Directed by Michael Matthews. Written by Brian Duffield and Matthew Robinson. Starring Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt and Dan Ewing.
Plot: seven years after the monster apocalypse forced humanity underground, Joel leaves his bunker to find his ex.
The story begins with the end of the world. There was an asteroid headed for Earth, so humans sent a rocket up to destroy it. This did stop the asteroid from hitting Earth, but the chemical fallout ended up turning the cold-blooded creatures on Earth into monsters that ate people. So, humans were forced underground.
Joel (O’Brien) is a young man who lost his parents during all this catastophe. He also lost his girlfriend, Aimee (Henwick), who did not live that close to him and is therefore hiding in another bunker 80 miles away. He’s very scared and not very brave and his fellow bunkmates never let him go on supply runs because he tends to freeze up when faced with something disturbing. He knows Aimee is still alive because they can sometimes communicate over radios. When it seems that everyone is his bumker has a significant other except him, he decides to brave the outside, travel the 80 miles alone, and find Aimee.
The very first day he’s outside, he is attacked and almost killed by a giant frog, but a dog named Boy rescues him. Then, Boy joins him on his adventure. Boy isn’t the only friend he finds on his journey and the frog isn’t the only monster they come across. I’d like to tell you everything, but I won’t because I genuinely want you to watch this and be surprised. I will tell you though, in case you’re at all like me, Boy survives the movie. It’s one of my favorite things about it.
Even without being worried about Boy the whole time, the movie is a very emotional adventure. We both cried. Not ashamed to admit that. The relationships in this movie are so multifaceted. There are layers to everyone and everything. Not all humans are what you’d want them to be and not all the “monsters” are what you’d expect either. There’s so many messages woven throughout, too: family is what you make it, learn to forgive yourself, never settle (even during the apocalypse) and my favorite, of course, sometimes animals have more humanity than actual humans.
It’s an orignal take on the apocalypse. All the good guys were likable. All the bad guys got theirs. It followed rules, was realistic and funny. There was a smart script, cool effects and the best cast. No one let us down. The specials were exceptional, the story was marvelous, the opening sucked you in and the ending actually had us hoping they’d make a sequel. The whole thing was interesting and, in a way, comforting. It was just the kind of thing we love to see. It’s easily one of our favorite movies ever.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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