A Monster Calls
2016 · Movie · PG-13 · 108 min · ★ 7.3 · 81% critics
A 12-year-old boy copes with his mother’s terminal illness while facing bullying and growing emotional pressure at school. When he encounters an ancient tree monster, the supernatural visitor helps him process his feelings through powerful, unsettling stories that lead him toward honesty.
Based on A Monster Calls
Also known as Monster Calls
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Details
- Years
- 2016
- Release date
- 2016-10-07
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Critic score
- 81/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (3,569 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a fantasy monster story that tackles grief and bullying with real emotional weight and unforgettable intensity; Not for you if you dislike very sad family drama or need a lighter, happier tone like War Horse or Where the Wild Things Are.
Pros: heartfelt grief story; standout young lead; stunning monster tales | Cons: heavy emotional tone; message can feel repetitive
Themes
- dreams
- monster
- based on novel or book
- nightmare
- grandparent grandchild relationship
- truth
- tree
- artist
- bullying
- terminal illness
- bully
- cancer
- +2 more
Awards & recognition
- European Film Award — Best Sound Designer · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Director · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Production Supervision · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Cinematography · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Editing · 2017
Show all 11 awards →
- Goya Award — Best Art Direction · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Sound · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Special Effects · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Makeup and Hairstyles · 2017
- Goya Award — Best Original Score · 2017
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award — Best European Film · 2017 · nominated
Cast & crew
Lewis MacDougall
as Conor
Sigourney Weaver
as Grandma
Felicity Jones
as Mum
Toby Kebbell
as Dad
Ben Moor
as Mr. Clark
James Melville
as Harry
- OS
Oliver Steer
as Sully
Dominic Boyle
as Anton
Jennifer Lim
as Miss Kwan
- MG
Max Gabbay
as Steven
Directed by J. A. Bayona