You learn everything you need to know about what happened to the Earth and its people at the film’s beginning; Joel’s narration catches up the audience rather quickly and in an entertaining way. The film also gives us insight on the other survivors who live in the same bunker with him. They are all in pairs, making Joel the loner of the group. We also learn he isn’t the most useful, either, when one of the killer monsters breaches their bunker. He is unable to fight and suffers from a ‘freezing’ issue when faced with the monsters. This makes him a bit of a liability to the group.
Joel soon finds out that Aimee is just 85 miles away with another survivor group, and realizes there’s nothing left for him with his current group. He decides to go on his own to find her despite the dangers that lie on land.
“Love and Monsters” then takes us on a journey with Joel, where he comes across several monsters, a dog companion, and other survivors. He overcomes many obstacles along the way, which help him grow as an individual and into a true hero. It isn’t until he meets survivors Minnow and Clyde, portrayed by Ariana Greenblatt and Michael Rooker, that Joel learns more about surviving on land. The banter and interaction between the three is a new dynamic for Joel, but it’s insightful and entertaining. It’s also fun to see Michael Rooker in another apocalyptic role, considering his pivotal character on “The Walking Dead.”
Since the beginning of the film, I found myself instantly rooting for Joel, always a fan of the awkward underdog. But as the film unfolds, watching the challenges he faces—and how he overcomes his fears and learns along the way—is fantastic to watch. Marco Beltrami and Marcus Trumpp handle the music well; it guides the tone and mood for the on-screen events and through transitions. The monsters’ FX is very good (in fact, the film was nominated for an Oscar for ‘Best Visual Effects’).
“Love and Monsters” is a very different take on an apocalyptic world. It’s engaging and entertaining throughout due to its fun and witty script and O’Brien’s acting and screen presence. From the film’s initial premise, you’d assume it’s a story about love, but it definitely is not. It is a great story of growth and self-discovery; which couldn’t have come out at a better time since everyone had just gone into lockdown when the film was released.
*”Love and Monsters” is currently available to watch on most streaming platforms.
