easy to forget you’re watching a fictional work. 

Directed by Chris Silvertson and written by Carol Chrest, the plot of Monstrous is one that unfolds slowly at first, then all at once. As Laura tries in vain to keep it all together, threats from the outside, and within, chip away at her, making it increasingly difficult for her to maintain her veiled optimism. We can almost see her soul dying with each new obstacle, and as the strain increases, we’re just waiting for that moment where she finally snaps. Ricci’s performance is both heartbreaking and suspenseful, giving us a character that is as sympathetic as she is authentic. She’s the glue that holds the entire movie together, much like Laura is undoubtedly trying to do with her own little family.

Silvertson pays loving attention to ensuring that each frame is shot in a purposeful way to transport the audience into the time warped world these characters are in. Everything from the costumes and set design, to the music, cars, and language oozes nostalgia and legitimacy for the 1950’s time period. The era itself plays an important role in the overall story, which only adds to the immersiveness of the entire film.

Woven amongst all of this are the emotional swells that hit like waves crashing along the shore. Monstrous will throw you for a loop, making you second guess where it’s going, only to pull you back in with heart-wrenching moments to re-center you. Make no mistake, though; once it has you in its clutches, it won’t let go, even long after you’ve finished viewing it.

9 out of 10