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A Monster Calls

  • 20162016
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
87K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,630
130
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mom's terminal illness. Click the X-Ray tab to see trivia, editor's notes, and actor bios.
Play trailer2:29
34 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Family

A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mother's terminal illness.A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mother's terminal illness.A boy seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mother's terminal illness.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
87K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,630
130
  • Director
    • J.A. Bayona
  • Writers
    • Patrick Ness(screenplay by)
    • Siobhan Dowd(from an original idea by)
  • Stars
    • Lewis MacDougall
    • Sigourney Weaver
    • Felicity Jones
Top credits
  • Director
    • J.A. Bayona
  • Writers
    • Patrick Ness(screenplay by)
    • Siobhan Dowd(from an original idea by)
  • Stars
    • Lewis MacDougall
    • Sigourney Weaver
    • Felicity Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 284User reviews
    • 358Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 39 wins & 57 nominations

    Videos34

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    Official Trailer
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:41
    Trailer #1
    Teaser Trailer #2
    Trailer 1:35
    Teaser Trailer #2
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:21
    Teaser Trailer
    A Monster Calls
    Trailer 2:26
    A Monster Calls
    A Monster Calls
    Trailer 1:36
    A Monster Calls
    A Monster Calls
    Trailer 1:16
    A Monster Calls
    A Monster Calls
    Trailer 1:22
    A Monster Calls
    A Monster Calls Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    A Monster Calls Official Trailer
    A Monster Calls Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    A Monster Calls Official Trailer
    Lunch Room
    Clip 2:11
    Lunch Room
    Break The Windows
    Clip 1:16
    Break The Windows

    Photos195

    Liam Neeson and Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Sigourney Weaver in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Liam Neeson and Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    J.A. Bayona and Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Liam Neeson and Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    J.A. Bayona in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Felicity Jones and Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    J.A. Bayona in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Liam Neeson and Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls (2016)
    Sigourney Weaver in A Monster Calls (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lewis MacDougall
    Lewis MacDougall
    • Conoras Conor
    Sigourney Weaver
    Sigourney Weaver
    • Grandmaas Grandma
    Felicity Jones
    Felicity Jones
    • Mumas Mum
    Toby Kebbell
    Toby Kebbell
    • Dadas Dad
    Ben Moor
    Ben Moor
    • Mr. Clarkas Mr. Clark
    James Melville
    James Melville
    • Harryas Harry
    Oliver Steer
    • Sullyas Sully
    Dominic Boyle
    Dominic Boyle
    • Antonas Anton
    Jennifer Lim
    Jennifer Lim
    • Miss Kwanas Miss Kwan
    Max Gabbay
    • Stevenas Steven
    Morgan Symes
    Morgan Symes
    • Lawyeras Lawyer
    Max Golds
    • 5-Year-Old Connoras 5-Year-Old Connor
    Frida Palsson
    • Lily's Mumas Lily's Mum
    Wanda Opalinska
    Wanda Opalinska
    • Female Nurseas Female Nurse
    Patrick Taggart
    • Teacheras Teacher
    Lily-Rose Aslandogdu
    Lily-Rose Aslandogdu
    • Lilyas Lily
    Geraldine Chaplin
    Geraldine Chaplin
    • The Head Teacheras The Head Teacher
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • The Monsteras The Monster
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • J.A. Bayona
    • Writers
      • Patrick Ness(screenplay by) (based upon the novel written by)
      • Siobhan Dowd(from an original idea by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The monster does not come walking often. This time it comes to Conor, and it asks for the one thing Conor cannot bring himself to do. Tell the truth. This is a very touching story about a boy who feels very damaged, guilty and mostly angry. He struggles at school with bullies, and pity looks from everyone, and at home with his mother's sickness. Will Conor overcome his problems? Will everything be okay? Will Conor be able to speak the truth?
    • telling a story
    • monster
    • boy
    • terminal illness
    • nightmare
    • 69 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Stories are wild creatures.
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Family
      • Fantasy
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for thematic content and some scary images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The novel was originally started by Siobhan Dowd who left it unfinished, at her death. Patrick Ness finished the book with credits to her idea.
    • Goofs
      When "Grandma" gets stuck in traffic and curses, Sigourney Weaver drops her accent.
    • Quotes

      Conor: Your stories never made sense to me.

      The Monster: Because humans are complicated beasts. You believe comforting lies, while knowing full well the painful truth that makes those lies necessary. In the end, Conor, it is not important what you think. It is only important what you do.

      Conor: So what do I do?

      The Monster: What you did just now. You speak the truth.

      Conor: That's all?

      The Monster: You think it's easy? You were willing to die rather than speak it.

    • Alternate versions
      The North American DVD and Blu-ray releases slow down the film's audio pitch at 4%. However, the film remains normal-pitched on digital platforms.
    • Connections
      Featured in Keane: Tear Up This Town (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Score from King Kong
      (King Kong (1933))

      Written by Max Steiner

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Turner Entertainment Co.

    User reviews284

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Dramatic as well as spectacular Spanish/British/US co-production based on a prestigious novel and masterfully directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
    Stirring and tragical story based on a notorious novel and competently directed by Juan Antonio Bayona . Including an engaging screenplay by Patrick Ness , based upon the novel written by himself from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd . A devastating event happens in the life of a little boy , twelve-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) , as he seeks the help of a tree monster to cope with his single mother's (Felicity Jones) terminal . Meanwhile , he must face his stiff-upper-lip grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) , his estranged father (Toby Kobbel) and the school bully . This is one family's moving story of sadness and love . As Conor is caught in a chaotic self-destruction , when he then is visited by the tree-like Monster (Lian Neeson) , who tells Conor it has to come to tell him three true stories . However , nothing is more powerful than the human spirit . Stories are wild creatures. Courage conquers all . Will he survive ?

    It's a grade A picture , a gem , absorbing , riveting , highly moving , incredibly tense .This is a very touching story about a boy who feels very damaged , unsettling , guilty and mostly angry , as well as his relationship with a benevolent and wise tree-like monster that has points in common with Treebeard the Ent from Lord of the Rings . This is a psychological/exciting/thrilling drama in which a boy becomes involved into a terrible tragedy . It is a smart and sensitive flick filled with intense drama , thrills , emotion , tear-jerker , state-of-art special effects , and pretty entertaining , though overlong . The complex plot deals with a tree-monster who tells three tales and after which Conor must tell the Monster his own story: the truth behind his nightmare, which Conor refuses to do. Interesting and thought-provoking screenplay based on a novel that was originally started by Siobhan Dowd who left it unfinished, at her death. Patrick Ness finished the book with credits to her idea. This stirring pic is a tightly-knit drama centered on the relentless personal fight , as it follows an affected boy suffering extreme bullying , and a seriously wounded mother , as she struggles to survive . The picture makes up for it with an evolving atmosphere of anxiety and fear . Everything in Juan Antonio Bayona 's impressive film looks so real that you might think it's a highly fantastic movie full of imagination and color , thanks to the sensational animated images and cartoon resolution . And a great main and support cast , such as Lewis MacDougall , Sigourney Weaver , Felicity Jones , Toby Kebbell . And Liam Neeson, who provides the voice of the Monster , appears as Conor's grandfather in the photo of Conor's mother as a little girl being carried by her father .

    Lavishly produced by Enrique López Lavigne , Belen Atienza , Patrick Ness , Bill Pohlad , Jeff Skoll , Patrick Wachsberger , among others.There is the urgent hand-held camera-work, a trademark refined and perfected by cameraman Oscar Faura , which lends an air of pseudo-authenticity to carefully staged reconstructions, putting us right there in the huddle of the action . Shot in various locations as Castlefield, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, Cabrils, Barcelona, Catalonia, Delph, Greater Manchester, England, UK , the school scenes were shot at Colne Valley High School in Linthwaite, Huddersfield, England. Furthermore , an emotive as well as enjoyable musical score by Fernando Velazquez .The motion picture was compellingly directed by Juan Antonio Bayona who proved his usual aesthetics and nail-biting filmmaking as well as he formerly made in ¨the orphanage¨and ¨The imposible¨or ¨Lo imposible¨ . Bayona has directed 1 actress to an Academy Award-nominated performance: Naomi Watts (Best Actress, Lo imposible or the impossible (2012) and Sigourney Weaver in this ¨A monster call¨. Rating : This excellent film results to be above average , a really magnificent movie . Essential and indispensable seeing . The picture will appeal to J.A. Bayona fans .
    helpful•22
    7
    • ma-cortes
    • Feb 1, 2019

    FAQ1

    • Is it based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 6, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Spain
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lời Thỉnh Cầu Quái Vật
    • Filming locations
      • Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Participant
      • River Road Entertainment
      • A Monster Calls
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $43,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,740,823
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,909
      • Dec 25, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $47,309,313
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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