Why You Should Watch “Love and Monsters” on Netflix
I have just finished watching “Love and Monsters” on Netflix. Netflix has been rigorously promoting this movie and it has become the most-watched movie in the UK, so I wanted to see why so many people are watching it.
Love and Monsters is a post-apocalyptic adventure movie. After an asteroid approaches the Earth, missiles are sent up to shatter and prevent it. However, radiated fragments of the missiles cause another disaster: The animals of the Earth (such as worms, crabs, etc.) are mutated into huge human-killing creatures. The great majority of humanity is killed.
Joel is a goofy and wimpy survivor living in an underground bunker colony. He loves drawing about monsters in his notebook. He tends to freeze when he sees monsters, so he is allocated to less dangerous tasks such as cooking. Although he feels loved and protected, he thinks he is not challenged enough.
Joel decides to go overground and reach her former girlfriend who is 85 miles away. This means seven days on foot along a treacherous path. During this journey, he encounters terrible monsters, creepy crawlies, giant worms, and other mutated animals. In between the scares, he encounters some fascinating friends, including a robot. The most notable friendship he forms is with his lovely dog, called Boy. He is taught by Clyde and Minnow on different types of monsters and how to survive them.
There are missed opportunities in worldbuilding and sensemaking, as the deeper social and psychological implications of a monster-ridden world seem to be neglected.
However, “Love and Monsters” is still a delight to watch. It is quite an adventure story, including delightful moments of surprise, fun, scares, and love.