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 & 26 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 | borderline personality disorder | serial killer | hooker | 

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Taglines:

The first female serial killer of America

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Lee is first shown interacting with a john, she shows him a photo of two young children, saying they're her children, and she needs some cash to get to them. According to Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992), the real Aileen Wuornos actually used this method to lure her johns into paying for sexual favors because her physical appearance was starting to degrade quickly due to her wild lifestyle. She showed photos of her adoptive sister's children, claiming they were her own children. Wuornos' grandparents legally adopted her as an infant after her biological mother abandoned her.

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Goofs

The police officer who stops Aileen on the sidewalk because of complaints is driving a mid-1990s Ford Crown Victoria.

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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 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Paul McCartney/Pedro Pascal/The Voidz (2020)

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Soundtracks

Sugar and Spice
Written by Tony Hatch
Performed by The Searchers
Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Gripping but incredibly depressing

Based on a true story this movie is about Ailen Wuornos, a prostitute, who killed quite a few men who she "serviced". She was convicted in 1990 and executed in 2002.

She's played by Charlize Theron who's just incredible. It starts off just before she began murdering men and has met Selby (Christina Ricci), an adorable lesbian who loves her. It basically chronicles their relationship and what led Wuornos to kill these men. Also she reaccounts her childhood and how she became a prostitute. It's more than a little depressing--it's a tragic story of a beaten woman who saw murder as the only way out. Only three murders are shown and that's more than enough. The violence is not glorified--it's bloody and sick and one is the most harrowing thing I've seen in years. What's so fascinating (and scary) about this film is that I actually began to sympathize with Wuornos! While I could never condone her actions you can see clearly what led her to it. This is a rare film--it makes a serial killer look sympathetic.

Theron is a wonder in this--she became Wuornos (who was very unattractive). She gained weight, shaved off her eyebrows, colored her hair, used contacts and dentures to change her appearance completely. Never once did I think I was seeing Theron acting--she BECAME Wuornos. A great performance--she'll easily get the Oscar for this one. Ricci is also good here. She's been ignored in the press but she nicely underplays the role of Selby and is a perfect contrast to Theron's acting. Also nice to see Bruce Dern in a small role.

Music is used very effectively here. They play songs of the time it took place (1980s) so you know when this is happening and also nicely complements the actions on screen (especially with Journey's "Don't Stop Believing").

A very good movie but a very depressing one. Proceed at your own risk.

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monster

Filming Locations:

Casselberry, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$86,831, 28 December 2003

Gross USA:

$34,469,210

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$58,469,210

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