In writer-director Devin Montgomery’s new film Monsters Within, we see the story of troubled characters, Luke (Montgomery) and Lily, (Kendall Cavener) as their paths cross in a lonely Texas town. Luke is returning from military service and must reconcile with family after years of absence. Lily is a bad girl on the run with even worse folks on her trail. The two have baggage, aka the titular monsters. Both are forced to confront their respective monsters both past and present while forging a path forward. If the plot sounds familiar, it is. Sadly, as much as he tries filmmaker Montgomery never succeeds in telling a story that is surprising or interesting.

After Luke gets into a brawl with old enemies in the town bar, he is picked up by Sheriff Duhart (Skeeta Jenkins) and arrested. In what is probably the most interesting scene in the film, Duhart gives Luke a small-town talking to. Having a history, we learn that Luke has been gone for years and hasn’t talked to his family, specifically his younger sister Elle (Daniella Montgomery) who has down syndrome. After a night in the pokey and a stern lecture Luke is back out wandering the town.

We next cut to Lily who owes some really bad people some stuff. She drifts through the same small town that Luke is in and the two have a meet cute at the local bar. Here Lily discovers that Luke is a tough guy and she is attracted to his brand of physical brutality and boyish charm. Sparks fly and, well, the two finally find a place to call home in each other’s presence. But there’s the matter of their dark secrets and sordid pasts, all of which come after them with a vengeance. Will Luke and Lily be able to face their Monsters Within?

Let’s start with the good. As mentioned before, Jenkins brief part in the film as Sheriff Duhart is honest and very effective. While Montgomery plays the scene with a smart-ass swagger, Jenkins keeps the delivery grounded, ultimately saving the scene. Brandon Stewart‘s cinematogrpahy is impressive. Despite a few very strange scenes that are far too saturated to be considered reality, there is one magical shot that works. Lily and Luke have just met, and the camera keeps a tight focus on the couple while a colorful strand of lights frames the scene in the foreground. It’s a great shot that captures the story and the moment. It’s too bad that the same thought and artistry wasn’t carried through the rest of the film.

Montgomery wants to tell a moving story of grappling with inner demons and ultimate redemption. Yet he creates a story populated with paper thin characters whose dialogue you can practically anticipate. You can tell that Montgomery revels in the small, quiet moments between characters. Most of the scenes are built around the quiet, reflective gaps between story beats. The offers plenty of emotional reflection but hardly anything interesting. The film has one speed. Slow

Filmmaking isn’t easy. I give Montgomery the credit for not only writing and directing, but also starring in and editing, and performing his own stunts. But this project would have benefitted from cuts in the script to refine the story. Monsters Within is a boring collection of predictable scenes that offers nothing new.