Monos focuses on a group of young soldiers in Latin America, led by one nicknamed Bigfoot - played by Moises Arias - who are watching over an American prisoner nicknamed Doctora, played by Julianne Nicholson, as well as milking cow from a mysterious force known as “the Organization.” The group has a strong bond, running military exercises during the day, and taking part in a hedonistic lifestyle at night. Soon after, their squadron is ambushed and forced into the jungle, where their friendship is tested and their hold over their prisoner begins to slip.
Playing like a cross between Lord of the Flies and Apocalypse Now, the film is a grim look at the toll that war takes on younger soldiers. Most of the characters followed here range from teenagers to young adults in their very early twenties, and seeing all of them deal with such heavy subject matter with such maturity was mesmerizing. A good portion of the film is dedicated to life inside this commando base, and does a great job establishing the bond these young soldiers have with one another. This makes the events that unfold, driving their friendship apart, extremely heartbreaking to watch.
Not much is learned about these soldiers, with the one exception being one of the younger soldiers named Rambo, played by Sofia Buenaventura. Their entire existence for the most part seems to be based on their loyalty to this organization that’s never really expanded upon. There are hints here and there regarding their respective backstories, and why they feel the way they feel, though most of them are shrouded in some air of mystery, other than how they interact with one another in the base.
While it would have been great to get a little more inside these characters’ heads, it does provide some great commentary on war and how even the youngest of soldiers are simply just a number to the organization, rather than someone with their own distinct identity. This is especially supported by just how well the movie is shot. The film makes an extensive use of wide shots, especially during scenes in which all the soldiers are present at once. It keeps the audience at a distance from these characters, even during more crucial moments, giving it something of a harsh feel.
But what makes these characters so engaging to watch is it still preserves the fact that they’re all just kids, and still manage to react to things the way someone their age naturally would. There are plenty of scenes showcasing just “kids being kids” and it provides a great sense of realism throughout the film. The naturalistic feel of these scenes is boosted by the fact that outside of Nicholson and Arias, nearly the entire rest of the cast is made up of non-professional actors, all of whom gracefully handle the subject matter.
And because of this, it allows the movie to get in plenty of moments of levity throughout. Despite the heavy subject matter, it is far from a joyless experience, and the audience is able to get in a few laughs sprinkled throughout the film. Though it’s not like the film necessarily makes jokes though. It doesn’t bring the action to a halt so someone can get in a one-liner. But seeing these young soldiers still react to things as someone their age would is difficult to resist.
While the film is partially about life inside this military base, it’s equally a thriller about this one prisoner attempting to escape, and that’s when the film is at its most intense. Nicholson’s acting is top notch here, as she constantly has to think of ways to outsmart these soldiers who are nearly half her age, with about half her scenes are performed without her actually speaking. Only so much information is given about her character as well, but her excellent use of facial expressions allows her to be someone easy for the audience to connect with.
Despite the film having what feels like two major storylines, it doesn’t feel overly long, nor does it feel uneven. One of this movie’s strongest suits is its pacing. Despite being close to two hours, the film moves at an incredibly quick pace. There’s rarely a scene that feels unimportant or as if it’s going on for too long. Everything feels like it matters. Even the more “slice of life” moments taking place inside the camp are still incredibly engaging to watch. They still feel like they move the story forward, as they do a great job of letting the audience getting invested in these characters.
Monos can be a heavy film, but it’s an absolutely rewarding experience from beginning to end. It’s an extremely well-acted film, making great use of both professional and non-professional actors to create a very realistic feel. It’s one part slice of life drama about a group of friends and colleagues, and one part gripping thriller about one woman’s attempt to escape the horrors of this military base. Tightly paced, very gripping, and emotionally satisfying, Monos is one of the year’s biggest achievements.
Recommendation: Watch It
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