Member review

Focus Features' A Monster Calls is very cleverly made and very emotive, but it is not suitable for younger viewers as the topic may be upsetting to some people, due to the sensitive nature of the narrative's topic.

The plot tells viewers that they must stand up for themselves and to be brave and face their fears. Viewers are presented a clever reminder that they are never alone, even in their darkest moments. The storyline portrays the importance of believing in what you say and do as this can have an impact on the people around you.

The settings are appropriate to the narrative. This allows viewers to feel as if they are present in the plot, and it makes them feel the emotions that highlighted in the narrative. Pathetic fallacy is also used: the sky and the wind are appropriate to the plot and action on screen.

Dramatic music is used to create a suitable atmosphere for the narrative. Silence and dull tones (a drone) are used to create suspense and tension. Additionally, music is used to foreshadow and create an eerie atmosphere. Music is also used to convey emotion, such as sadness and sorrow. This can be played behind speaking, to emphasise emotion. Furthermore, silence behind the characters' speaking and music builds emotion to illustrate the building atmosphere in the scene. Sometimes, the music cuts out to silence, which creates a dramatic effect, that leads to a big build up of emotion. Also, natural silence is used for emotion and a lack of additional sounds in some scenes, allows viewers to fell as if they are there.

Focus Features' A Monster Calls uses light and darkness to create an atmosphere and suspense. The animation uses colour in a very clever way. This allows viewers to easily follow the narrative of the film, as the colour is vibrant and the style of image illustrated for the viewers effectively portrays different time frames.

The interactions between characters changes throughout the narrative as they experience events. As the plot progresses, some of the characters begin to grow as individuals and they start to understand each other better, as they become more aware of what is going on.

Blank screens with voices over it, is used for atmosphere and it creates a pause in the narrative, which gives viewers a moment to reflect. It also presents a change in place or time, which allows viewers to easily follow the narrative, as it may shift focus to a different part of the storyline. Moreover, animations are used to separate the past from the present. Close ups, when the camera zooms in are used to highlight the emotions that a character is feeling.