Monsterland (2008) Reviews

• Great Film About Childhood

  johnstonjames2010-02-05

  Have you ever lost someone you loved? I have. It's scary and it's sad. that is what 'Monsterland' is all about. like the little girl Alice in this movie, I also lost my mother. sure, when my mother died I was an adult. but it was still terrible and traumatic. I can just imagine how it would feel to a child. The little girl in the movie is named Alice, and she is recovering from the unexpected death of her mother. Her father reads her Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' to comfort her through her grief. later that night when she has her best friend sleep over she thinks she can do better so she watches some zombie horror flicks on TV. It only complicates things and gives her nightmares. she sleep walks around the house and dreams about spooky things in the shadows trying to get her. half awake she turns on the TV and watches the old 1903 silent version of 'Alice in Wonderland'. this sends her back to sleep some more where she dreams about a sinister-cute little friend who cocks his head and introduces himself as Mr.Hat. 'Hat' is basically a spooky version of the Mad Hatter from the 'Wonderland' stories,but here he is somewhat foreboding and is given a ultra-hip, cool, minimalist design by the film makers. 'Alice' doesn't really like 'Hat' at first and finds him annoying, but it becomes an uneasy friendship when she realizes he is simply trying to help her. she must face her fears. her fear here is the fear of loss and abandonment. in her dream she thinks her father is dead too, taken away by monsters. her fear is realizing that her mother is dead and that she must face acceptance. once she is aware of this, the monster of death and loneliness goes away and she wakes up to find that sun comes up and that she is alive and well and that her father and best friend are still by her side to comfort her. she also understands that the memory and love for her dear mother will always be with her. she also knows that the annoying little Mr.Hat was not a monster, but a friend trying to tell her what she needed to know. This is a film every child should see. a film every person who has experienced loss should see. the message is that our love is much stronger than our fear. much stronger than any monster. much stronger than death. God bless you Mr.Hat, for you are truly a dear little friend to all that pass through the portals of Mosterland.