MONSTER (2021)

MONSTER is a thoughtful, moving drama about a teenage filmmaker accused of serving as a lookout during a robbery murder. Its four-star quality comes from a richly drawn central character, highly stylized narration, fascinating flashbacks, and riveting performances. The film also gives Steve parents who love him, a public defender and teacher who fight for him, and a mother who brings Scripture into his darkest hour.

That strength comes with serious content costs. The murder is presented without graphic gore but still conveys its horror. The film also contains 57 obscenities, including many “f” words, at least three GD profanities, and an obscene gesture. A party includes teenage alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and marijuana smoking.

If you are an adult or mature older teen able to weigh those concerns carefully, MONSTER is worth seeing. For children and young teens, choose something else.

Steve is a high school junior who dreams of becoming a filmmaker. A smart bookworm, he searches his working-class neighborhood for unusual images to use in his student projects.

Then an older young man offers to show Steve the “street life.” After that association leads to a robbery murder, Steve is arrested and accused of being the lookout. He must endure jail and a courtroom battle while trying to clear his name and protect his future.

Four stars means MONSTER is an unusually strong drama. Its writing and direction take a familiar accusation-and-trial story in fascinating directions. Steve’s stylized narration, in which he sometimes describes events like a screenplay, gives the film an extremely well-drawn, three-dimensional character study.

Kelvin Harrison, Jr. delivers a riveting, multi-layered performance. Jeffrey Wright and Jennifer Hudson provide sterling support as Steve’s parents. The intermittent flashbacks are unique and invite viewers to consider events from multiple characters’ points of view.

MONSTER presents a strong Christian, moral, pro-family worldview. Parents are positive role models, Steve loves his family, and the film includes positive references to God and the Bible. One of the strongest scenes shows Steve’s mother reading hopeful Scriptures with him in prison. She also regrets not taking him to church more often.

The film portrays the murder as tastefully as possible while still conveying its horror. It also avoids turning its racial and social issues into a simplistic political message. The two men who commit the murder are shown as guilty, while Steve’s white public defender and film teacher become heroes in the effort to clear his name. These choices give the story a clear-headed, often stark approach without making it heavy-handed.

The film’s central longing is for truth, justice, family, and hope in a desperate place. Scripture says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

MONSTER is powerful, thoughtful, and morally serious, with a standout performance and a strong family-centered worldview. Its language and teenage substance use make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults and mature older teens, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family movie nights, see.