This review was originally published during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Movies are often visual media through which filmmakers can tell diverse, unique, and personal stories about life experiences. Alternatively, films can serve as an escape to forget about the real world by submerging ourselves in various emotions expressed onscreen. Every so often, there comes a film that manages to do both. And the latest to do so for me is Caroline Lindy’s charming and comically savvy romantic comedy. It's a fantastical experience that reminds us of the magic of movies.

In the opening sequence of Your Monster, we meet Laura Franco (Barrera) getting rolled out of a hospital via wheelchair after surgery. Through flashbacks, we quickly understand that Laura’s life has recently fallen apart after her ex, Jacob (Edmund Donovan), breaks up with her while she’s still in the hospital. Laura spends every waking moment crying in between changing her bandages while reminiscing about the Broadway dreams she and Jacob once shared. But when the pain of her circumstances begins to bear too much weight, her inner and literal monster is released to snap her back into emotional freedom.

Your Monster Is A Charming Journey Of Emotional Reawakening

A beautiful blend of romance, comedy, drama, and horror, Your Monster is a splendid and charming feature. As with most romantic comedies, our protagonist struggles to pick up the pieces of her life after heartbreak. To Laura, her future is bleak, nothing seems fair, and it seems like the universe is against her. But out of these gut-wrenching life changes comes a monster with whom she finds comfort, enabling her to release her inner demons. And the end result is a journey of reawakening capable of turning a black heart red and a sour mood sweet.

If there’s one thing you need to know about Lindy’s feature debut, it’s that it defies genre norms and twists the tropes into whimsically delightful bits. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously and still manages to capture the complexity of a woman scorned. As with genre-defying films, you may think it struggles with rapid tonal shifts. However, Lindy carefully crafted her script to represent the variability in emotions when life gets complicated. Additionally, she blends the diverse tones in a way that makes sense and avoids sending us into a state of brusque whiplash.

Your Monster Is The Definition Of Movie Magic

With such decisions at the forefront, Your Monster is a treat for fans of the aforementioned genres. The film is a wondrous, monster-loving musical dream you never want to wake up from. As an example, there’s a moment when Laura is feeling at her lowest, forced to see her ex move on with the new star of the play she strongly desired to lead. Then, at the perfect time, in walks Monster (Dewey) to save the day and sweep Laura off her feet through a romantic dance. It’s the simplest scene by concept, but it’s movie magic at its finest.

As with all romantic comedies, nothing works without the magic between the two leads. To that end, Barrera and Dewey possess a divine chemistry that will make you believe in a true connection between two souls. Barrera, in particular, is perfectly cast, playing her character with such innocence and genuineness. If you haven’t already figured out she’s a force to be reckoned with, you will know after watching this film. Dewey is a showstopper, playing his character with enough wit and charm to leave a lasting impression. It seems as if both had a great time playing their respective roles.

Barrera and Dewey possess a divine chemistry that will make you believe in a true connection between two souls.

Your Monster is a magical movie experience you do not want to miss. A nice blend of levity and drama, Lindy’s debut assertively makes its mark on the genre. Lindy makes excellent decisions throughout the film with both her pen and camera, capturing an astounding experience that is downright entertaining. You won’t want to miss it. If for nothing else, see the film for Barrera and Hewey’s magnetic chemistry that, at minimum, will make you certain that releasing your emotions and love are often complimentary to finding your voice again.

Your Monster premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film is 98 minutes long and rated R for language, some sexual content and brief bloody violence. It's now playing in theaters.