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Best of Frightfest: ‘Monsters’ Dir. Gareth Edwards

Best of Frightfest: As the twentieth anniversary of Arrow Video Frightfest approaches, we at team THN take a look back at some of the best and brightest films that have screened over the last two decades. Today marks the end of our ‘Best of Frightfest’ series as we reach the twentieth film on the list, Monsters. 

Way before he was resurrecting Japanese monsters, or journeying to a galaxy far, far away, director Gareth Edwards was screening his stunning debut Monsters at Frightfest. Made on a shoestring budget, with Edwards doing most of the visual effects himself, the film proved that you didn’t need a ton of money to make an effective piece of science fiction. Set in an alternate reality where a NASA probe crash in Mexico led to the sudden appearance of strange giant tentacled creatures, Monsters demonstrated bundles of talent from Edwards.

The story saw photojournalist Andrew (Scoot McNairy) tasked with escorting his boss’ daughter Samantha (Whitney Able) to the USA via Mexico’s Infected Zone. Their journey is fraught with danger and tensions, but as the opposing couple draw closer to their destination, the film veers into a new and interesting direction. Monsters is a quiet watch, Edwards not feeling the need to throw a load of action at the screen (that would follow in Godzilla), the focus instead is very much on Andrew, Samantha, and their relationship. In an odd way it’s a romance film dressed-up with science fiction. Actors McNairy and Able are married in real life and their off-screen connection helped generate sexual chemistry and fireworks between their characters.

The visual effects were astounding, and it’s easy to see why the big studios came calling with Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It’s a perfect showreel that demonstrates a lot of skill. Plus he showed how far he could stretch a minimal budget, and we all know how much studios like to count the pennies.

Monsters has a very special place in my heart for several reasons. It was the film that introduced me to madness that is Frightfest, having the accolade of being the very first film that I saw on the Frightfest screen. Suddenly I was surrounded by like-minded moviegoers and I realised just how special the event was. As with a lot of films that screen at the event, filmmaker Gareth Edwards was in attendance and gave a very informative and engaging Q&A discussion after the screening, which again made the night seem magic. In the years that followed, I made it my yearly tradition to go and watch at least one film at the festival before stepping aboard team THN and taking over the helm of our Frightfest coverage. This year I’ll once again be bringing you all the media wall interviews, news and reviews from the dark heart of cinema, so remember to keep checking back on the site to see what films might make the next ‘Best of Frightfest’ list.

Arrow Video Frightfest returns for its twentieth year on 22nd August 2019. Full details about the event can be found on the Frightfest website

Kat Hughes is a UK born film critic and interviewer who has a passion for horror films. An editor for THN, Kat is also a Rotten Tomatoes Approved Critic. She has bylines with Ghouls Magazine, Arrow Video, Film Stories, Certified Forgotten and FILMHOUNDS and has had essays published in home entertainment releases by Vinegar Syndrome and Second Sight. When not writing about horror, Kat hosts micro podcast Movies with Mummy along with her five-year-old daughter.

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