LOVE AND MONSTERS is available on Netflix worldwide beginning April 14 (except in the United States, where it is only available on VOD). This is the kind of genre mash-up that combines the best of amazing sci-fi monsters, scary horror moments, and comic relief.

It also never takes itself too seriously, which in my opinion is always a plus. For me, this is what makes a horror comedy work.

A monster horror-comedy

Love and Monsters stars Dylan O’Brien who most people will probably know from either MTV’s Teen Wolf series or The Maze Runner franchise. More recently, he was also in the Amazing Stories reboot on Apple TV+ in the episode titled The Cellar (click here to read our review).

With Love and Monsters, Dylan O’Brien is an obvious choice to star because he uses charm while also managing to be both a dork and very heartfelt. For me, he works perfectly in this movie.

And yes, Love and Monsters does have quite a lot of dark moments. Most of humanity dies when the monster-creating event happens. That’s pretty damn dark!

In other words, imagine a horror-comedy version of A Quiet Place or I Am Legend. Or, you know, just Zombieland but with monsters instead of zombies. In short, this well-executed and charming genre story featuring a monster-filled apocalypse is very entertaining.

So many excellent supporting characters
While Dylan O’Brien is the definite star of this movie – because this is the story of his character – you will also meet many wonderful supporting characters. Two of the most amazing characters are Clyde and Minnow.

Clyde is portrayed by Michael Rooker from The Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy, and True Detective. Most recently, he was in movies such as Brightburn and Fantasy Island so he’s certainly staying busy. His role in Love and Monsters is one that allows him to show his funnier side as well.

The young (and very awesome) Minnow should also be familiar. She’s portrayed by Arieana Greenblat who also played the young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War (2018). She has many productions coming up including the sci-fi thriller Awake which I am definitely looking forward to!

Watch Love and Monsters on Netflix

Michael Matthews is the director of Love and Monsters which is only his second feature film. He debuted in 2017 with Five Fingers for Marseilles and prior to this, he directed two short films. The screenplay was written by Brian Duffield and Matthew Robinson based on a story by Duffield.

If the name Brian Duffield seems familiar it might be because you’ve seen it quite a few times in recent years. He wrote the brilliant Netflix horror-comedy The Babysitter and also wrote the story (and co-wrote the screenplay) for Underwater which is not funny, but really works!

Also, Brian Duffield wrote and directed the very explosive coming-of-age sci-fi comedy Spontaneous which is out on Hulu now! Do check out that one as well, if you enjoy Love and Monsters. Meanwhile, the other screenwriter on Love and Monsters, Matthew Robinson, is writing the screenplay for the upcoming Little Shop of Horrors horror-comedy musical remake, which is currently in pre-production.

Basically, this new sci-fi, horror, comedy hybrid on Netflix has been crafted by some very capable filmmakers that have already proved themselves with brilliant genre productions. This one is yet another very entertaining addition to their IMDb resumés.

LOVE AND MONSTERS is coming to Netflix everywhere outside the US on April 14, 2021.



Details
Director: Michael Matthews
Writers: Brian Duffield, Matthew Robinson
Stars: Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt

Plot
Seven years after the Monsterpocalypse, all of humanity has been forced to live in underground colonies. When Joel Dawson reconnects over the radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee, who has been living on the coast 85 miles away, he begins to fall for her again. Joel realizes that there’s nothing left for him underground, and despite all the danger that stands in his way, he decides he must venture out to find his true love.