Monstrous has a great 50s soundtrack and setting. It also has Christina Ricci on top form. What the movie doesn't have is anything new or interesting to say, the plot has been done ad nauseum and the 'twist' can be seen from a mile away. It's such a shame as Christina Ricci is a great actress and really should be given more interesting work, she isn't on the big screen as often as she deserves to be.

My wish is really simple - I would have preferred if the producers had decided to go for a simple horror movie. The "twist" of the story is no twist, because it is far to obvious right from the beginning. On the pro side there is solid acting (nice to watch Christina Ricci) and production. A missed opportunity.

As soon as this film starts, you know it's low-quality.

First of all, the amount of companies involved is a red flag. Then you see all their cheap, tacky, cringy logos all pop up one-by-one...they look like they were made with Microsoft PowerPoint using Windows 95...they are ugly! Then there's the horrible font they use for the titles...everything in the first 2 minutes makes you feel like you're watching a made for TV joint, on a Sunday afternoon.

How they landed Ricci, is nothing short of amazing!

The film just throws you in at the deep end, with no build-up, or explanation as to who we're watching, or why they're moving. I hate that. It would literally take a 30 second scene, to establish things.

Everyone in this seems sedated. Like an entire cast of sloths, disguised as humans.

The story is boring, the cinematography is dull and washed out, the music is just famous old songs that have been used in millions of films before - like how many times has 'Mr Sandman, bring me a dream' been used for a scene about someone sleeping? Other sleep-related songs are available. Sheesh!

The majority of the budget must of been used on Ricci's fee...and licensing the songs, because everything else looked 'bargain basement'.

I could only manage an hour, before I had to knock it on the head - which is generous for me, as I usually only give films 15 minutes, or so...I guess Ricci's beauty kept me interested...but inevitably, not even she was enough...and I'd be better off using Google images(!)

Finally, I'm noticing a recent trend in 'horror' films, where scenes involving the 'horror', are almost pitch black...it doesn't add anything to the the scene...it actually TAKES AWAY from it! How can I be scared of something that I can't see? That only works, when the 'horror' is intentionally hidden, (like a poltergeist). It doesn't work when the thing you're supposed to be scared of is on-screen, but too dark to see it!

Anyway, I kind of knew this was going to be 'no frills' from the moment I pressed play - films that can't even be bothered to use a suitable font for their titles, are not going to be Oscar nominated. They might as well have used comic sans(!)

Not a good film...not at all. But CR is still a doll...so every cloud.