Monster (2003)

Based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer.

Director:

Patty Jenkins

Writer:

Patty Jenkins

Stars:

Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern

Won 1 Oscar. Another 29 wins & 25 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlize Theron	...	Aileen
Christina Ricci	...	Selby
Bruce Dern	...	Thomas
Lee Tergesen	...	Vincent Corey
Annie Corley	...	Donna
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Gene / Stuttering "John"
Marco St. John	...	Evan / Undercover "John"
Marc Macaulay	...	Will / Daddy "John"
Scott Wilson	...	Horton / Last "John"
Rus Blackwell	...	Cop
Tim Ware	...	Chuck
Stephan Jones	...	Lawyer
Brett Rice	...	Charles
Kaitlin Riley	...	Teenage Aileen
Cree Ivey	...	7-Year-Old Aileen

Storyline

The true story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos who was convicted of luring men to their death and eventually executed in 2002. In 1989, she was working as a prostitute and finally makes a friend when she meets and begins a relationship with a young woman, Selby. Determined to straighten out her life, she tries to find legitimate work but with little education and limited social skills, she fails at every turn. She starts working as a hooker hitching rides along the local interstate highway and after robbing a few clients has an encounter with a vicious client whom she kills in self-defense. After that however she just takes to killing clients taking their money and car. Once arrested she claims self-defense but is eventually convicted.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | lesbian | female killer | serial killer | hooker | 

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Taglines:

Based on a true story

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and sexual content, and for pervasive language

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monster: Asesina en serie

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$86,831, 28 December 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$34,469,210

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$64,240,813

Company Credits

Production Co:

Media 8 Entertainment, Newmarket Films, DEJ Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reese Witherspoon campaigned for the lead role.

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Goofs

When Aileen leaves the bus station, the bus drives about 30 feet past the building. In the next shot, when Aileen walks toward Selby, the bus is driving away again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[narrating]
Aileen: I always wanted to be in the movies.
[pause]
Aileen: When I was little I thought for sure that one day, I could be a big, big star. Or maybe just beautiful... beautiful and rich, like the women on TV. Yeah, I had a lot of dreams. And I guess you can call me a real romantic, because I truly believe that one day, they'll come true. So I dreamed about it for hours. As the years went by, I learnt to stop sharing them with people. They said I was dreaming. But back then, I believed it...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Gilmore Girls: The Incredible Sinking Lorelais (2004)

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Soundtracks

Where Do I Begin
(1997)
Written by Tom Rowlands (as Thomas Owen Rowlands), Ed Simons (as Edmund John Simons)
Performed by The Chemical Brothers
(Featuring Beth Orton)
Courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd./Astralwerks
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises, Amplitude Music, EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Unbelievable

This movie really helped me to begin my own healing. I, to a small degree, relate to the lead. I am a rape survivor (as a toddler and a college student), it stirred up so many feelings that I've experienced. My innocence is gone... why not try to make some money while re-claiming my sexuality? And of course, I've had a problem with viewing all men as perverts. But she did come across men that were actually wanting to help her -- I wish that could have turned her around the way one man helped me come around. And I'm so lucky to have him. I'm so glad that I chose to see this movie. I hope others can be as positively impacted by this film as I was.