‘Your Monster’ review: Dir. Caroline Lindy [Sundance London]

Since her breakout in the fifth Scream, Melissa Barrera has steadily carved out a career within the horror genre. Earlier this year she starred in Abigail to much acclaim, but her latest project, Your Monster, might just be her best work yet. 

In Your Monster, Barrera stars as the downtrodden Laura, a young woman abandoned by her boyfriend, Jacob (Edmund Donovan), whilst getting treatment for cancer. As if that wasn’t monstrous enough, Laura discovers that she has been replaced as the lead in a musical that the pair wrote together. With no place else left to turn, she seeks refuge in her mother’s empty home, but quickly discovers that the property comes with a secret tenant, Monster (Tommy Dewey). Initially at odds with one another, a close bond between Laura and Monster forms as he helps her reclaim autonomy in her life. 

Billed as a romantic comedy, Your Monster certainly has elements of the genre, but there is far  more working beneath its glossy exterior. A love letter to musicals of old, whilst at the same time exploring one woman’s repressed rage, Your Monster adds a dark vein to proceedings that modernises the piece. Caroline Lindy’s film is less concerned with Laura’s suitor and more with her finding herself, channelling her inner Goddess and taking back control. The opening text announces that Your Monster is based on a ‘tru-ish’ story and Laura’s plight will be immediately recognisable to many. Laura is the poster child for wronged and controlled women; watching her gradually build confidence makes the audience’s heart swell. 

Barrera is sensational as Laura. Despite Laura’s sorry state of affairs, Barrera is allowed to let her hair down. Granted, early scenes see Laura overcome with sadness due to the ending of her relationship, but these are played for laughs. Barrera pushes the tears on the edge into melodrama, distorting the expected tone and becoming the first of many aspects that ensure Your Monster feels just outside of our own reality. Her wacky performance is a far cry from the more serious characters that she has become known for and it is hard for the audience not to fall in love with this perpetual dreamer.  

It is a similar story for Tommy Dewey’s performance as Monster. Right from his first appearance he is completely endearing. Whilst called Monster, he is far from it, and is quickly revealed to be one of the only people capable of helping Laura reconnect with her former self. In many ways the dynamic between Laura and Monster mirrors that of Elizabeth and Fred in Drop Dead Fred. The comparison follows through into some plot points and performance beats, and for those nostalgic for Ate de Jong’s film will relish the glimpses found within Your Monster. There are more obvious comparisons to be made with Beauty and the Beast, but that doesn’t quite capture the dynamic like Drop Dead Fred does. 

Despite its darker undercurrent, which comes into play beautifully during Your Monster’s final act, there is an overriding feeling of comfort when watching. Set at least partially during autumn, the costumes are cosy, with Laura swathed in layers of jumpers and coats. The colour palette of the set design and lighting embrace hues of oranges and reds, injecting further warmth, and the music is serenely soothing. The original song utilised for Laura’s show is an unrivalled earworm, which will remain trapped in your head months later. This song gives Barrera the opportunity to remind audiences of her vocal prowess as she is thoroughly impressive. 

Disarmingly sweet and deceptively dark, Your Monster is infectiously entertaining and will win over even the most blackhearted of viewers. Its warmth, and the charming chemistry and comedic performances from Barrera and Dewey, are difficult to avoid. Add to this a powerful tale of assertion and Your Monster has all the ingredients to be a cosy crowd pleaser. 

Your Monster was reviewed at Sundance London 2024.