Monster is a 2018 American legal drama film directed by Anthony Mandler, from a screenplay by Radha Blank,[1] Cole Wiley, and Janece Shaffer, based on the novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers. It stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jennifer Ehle, Tim Blake Nelson, Nas, ASAP Rocky, Paul Ben-Victor, John David Washington, Jennifer Hudson, and Jeffrey Wright. Wright, Nas, and John Legend also serve as executive producers on the film.
| Monster | |
|---|---|
 Official promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Anthony Mandler |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Monster by Walter Dean Myers |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | David Devlin |
| Edited by | Joe Klotz |
| Music by | Harvey Mason Jr. |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Three years after its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2018, the film was acquired by Netflix and released on May 7, 2021. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Premise
editThis article needs a plot summary. (February 2022) |
Monster tells the story of Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) a seventeen-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likeable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.[2]
— Netflix
Cast
edit- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Steve Harmon
- Jennifer Hudson as Mrs. Harmon
- Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Harmon
- Jennifer Ehle as Maureen O'Brien
- Tim Blake Nelson as Leroy Sawicki
- ASAP Rocky as James King
- Paul Ben-Victor as Anthony Petrocelli
- John David Washington as Richard "Bobo" Evans
- Nas as Raymond "Sunset" Green
- Jharrel Jerome as Osvaldo Cruz
- Dorian Missick as Asa Briggs
- Willie C. Carpenter as Judge
- Rege Lewis as Ernie Ryans
- Jonny Coyne as Detective Karyl
- Lovie Simone as Renee Pickford
- Liam Obergfoll as Casper Juenemann
- Mikey Madison as Alexandra Floyd
- Nyleek Moore as Jerry Harmon
- Roberto Lopez as Mr. Nesbitt
Release
editThe film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.[3] In April 2019, it was announced that Entertainment Studios had acquired distribution rights to the film, retitled All Rise.[4][5] In November 2020, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film, with the title switching back to Monster.[6] It was released on their service on May 7, 2021.[7][8]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of 62 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Monster would have benefited from a less heavy-handed approach, but Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s performance gives this timely drama emotional heft."[9] According to Metacritic, which assigned a weighted average score of 56 out of 100 based on 18 critics, the film received "mixed or average reviews".[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "'Monster' Summary & Ending, Explained - Cultivates Drama With Hard-Hitting Dialogues | DMT". Digital Mafia Talkies. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ "Monster". Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "Sundance Film Festival Unveils Full 2018 Features Lineup". Variety. November 29, 2017. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (April 22, 2019). "Sundance Pic 'Monster' Gets New Title & Theatrical Deal With Byron Allen's ESMP". Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ "Jennifer Hudson Sundance Film 'All Rise' Acquired by Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios". The Wrap. April 22, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (November 10, 2020). "Netflix Acquires 'Monster' Starring Jennifer Hudson, Kelvin Harrison Jr". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 12, 2021). "Netflix Unveils A 2021 Film Slate With Bigger Volume & Star Wattage; Scott Stuber On The Escalating Film Ambition". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ Santer, Kristen (April 6, 2021). "Netflix Drama 'Monster' Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Jeffrey Wright Receives Heartbreaking First Trailer". Collider. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Monster (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Monster (2021) Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 16, 2021.