The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023) User Reviews

I really wanted to love this!

[miss_manners_62 · 5/10 · 26 June 2023]

I really did. The cast is uniformly very good to excellent. The lead (the "angry black girl" if you will), Laya DeLeon Hayes, gives a performance that is warm, human, funny, intense; her range is there. The rest of the cast was great with particular props for. Denzel Whittaker, Tracie Frank, and. Chad L. Coleman as standouts for me.

Now for the rest. The direction was spotty but decent. The cinematography was bizarre - the outdoor shots were often actually gorgeous; however, the indoor shots were awkward and sitcom-y, often to the point of taking this viewer out of the moment. Now for the script. This group of extremely talented, mostly young actors deserved so much more. There was no explanation for why anything happened (can't say too much without spoiling the plot). The dialogue started strong but kind of fell flat about halfway through. It's possible editing is to blame for some or even most of that.

All in all, it's a not-unpleasant but disappointing way to blow off some time, but it will leave you wishing for what could have been - because it could have been great.

Nothing new to be seen here...

[paul_haakonsen · 4/10 · 20 July 2023]

Well, this 2023 movie titled "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster" from writer and director Bomani J. Story was watchable. But that was also about there was to it. The storyline is just a take on the classic Mary Shelley "Frankenstein" story, except it is set in modern times.

And that just doesn't make "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster" an outstanding movie experience, because writer and director Bomani J. Story doesn't bring anything new or innovative to the table. So this movie is one that came quietly and will disappear just as quietly.

It should be noted that the acting performances in the movie were good, especially by leading actress Laya DeLeon Hayes (playing Vicaria). And it was nice to see Chad L. Coleman (playing Donald) in the movie as well.

Visually then "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster" was okay. It was not a movie that made use of a lot of special effects, and whatever practical effects that were in the movie were adequate for what they were. I wasn't impressed though.

The movie runs at 91 minutes, but it is a somewhat bland viewing experience. And this is hardly a movie that I will recommend for horror fans to rush out and get to watch. If you are familiar with the "Frankenstein" story, which I assume you are, then you have essentially already seen "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster".

My rating of "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster" lands on a four out of ten stars.

The script was problematic

[aronharde · 5/10 · 3 December 2023]

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is not your typical Frankenstein movie, it's starring an almost all black cast and features the theme of growing up in the hood and the dangers that come with that. The actors deliver a solid job and we have some nice bloody gore, but on the other hand the movie suffers from plot holes and unrealistic scenes. Our protagonist somehow finds all the equipment to build a device to bring back people from the dead in an abandoned warehouse and also manages to steal some dead bodies for her to saw together for her monster. There are many other scenes that did not make sense and I think the script had too many problems. Also in the beginning there's a conflict with our protagonist and her teacher and the movie treats the teacher like she is the bad one, but it was the protagonist that kept interrupting and wouldn't listen and after dealing with the consequences her father got mad at the teacher telling her to teach even though that was what she was trying to do before the younger girl kept interrupting her disturbing the class. That immediately gave this movie a huge racial aspects that was unnecessary. With a slightly different script this movie could have turned out better but this way it's just forgettable and there are way better movies about bringing back people from the dead like Frankenstein did. [5,2/10]

Frankenstein in Da Hood

[billcr12 · 3/10 · 24 June 2023]

Vicaria is the angry girl of the title and she believes that she can bring her dead brother back to life in a similar manner to the famous fictional story. At least the director thanks Mary Shelley in the end credits.

Vicaria's brother Chris is killed in some sort of gang and drug related violence and his sister informs her biology teacher that death can be cured.

Just by chance, an abandoned warehouse in her neighborhood has all the needed equipment to build a device in order to bring back the dead.

The determined teenage girl is so smart that she somehow manages to steal a few dead bodies for spare parts and is also able to remove her brother from his final resting place.

The lead actress is fine but the script is bad from start to finish.

Entertaining even with its flaws

[dclindinin · 6/10 · 10 July 2023]

A different take on a classic horror tale. I felt the pacing was good enough to keep me from looking at my phone, the jump scares weren't too predictable, and the cinematography was a1. Wasn't too preachy, some scenes were irrelevant, only issues I had was the ending was a little underwhelming and no subtitles in English. Compared to these other ridiculous "horror" films that are just excuses to show excessive gore with a basic story, this one was well done. Good movie if you're looking for a different type of horror film, take these other reviews with a grain of salt, & for 7$ you can't lose.

Good directorial debut, but could have been great. Excellent lead performance

[PedroPires90 · 6/10 · 30 June 2023]

Not bad and it wasn't too far from being really, really good.

I love the first act. No rush, it gives us the right background of the main characters, the neighbourhood, and their difficulties and motivations. I also really like what it does in the third act. Violent, tie up loose ends, and close arcs with meaning. I have several issues with the second act.

Most of my problems in the second act revolve around the difficulty in varying something from the moment "the event" occurs and the excessive educational/doctrinal speeches that exist. When the main character does it in the beginning, it seems genuine, an act of rebellion, and affirmation, it makes sense. When several other supporting characters do it throughout the movie, in an even more obvious way, it becomes a bit too much. Not everyone in a neighbourhood behaves, thinks, and speaks in the same way, and it ends up sounding more like the writer's voice than the voices of those characters.

There are also some issues with the editing and sound, with some cuts and sound effects that seem for a straight-to-DVD release, but nothing too serious, because the director knows where he wants to go and does a very good job on his debut, with some interesting shots, and starting with the identity it gives to that community from the first act.

In terms of performances, I feel that there are weaknesses in some of the supporting cast, but Laya Hayes is fantastic. She was able to carry the whole film on her shoulders, with several behavioural and emotional nuances, and it's easy to predict a promising future career for her. A star, for sure.

Overall, a very interesting debut feature, filled with good ideas, bringing something new to the table and to the "Frankenstein concept", which could have been brilliant if it was more polished.

Well below par

[theprescell · 4/10 · 27 June 2023]

Simply put, this was not a good movie.

Every other scene left a feeling of, 'this scene could have been better'. And that equates to half of the movie.

The other half is arguably a 4 or 5 star rating at best. Either or, you will most definitely want your wasted time back.

Too many scenes were done well below par. You will constantly be asking yourself was this the director's fault? Inexperienced, rushed, no budget, lack of vision, etc.

Or you'll ask yourself, was this the actor's fault?s Inexperienced, misinterpreting the script, never became the character, just not a good actor, etc.

I wanted to turn this movie off multiple times and the only reason I didn't was my curiosity (not hope)... for will it get better? It never did.

I sort of feel bad for anyone who saw this movie in a theater; and felt they had to watch until the end because they paid money to see it.

I feel extremely glad I did not pay to see this 'movie'.

black indie

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 17 July 2023]

Death is a disease and Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes) intends to cure it. The black teenage genius comes from a rough neighborhood where drugs and death is all around. When her brother is killed, she puts her theory to use.

This is obviously trying to adapt Mary Shelley's Frankenstein into a modern 'ghetto'. There are moments of good tension. I actually find the school more compelling than the monster story. The 'monster' does not have enough screen time. Brother and sister should have more time together before and after the transformation. This movie needs to be about their relationship. The most interesting monster performance is Kango. The father is also interesting. This movie has a few good moments and probably a fine elevator pitch. It struggles to hold together in the second half.

It's nothing like Frankenstein at all. There's almost zero connection. Its literallya zombie flick.

[sirdubs · 1/10 · 27 June 2023]

It's nothing like Frankenstein at all. There's almost zero connection. Its literallya zombie flick. The only Frankenstein connection was electricity (but not lightning) and at one point the zombie says they called him monster (but no one actually did....)

It's starts having a small girl (Chris's sister) drag a large man's dead body away... somehow the town knows Chris is dead... even though there is no body...

They never show the girl stealing more bodies but it's eluded to twice.. even though Chris was shot once in the head, she needed multiple bodies...and sowed on weird hands..

In a weird scene where they try to make the teacher an evil person. The teacher says the girls name wrong... and that's really it. The girl keeps inturpting class to claim she can cure death. And won't stop talking about it. The teacher called the resource officer since the girl refuses to leave class. The officer arrest her... her dad shows up to yell at the teacher and threaten her.. saying she shouldn't call the cops on his daughter and needs to teach... even though the teacher was trying too and kept getting interrupted by the girl. And why did dad tell the teacher to never lay another hand on his daughter... that was the officer , not the teacher...

The girl proceeded to make nonsense electronics to bring her brother back to life. It's just wires and metal with no explanation. She has a bunch of bikes welded together so i guess she welds too. They missed the first chance to make a Frankenstein connection. She could have used lightning....

Next this girl steals a large amount of drugs from the local gang bangers... they know who she is and yet she runs away and goes home... why didn't they just go to her house?... The drug dealers give her a black eye and then just empty threats.. They're supposed to be killers but let this girl walk all over them... okay

Later Chris, whom this girl made and brought back to life, appears at her window and she's scared and won't stop screaming... which is weird because she made him and knows what he looks like...

Frankenstein's monster was a misunderstood good guy... Chris is just evil...

And Chris's baby momma has 2 other kids. She somehow deeply cares about this kids education and makes sure she knows not to go with strangers etc... but the girl says she wants to hang out with Chris. And the mom says sure and then says she has no idea who Chris is... must be a new tenant...

Another way it's not her like Frankenstein is , Chris is not friends with his creator and is with the other little girl that wasn't involved in making him at all.

Near the end one of the gangbangers risk his life to help the girl kill chris... why? Why would he do that? It made no sense.

When Chris is killed his dying words were that people called him a monster. And the girl that made him says they made him a monster by calling him one.. but no one ran around calling him monster.. so that was weird.

Then at the end the girls bring back to life several recently dead family members... just using electricity. So she cured death... just by shocking... after seeing a paramedic shock someone... that's just lazy writing.

Overall, it was just a terrible movie. It has nothing to do with Frank. And has so many plot holes that is just hard to stay invested..

Missed it by *that much*

[GregTheStopSign95 · 8/10 · 25 November 2023]

This COULD have been great, it really could have. Maybe it just needed an extra 10 or 15 minutes to flesh out Vicaria & Chris' relationship, to SHOW us how close they were rather than just tell us. Maybe it needed to show a bit more of Vicaria's school life, to show us just how much of a genius she is rather than just tell us. Whatever it's lacking, it's not lacking much of it tbh.

While, yes, it IS a retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it's also more than just that. It's a story of familial bonds, and how far one young woman will go to keep those bonds alive. It's a story that gives the Creature a better chance at finding the familial love that Shelley's Creature was so cruelly denied. It's a story that doesn't just update the source material to fit our current world, but also updates the hope within.

Denzel Whitaker puts in a solid performance as Kango, the local drug lord; Keith Holliday is equally good as Kango's second, Jamaal; Chad Coleman is REALLY good in his limited screen time as Vicaria's dad, Donald; but Laya DeLeon Hayes is the real star (as she should be, playing the lead role) as Vicaria, the strong, determined young woman fighting to revive her brother and thereby restore her family.

Honestly one of the best adaptations of Mary Shelley's iconic novel I've ever seen.

Frankenstein in the hood

[Horror_Flick_Fanatic · 7/10 · 1 September 2023]

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a 2023 drama/fantasy/horror film written and directed by Bomani J. Story. The film tells the story of Vicaria, a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that can be cured. After the brutal and sudden murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to bring him back to life. The film is inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and thematically challenges our ideas of life, death, and contemporary politics through satire.

Overall, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a powerful and thought-provoking film that is sure to resonate with audiences. Its unique blend of drama, fantasy, and horror, combined with its strong performances and intelligent writing, make it a must-see film.

Updated Frankenstein Is Not Original

[cantrelayne · 4/10 · 3 November 2023]

Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. Whilst Laya DeLeon Hayes is a Fabulous actor and the reason it gets four stars, there is nothing original here. Frankenstein meets Weird Science meets Tales From The Hood with a smidge of Totally Killer, with a happyish ending. It is entertaining, and very predictable. Has all the stereotypes without any real substance. There's no Blade creativity, no surprises. No twists that you cannot see coming. The critics gave this a lot more credit than it deserves for stereotypical reasons. Pop the popcorn, watch it and forget about it, much like the 1931 version.

Missed the Mark

[flow-51492 · 4/10 · 8 August 2023]

Why oh why did they have to make Gang life seem like it's NOT stupid. The girl is soooooo perfect till you stop and think. It's all her fault, The movie is terrible and it has so much potential. The title pulls you in but the film makes me hate the main character, She never takes accountability and everyone around her is in danger, A lot of the character's have no motivation and feel like a burden on the screen. Who would anyone want to hurt this child? How can she afford a lab? Why doesn't her father leave? Where are the good men in this film? She is sooooooo wrong on death being a disease??? Really????

Try to see this in person

[abbykern · 7/10 · 1 June 2023]

This movie is sure to do well via streaming with it's genre mashup but if you can see it in person make an effort to do so. It's visually striking on the big scale and the lead actress has an amazingly expressive face. You want to see her push up her glasses while 100 feet high. You want to see her thinking.

It's a straight forward retelling of Frankenstein in a different setring. The context is the ordinary and challenging life of an exceptional young black woman surrounded by death. Great debut for virtually unknown director and I hope to see whatever he does going forward. But this is clearly straight from his heart. If you are interested in horror of any flavor, family stories, what it means to be gifted, or the impact of police brutality and drugs on communities this is something you'll want to see.

Social commentary mash-up that doesn't succeed

[jmbovan-47-160173 · 4/10 · 1 October 2023]

This is an interesting film attempting to present social commentary on the violence perpetuated against the Black community in America as well as the impact of privilege has to keep non-dominate groups down, and powerless. The film displays the trap of poverty that is perpetuated when resources are kept away due to institutional racism, and the struggle from within to gain any sense of power.

And melding this with a Frankenstein's monster science fiction horror also highlights the sense of grief that is amplified by loss, especially when there is already so much that is lacking.

Somehow, all of this doesn't come together well as a whole. The film is well made. The acting is decent if a bit heavy note on the "Angry."

But the notes the film seems to want to make are either hit rather heavily, or in very conforming stereotypical way. I can say that the repetition of standard elements is indicative of the continuation of the constricted ways poverty from oppression limits how one can survive and gain any power. But I also have seen other films that focus on these issues and weave this together with the plot more successfully. Possibly because they aren't trying to mesh two genres together other films are able to focus more clearly. Films like "The Hate You Give" and "Fresh" (1994 by Boaz Yakin) are two of my favorites that depict similar ideas better.

Social metaphor in a classic horror tale

[saolivaresm · 7/10 · 25 June 2023]

It is not simply a horror film, it is rather a daring on the part of its director Bomani J. Story to offer us a harsh and cruel metaphor on the racial and social issues that a certain part of society faces in a world bathed in horror.

With this argument, the film takes us to its own version of a classic horror tale and it does so in its own style and with its own arguments, giving us a forceful film that is established as one of the best we have of the year in terms of the horror genre. That this 2023 has given us.

The humanity of its characters and the fear of death make up a script that is not limited to being politically correct, it is a film with guts and cruelty in the same adventure. It is a cruel film that clearly and sinisterly addresses the constant nightmare that surrounds its characters: Laya DeLeon Hayes's powerful performance helps a lot, as she shoulders the dramatic weight of the film and makes it full of emotions and nuances that They captivate you and become attached to their character.

By having character, the film brings out the power of its director who knows how to give you good moments during its precise 91 minutes. Its director gives us a moving and bloodstained cry for control, which ends up giving us a wonderful, tragic and terrifying film, which gives us a breath of fresh air in a genre in which these types of daring are always appreciated.

A bet that is rightly inscribed among the highlights of what is going on in this 2023, it is not perfect, it is true it has a couple of things that prevent it from being totally round, but in any case we have the feeling of being in front of one of the great titles that we have of the year, both for their daring when it comes to setting out their premise and knowing how to manage a perfect connection with the viewer in a world where the film always plays on the finest thread of limits.

Gangstastein And His Ghetto ReAnimator.

[meddlecore · 4/10 · 30 August 2023]

Vicaria is an incredibly intelligent young woman.

A black teenager, who goes to a predominantly white school, with racist teachers.

Who is understandably upset, when one of said teachers calls the cops on her, when she challenges the status quo.

Taught to think outside the box by her father...she truly believes that death is a disease that can be cured.

So, when her brother, Chris, is killed as a result of gang activity.

She decides to put her hypothesis to the test...by attempting to reanimate him.

Which she does successfully.

Though, not exactly with the results she was hoping for.

Because, upon his return, Chris goes on a bit of a killing spree.

Reaping vengeance on his enemies...including those who continue to threaten his family.

Leaving Vicaria to deal with the aftermath of her actions...in all their various forms.

What stands out here is the acting- particularly from lead actress Laya DeLeon Hayes- and general style of the film.

Which, while the story itself could have been improved upon, fashions writer/director Bomani J Story as a force to watch out for in the future.

As this is his feature length directorial debut.

Having been produced by CryptTV, I would've liked to have seen a bit more effort put in to the creature effects on the monster.

Because it kind of looked like it was just a dude covered in oil, after having chomped down on a blood capsule.

So...not exactly a character that immediately strikes fear into your soul.

The rest of the film is decent enough to keep you engaged, at least, though.

So it's not a complete bust.

But nothing particularly great, either.

4 out of 10.

Frankenthug with a Message

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 10 July 2023]

Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes) is an overly intelligent school girl who lives in the projects. Kango (Denzel Whitaker) is the local drug dealer. Her mother was shot in the head when she was just eight. Recently her brother Chris (Edem Atsu-Swanzy) was also killed. Vee believes death is a disease and she secretly works to find a cure in order to bring back her brother Chris. Jada (Amani Summer) her niece, gives her nicknames like "Mad Scientist" and "Body Snatcher." Tapping into the local substation, Vee manages to bringher brother back to life. Eventually he goes on a killing spree. The message (PLOT SPOILER) is that if people call you a monster, you will believe it and act like one.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

A Banging Debut Feature for a Director on the Rise

[horancoffey · 8/10 · 24 April 2023]

When I saw this trailer, there was no doubt that I had to see it. Going into it, I was hoping that it wouldn't harp on black trauma as some black horror movies do.

The cinematography in this was breathtaking with unique lens that give a 70's grain to it. It produces almost a nostalgic feeling to the first act of the movie. So, when the horror really sets, it snaps you out of the haze. The crafting of the narrative and characters is intrinsic to the subject matter of the story. You notice small easter eggs that pay homage to those in the Black community that made headlines for their unjust deaths.

It's a powerful story about a girl who tries to play God in a community that has essentially lost all faith in livelihood. Some audience members may struggle to understand the tone of the story because of the way the subject matter is handled in the story. However, it's a creative reimagining of Frankenstein and horror fans deserve more stories like this!

Comedy Gold!!!

[jamosmonk · 6/10 · 1 October 2023]

So far 100% of reviews have completely and utterly missed the mark! This is meant to be a comedy and if you watch it with that in mind it will make sense and youll be rolling non floor laughing. From the opening monologue to the very end it was spectacularly funny. However it was clearly mis marketed I don't kniw how or why. Regardless it's nice to see a comedy pitched at intellectual viewers instead of the low brow Peele tripe. If youve seen it once and were disappointed try rewatching it from a comedy perspective and all the silly unbelievable unrealistic scenes and dialogue will make total hilarious sense. From the teacher" mispronouncing" her name as Vicaria when it's supposed to be pronounced Vuhcaria even though it has an "i" not an "a" after the V while she's idiotically claiming death is merely a disease is Comedy Gold. Or when lil momma says to her son" wanna hide something from a n!gga put it in a book!" Is So True yet funny.

Victor Vicaria

[Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews · 5/10 · 25 September 2023]

Despite this movies many traditionally indie flaws, such as some shaky acting, stilted script, small budget and a generally amateurish vibe, it still successfully relayed its pertinent message loud and clear in a decently entertaining production.

I thought the way they drew parallels connecting modern day issues and the BLM movement to a traditional horror story in many clever ways was very interesting and enjoyable. The production was also greatly helped by the lead actresses performance, she really kind of carried the whole thing.

I think this had a lot of potential that it unfortunately didn't quite reach. All the building blocks, all the ideas were there... they just came out a little garbled. It felt a bit like this was geared more towards a young adult audience with PG-13 vibes and maybe not so on purpose. It was still entertaining regardless and I appreciate it doing something fresh and interesting with an important message. Would recommend.

Hypocritism at its finest

[roamedspirits34 · 6/10 · 28 March 2024]

The girl talks about curing death but was the cause of it for multiple people. Then at the end of the movie still learns no lesson because she hasn't healed from her past trauma. Girl is really full of herself as shown in the classroom, and realistically has no positive future for that could come given her track record. Overall, very entertaining and had the right amount of jumps scares. She was very delusional and had the same mindset of the little girl in a sense, like she never grew up fully after her own mom's death. The ending of the movie is very comical in a sense where the science doesn't even make sense given that people get shocked and don't come back to life as shown earlier in the movie....a higher voltage would fry them still after death.

A not so "Mad" scientist.

[jonorandolph · 7/10 · 14 April 2024]

For an independently produced movie, this was well done.

They mention she has a German last name but won't tell us... she's obsessed with death. But why don't they tell us the name? Oh....... and her notebook is called "modern Prometheus" I get it now.

I love the restraint the filmmakers used in saving the line "It's alive! It's Alive!" when they did and giving it Aishia instead of the main character.

My biggest complaint is that Vicaria wasn't allowed to be "Mad" in Mad Scientist and makeup of for the monster wasn't strong. Chad Colman as the father character was the strongest character and my eyes were glued to the screen when ever he appeared.

The film offers a mix of worthwhile elements, with solid narration, authentic acting, and well-established circumstances

[kevin_robbins · 7/10 · 27 January 2024]

I recently watched Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023) on Prime. The storyline follows a young lady who, having lost her mother and brother to the streets, becomes a scientific prodigy determined to bring her brother back to life. However, her experiment takes an unexpected turn.

Directed and written by Bomani J. Story in his directorial debut, the film stars Laya Deleon Hayes (The Equalizer series), Denzel Whitaker (Training Day), Chad Coleman (The Wire), and Reilly Brooke Stith (The Crooked Man).

The film offers a mix of worthwhile elements, with solid narration, authentic acting, and well-established circumstances. It effectively delivers certain stereotypes and excels in horror elements with intense and excellent kills, accompanied by impactful gore. However, I didn't love how this film concluded. Despite a strong setup and execution, the film seems to falter in deciding the direction for its ending.

In conclusion, Angry Black Girl and Her Monster proves to be an above-average addition to the genre, conveying meaningful messages but falling short in terms of a satisfying conclusion. I would give it a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.

We loved this movie

[ghost-wolf-howling · 8/10 · 1 June 2023]

My family and I got to see this movie in L. A. at a debut that featured the director and cast for a Q&A afterward. While the title and the gory horror might draw viewers in, I think it's the more subtle horror that will make this movie live in their heads afterward.

Yes, there's a nerdy, defiant lead character who raises the dead in her lab. Yes, there's a zombie-like echo of her brother who terrorizes the neighborhood. But what follows are a few of the most impactful moments from my perspective:

1. Vicaria's conflict with her teacher and the teacher's transformation of her anger into police power in the classroom.

2. Vicaria's dad and his pushback on that teacher.

3. The death of Vicaria's friend and failed resuscitation attempt.

4. The family dinner moment when the police start banging on the door.

These moments create a strong sense of an always-hostile world experienced by the Black lead characters. The horror here is less in Vicaria's experiments, and more in the casual wielding of deadly power by white authority figures such as the police and the teacher. Their moments of joy are rare and fleeting. The baseline experience is existential dread.

Please go watch this movie. If you and your kids are OK with gory horror, take them, too.