365 Movies Day #58 "Monsters"

It's amazing what you can do with a few solid actors and someone who knows digital. Gareth Edwards wrote, directed, shot and did the visual effects and production design for this extremely low budget. Take two solid working actors with an impressive list of credits, but nothing to showcase their skills in addition and you have a solid flick.

"Monsters" is set after an probe returning with alien specimens crash landed in Mexico. Over the years the contents of the probe has left the Northern half of Mexico as a "no man's land" inhabited by deadly creatures. A rogue journalist is assigned by his boss to return his employer's beloved daughter from Mexico to the states which ultimately means a trek through this forbidden land and encounters with the monsters.

This film is fueled by lots of character development, nice touches of suspense and creatures that are revealed in just the right amount to scare us and tell a story. Apparently the film was edited on site as it was shot and even more shockingly, was originally filmed for only $15,000!!!

A sequel is due to start production soon, though without Edwards. Let's hope the new team can measure up.

MONSTERS ON IMDB