Reviews: A Monster Calls (2016) Movie Review / Ending Explained / FAQs
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Horror fans searching for a breakdown of A Monster Calls (2016) will find our review covers the plot, themes, and the shocking ending everyone talks about.
A Monster Calls (2016) – A Grief-Fueled Fantasy That Blends Emotion with Enchantment
A Monster Calls (2016), directed by J.A. Bayona, is a beautifully crafted dark fantasy drama that explores the emotional toll of grief, loss, and acceptance through the eyes of a child. It’s a film that intertwines fantastical storytelling with deep psychological truths, taking audiences on a visually rich and emotionally devastating journey.
Adapted from the novel by Patrick Ness, the film elevates its source material with haunting performances, stylized animation sequences, and a deeply resonant message that goes far beyond its “monster movie” appearance. While it’s wrapped in the clothing of fantasy, A Monster Calls is a film about coping with tragedy, facing painful truths, and learning to let go.
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The story centers on Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall), a 12-year-old boy struggling to deal with his mother’s terminal illness, relentless bullying at school, and a crumbling family life. One night, at exactly 12:07 a.m., a gigantic tree-like monster (voiced by Liam Neeson) visits him, promising to tell three stories — and in return, demands that Conor tell his own truth.
As each story unfolds, it becomes clear that the monster’s tales are parables about morality, emotion, and human complexity, forcing Conor to confront the anger, fear, and guilt he feels but cannot express.
Key Themes Explored:
Grief and anticipatory loss
The power of storytelling to process trauma
Emotional repression and truth-telling
The duality of good and bad in people
Coming of age through emotional reckoning
The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life and death, instead choosing to highlight the emotional survival that comes through honesty and vulnerability.
Acting and Cinematography
Lewis MacDougall delivers a stunning breakout performance as Conor, carrying the weight of the film with maturity and raw emotional depth. His portrayal of a boy caught between childhood vulnerability and forced maturity is heartbreaking and deeply relatable.
Felicity Jones shines as Conor’s mother, bringing warmth and quiet strength to her role, while Sigourney Weaver as the stern grandmother adds complexity to the story’s family dynamics.
Visually, the film is extraordinary. The animated watercolor-style sequences that accompany the monster’s stories are mesmerizing, blending seamlessly into the live-action narrative. These fantastical elements don’t distract but instead deepen the emotional impact. The muted, shadow-drenched color palette reflects Conor’s internal darkness and isolation, while the monster’s towering presence is captured with impressive visual effects that enhance his symbolic weight.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
J.A. Bayona, known for his work on The Orphanage and The Impossible, brings his signature emotional intensity to A Monster Calls, crafting a film that is intimate in emotion yet grand in imagination. His ability to guide both childlike wonder and devastating honesty through a single narrative arc is masterful.
Rather than sugarcoating its themes, the film confronts them head-on, offering catharsis through storytelling. That said, its heavy tone and deeply emotional core may not resonate with audiences expecting a more traditional fantasy adventure.
Strengths:
Emotionally raw and honest storytelling
Incredible lead performance by Lewis MacDougall
Stunning animation and visual effects
Layered and thought-provoking themes
Seamless blend of fantasy and emotional realism
Weaknesses:
Intense emotional tone may be overwhelming for some viewers
Pacing slows in the second act for emotional buildup
Not a conventional “monster movie,” which may mislead casual audiences
Younger viewers may struggle with the film’s mature subject matter
Final Verdict & Score: 8/10
A Monster Calls (2016) is a profound and deeply moving cinematic experience that blends fantasy, emotion, and storytelling into one unforgettable narrative. Its unflinching look at grief, guilt, and the complexity of human emotion is a rarity in family-oriented films. Powered by a standout performance, breathtaking visuals, and a heartfelt message, this is a story that will resonate long after the final scene.
It’s not just a tale about a monster — it’s about the monsters we battle within ourselves and the strength it takes to tell our truth.
Who will enjoy it:
Viewers seeking emotional depth and visual storytelling
Fans of fantasy dramas that explore real-life pain
Audiences who appreciate coming-of-age narratives with a darker edge
Those looking for stories that tackle grief and loss in meaningful ways
Who might be disappointed:
Viewers expecting a traditional action-driven monster movie
Audiences uncomfortable with themes of terminal illness or emotional trauma
Younger children seeking lighthearted fantasy or adventure
Fans of fast-paced plots without introspection
A Monster Calls (2016) – Most Searched FAQs and Ending Explained
Is A Monster Calls (2016) based on a true story?
No, A Monster Calls (2016) is not based on a true story but is adapted from the novel by Patrick Ness, who wrote the book based on an original idea by Siobhan Dowd. However, the emotional core of the story — a child coping with the terminal illness of a parent — is grounded in real-life struggles faced by many. The film uses fantasy and the metaphor of the monster to represent grief, denial, anger, and acceptance in a deeply human and relatable way.
What is the monster in A Monster Calls supposed to represent?
Minor Spoiler:
The towering tree-like monster (voiced by Liam Neeson) represents more than just an imaginary creature. It symbolizes Conor’s internal struggle with grief, guilt, and the emotional chaos he faces as he watches his mother suffer from a terminal illness. The monster is both a guide and a manifestation of Conor’s subconscious, forcing him to confront painful emotions that he otherwise suppresses.
The monster’s role is not to scare Conor but to help him process his fear, rage, and guilt through storytelling, leading him toward emotional healing.
Why does the monster tell three stories in A Monster Calls?
The monster tells three seemingly unrelated stories to Conor, each with complex morals and ambiguous outcomes. These stories serve as life lessons that challenge Conor’s perceptions of good, evil, justice, and truth.
Each tale mirrors the emotional and moral dilemmas Conor faces in his real life:
The unpredictability of people’s motives (good vs. bad)
The cost of selfishness and revenge
The acceptance of painful truths and the power of healing
Through these parables, the monster prepares Conor to confront his own truth — the fourth story he must tell himself.
What illness does Conor’s mother have in A Monster Calls?
While the film does not explicitly name the disease, it is strongly implied that Conor’s mother (Felicity Jones) is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. Her illness is terminal, and the film focuses on how both Conor and his mother handle the inevitability of her death. The lack of clear labeling emphasizes the emotional experience over the medical details, making the story about grief and coping rather than the specifics of the disease.
What is the significance of the recurring time 12:07 in A Monster Calls?
12:07 a.m. is the exact time when the monster appears to Conor each night. This time is significant because it aligns with the moment of critical turning points in Conor’s emotional journey and, ultimately, represents the time of his mother’s passing.
The repeated use of 12:07 serves as a reminder of the inevitability of loss and symbolizes Conor’s need to face the truth he’s been avoiding.
Is A Monster Calls suitable for children?
A Monster Calls is a fantasy drama with heavy emotional themes, including death, grief, bullying, and emotional trauma. While the film features fantasy elements like the monster and animated storytelling sequences, its focus on terminal illness and emotional pain may be too intense for younger children.
It is best suited for older children (12+) and adults who can process and discuss its complex messages about loss and healing.
What is the main message of A Monster Calls?
The central message of A Monster Calls is that telling the truth — even when it’s painful — is the first step toward healing. The film highlights that grief is complicated and messy, and feeling anger, guilt, or relief in the face of loss is natural. Through the use of storytelling and fantasy, the film teaches that embracing one’s true emotions, rather than hiding from them, allows for acceptance and personal growth.
A Monster Calls (2016) – Ending Explained
Major Spoiler Below
The emotional climax of A Monster Calls comes when Conor is finally able to confront and vocalize his deepest, most shameful truth — that part of him wants the suffering to end, even if it means his mother’s death. This confession brings immense guilt, as he struggles with the idea that such thoughts make him a terrible person.
However, the monster helps Conor understand that these feelings are a normal and human reaction to witnessing prolonged suffering. Through this acceptance, Conor finds the strength to be with his mother during her final moments, holding her hand as she peacefully passes away at exactly 12:07.
The film’s final moments reveal Conor looking through his mother’s sketchbook, where he discovers drawings of the monster and other characters from the stories — suggesting that his mother, too, used storytelling as a coping mechanism during her own struggles.
The ending delivers a powerful message:
Grief must be faced, not buried.
Telling the truth, even painful truth, leads to healing.
Loss is inevitable, but acceptance offers peace.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- A Monster Calls Rating Scores
- Our Score: 8/10
- Overall Score: 7.91/10
- IMDB: 7.4/10
- MetaCritic: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 8.6/10
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