Upon first seeing a trailer for A Monster Calls, it looked like a very touching movie about a mother and son, with a groot look-alike monster in it. But that was enough to catch my intrigue. This movie is near perfect in every way. Nearly word for word adaptation on the novel by Patrick Ness (also amazing and highly recommended) this movie captures nearly all the magic of the book, while substituting out smaller details for new ones. Director J.A. Bayona, having mostly video shorts under his directorial belt, with a couple full length features, directs the film like it was a job only he could do, giving amazing visuals and making us believe in the monsters and conners relationship. Coming to Conner, Lewis MacDougall gives an amazing performance as a child, coming to grips with his mothers seemingly un treatable cancer, while getting bullied at school on the daily. Felicity Jones as Connors mom is another gem in the cast, along with Sigourney Weaver as her mother, acting as mother and grandmother when Conner is forced to live with her while his mother is being cared for. All of the cast shines, including Toby Kebbell as Connors father in a small role, but it is Liam Neeson as the voice of the monster that makes the movie believable and holds the narrative together with perfection. Special effects in this film are fantastic, making it believable that a yew tree could come out of the ground and come walking should the need arise. Fernando Velazquez performs an amazing and touching score to an already touching movie. Personally, my biggest and only complaint is that towards the end of the film, it is revealed that the mother had once had a relationship with the monster and could see it as Conner could. For me, that takes away from the ambiguity of the monster. With a movie so flawlessly directed and amazing performances across the board, it is hard to fault the movie for one nitpick. For anyone that needs a good cry, or for those that love a good, heartfelt story, A Monster Calls is for you.

9 out of 10.