Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Monsters’

Written by Scott Edwards 

The voyage home can be one filled with different trials as the return trip never seems as smooth as the original journey. As Homer’s Odyssey has shown us, there is nothing easy about accomplishing what you wanted and getting home safely. As other travelers have also noted, even if they are trying to leave their fantastic vacation spots, it is the hardest thing to get back to their home, as they have to get back into ‘work mode.’

Six years ago, NASA discovered extraterrestrial life could exist in the solar system and sent out a probe to collect samples. Although the mission was a success, upon reentry, the probe crashed at the U.S.-Mexico border and caused an outbreak of an alien species. Now the crash site is known as the Infected Zone and both governments struggle to keep it contained to the area. The aliens however do not try to stay in the zone as they migrate around the same time every year, trying to broaden their horizons and causing massive deaths around the new areas they begin to occupy.  

Samantha Wynden (Sam) is on vacation, south of the Infected Zone and is looking for a way to get back to America. Having a very rich father, it has been easy for her to get whatever she has wanted in the past, but without having money in hand currently, she has to put her trust into a complete stranger. Andrew Kaulder is a freelance photographer who is only looking to make ends meet and is willing to be Sam’s guide back up to the States, as long as the price is right. Having to give Sam the breakdown of what life is really like for a person in his profession, he is not willing to pull out any stops as he takes pictures of every child on the way up to the Infected Zone.

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At the last safe port before the Infected Zone, the two discover that the price for safe passage is very expensive, even for Americans trying to get home. Having to pay the price so he can get his good deed rewarded, Kaulder buys a ticket on the next day’s ferry for Sam. Having the night ahead of them, the two partake on a time they will never forget. With the port having a large party, the two drink and get to know each other a bit more, but when they stop and witness the massive graveyard left by the invasion years ago, their moods are lowered, and they return to their hotel rooms. Waking up the following morning, Sam finds that Kaulder had a great time without her since a local girl ended up robbing him. Ashamed in his actions and more with the loss of her passport, the two are forced to come up with a new plan to get Sam home that involves entering the Infected Zone by foot. 

Monsters focuses on the stories of Sam Wynden and Andrew Kaulder as they both try to find a way to get back home. Although Kaulder is not keen on the idea of babysitting for a rich girl, he finds that he likes her company and tries to improve the relationship. After he loses her passport and the last safe passage ferry has left, he has to come up with a new plan to get her home safely. Without having enough money and the alien migration managing to shut down the ferry line for the season, the two have to go through the Infected Zone by foot. Most people who take this trip never appear on the other side, but with Sam’s father willing to pay for everything to get her home, Kaulder has to let go of his beliefs and get the young woman home. As the two enter the Infected Zone, they see what the creatures are capable of, along with what both governments are willing to do to keep the aliens confined to one little part of the world.  

A great monster movie that makes sure that you understand that the treat is not only the monster you know and fear, but the surprises that come about from the characters. As everyone is trying to survive in their own way, the creatures are trying to do the same, but are constantly interrupted by the human race. Seeing what the aliens want out of life, along with being told by their guides, Sam and Kaulder find new meanings to their lives as they only now start to focus on what is most important to them. Keeping true to any good monster movie, you don’t get to see the beasts head on, but that is one of the things that lets your imagination provide the scares as you never know what you are really up against. Stay Scared.

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