Your Monster

Caroline Lindy’s debut feature premiered in the Midnight section of this year’s Sundance festival, and has since screened at some of the world’s biggest genre film festivals. Melissa Barrera (In The Heights, 2021; Scream, 2022) plays Laura, an aspiring actress whose boyfriend dumps her by text as she lies in a hospital bed, recovering from cancer surgery. Moving back to her childhood home, alone and abandoned, Laura discovers her imaginary childhood friend, Monster (Tommy Dewey), who bears a striking resemblance to Disney’s Beast, still in residence in her bedroom wardrobe. As Monster’s sarcasm morphs into charm, their relationship assumes almost romantic overtones as he becomes her cheerleader, encouraging her to chase success. Drawing elements from musicals, romantic comedies, and even a little horror, Lindy’s film is a quirky delight, with the chemistry between its leads making for an entertaining and engaging watch.