Dylan O'Brien's Forgotten Monster Flop is Finally on Netflix
A monster movie that was quickly killed at the box office through no fault of its own.
Summary
- Dylan O'Brien's Love and Monsters has been flying under everyone's radar for 3 years.
- The movie's 2020 release date put it in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and it underperformed miserably.
- Love and Monsters finally seems to be getting the attention it deserves, with rave reviews from fans and critics.
Love and Monsters ring a bell? For many, the answer is no.
With Teen Wolf and the thrilling Maze Runner trilogy behind him, Dylan O'Brien's name has become synonymous with action and monsters. Apparently, and shockingly, this doesn't mean that having O'Brien in the lead role makes for a successful monster movie, as his 2020 film, Love and Monsters, failed miserably at first.
Love and Monsters is a thrilling coming-of-age story set in a post-apocalyptic world. After 7 years in hiding, Joel, played by O'Brien, finally reconnects with his high school sweetheart and decides to leave his place of safety and travel over 80 miles through a deserted world plagued by giant monsters. The things we do for love, huh?
The movie is exciting, features O'Brien's irresistible wit and charm, and beautifully blends a variety of genres to create a light but exciting love story of self-discovery and survival.
All attention was on Covid-19 when Love and Monsters premiered
Originally scheduled for a Valentine's Day release in 2021, Paramount changed the date to a VOD release in October 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It's easy to understand that a new Dylan O'Brien movie wouldn't be at the top of the world's priorities. On the other hand, the premise of the movie would have been comforting and relatable to audiences, with the characters hiding out for years in the safety of their pods, cut off from the world, to avoid the 'monsterpocalypse'.
Love and Monsters had a massive $30 million budget and all the makings of success, but it grossed a dismal and depressing $1 million worldwide. The high-quality post-apocalyptic film was even nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards.
Love and Monsters was one of many good movies that were overlooked during the pandemic, but luckily for it, the flick finally seems to be getting the recognition it deserves, 3 full years later.
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All in all, the romantic fantasy comedy's flop can be attributed entirely to its unfortunate release date, and its dismal box office numbers are far from a reflection of the quality of the movie and the story it tells, along with its cast and graphics.
Love and Monsters is finally getting recognition
With a well-deserved spot on Netflix's top 10 list, the end of 2023 has finally brought Love and Monsters into the spotlight, and it's blowing everyone away. It almost feels like it just came out.
In a 2020 interview, O'Brien recalled the first time he read the script, saying, 'I really loved it. I loved the humor in it, the characters, the worlds. I thought it was really unique and weird and funky and funny and sweet...and so good-natured.'
With an astounding 94% RottenTomatoes score, Love and Monsters has been a hit with fans and critics alike, with the film praised for its brilliant balance of humor, monsters and romance in a heartfelt adventure.
It's finally time for Love and Monsters to shine, and if you're among the majority who have yet to see it, we can only say: better late than never. This is one monstrous adventure you won't want to miss.
Source: Variety.