Looking for a unique genre picture to check out on DVD? May I suggest Monsters? True, the set up has a District 9/Cloverfield/The Mist ring to it, but Monsters earns extra points for a quiet, atmospheric slant. As the film opens, we are introduced to a planet now over-run with alien life forms. Territories all over Earth have now been quarantined, and the military has waged war with these massive, tentacled creatures. At the heart of the film is a cynical photographer whose been ordered by a newspaper publisher to escort his daughter from a quarantined zone to a safe area. During their treacherous journey, a bond develops, but Monsters avoids the typical cliches normally associated with films like this. Writer/director/effects technician Gareth Edwards is clearly working on a limited budget here, and while the creatures themselves are seldom seen, there are a couple of very impressive effects sequences.

The bond between the two leads doesn't entirely work and the film does have pacing issues, but leads Whitney Able and Scoot McNairy really hit their stride, particularly during the film's poetic final act. Monsters has its flaws, but overall, I was quite impressed by its quiet nature and creative special effects. Gareth Edwards is a film-maker to watch for and I look forward to seeing what he does next (rumor has it, he's bringing Godzilla back to the silver screen).