'Monster' Review: Rako Prijanto's gripping flick relies on visuals, leaving viewers both engrossed and baffled
Contains spoilers for 'Monster'
JAKARTA, INDONESIA: The Indonesian thriller film 'Monster', directed by Rako Prijanto, portrays the terrifying experience of being abducted and highlights the horrors that can arise.
The film, which is available to stream on Netflix, delves into the genre of silent horror in an effort to create tension and terror without using words.
The film centers on the abduction of two friends, Alana (Anantya Kirana) and Rabin (Sultan Hamonangan), and their terrifying struggle to survive against their kidnapper, an enigmatic 'Monster'.
The film attempts to combine aspects of mystery, suspense, and horror into a seamless and compelling story but the execution falls far short of expectations, making for a film that is engaging but frequently unbelievable.
'Monster' relies heavily on visual storytelling
Rako Prijanto, as a director, made a risky decision by leaving out dialogue in the film, which has a high-risk factor as the movie tells its story primarily through visuals.
The visuals weave a compelling narrative where each character has their trait such as Alana's wide eyes convey her terror; Rabin's whimpers reveal his helplessness.
This emphasis on visuals gives the audience an unfiltered experience that leaves much to the imagination and is up to interpretation, this is both the movie's greatest asset and as well as its weakness.
It produces a powerful and engrossing environment, but it also leaves the plot seeming unfinished and often confusing.
Writers face the challenge of weaving dialogue-free narrative in 'Monster'
The film's screenplay, written by Alim Sudio, Justin Powell, and David Charbonier, skillfully evokes a sense of urgency and terror.
Keeping the story interesting and cohesive without dialogue is one of the writers' biggest obstacles. Even while they are successful in producing an atmospheric and suspenseful thriller, there are several scenes where the absence of spoken dialogue may leave some viewers seeking more explanation.
Although the decision to forgo conversation is bold and creative, it also demands greater audience participation in the storytelling process.
Actors' performances elevate 'Monster' in the absence of dialogue
The actors in the film deserve special recognition for their performances, which were instrumental in enhancing the film.
Despite the lack of dialogue, they were tasked with conveying the emotional and psychological depth of the story solely through their bodies and facial expressions.
In her portrayal of the young Alana, Anantya Kirana exudes resilience and innocence. She conveys the fear and despair of a youngster in danger with her expressive eyes and body language. She is quite adept at maintaining a compelling screen presence despite her age.
Sultan Hamonangan's portrayal of Rabin gives the movie even more raw emotional depth. His portrayal of fear and helplessness feels authentic. Hamonangan's helplessness is depicted skilfully through nuanced gestures and facial expressions that draw the viewer into the narrative and give the impression that Rabin's situation is urgent and genuine.
Marsha Timothy's portrayal of Murni also deserves applause as she genuinely lends a chilling element to the character arcs. Her body language and facial expressions convey a sense of unpredictability and menace throughout her performance.
All things considered, the film offers a unique cinematic experience akin to 'The Quiet Place', crafting a suspenseful environment by employing the visuals to instill feelings of terror and urgency.
In the end, 'Monster' provides a unique cinematic experience that may be captivating for viewers who love non-traditional filmmaking methods.
This film merits consideration to ensure that more experiments of this nature continue to be made and that our cinematic experiences aren't limited to the conventional.
'Monster' trailer
