Your Monster

High-concept films like this only work with the right cast, and Your Monster is a horror-comedy aimed straight at theater-loving horror geeks with perfect leads. Melissa Barrera, who I’ve loved since Vida and Scream, delivers an intense and emotionally rich performance. She’s got this raw magnetism that pulls you in, even when things get wild. Tommy Dewey matches her beat for beat, radiating charm and hitting every comedic note with precision.

What really makes the film stand out is how unapologetically it leans into its own twisted theatricality. It starts off grounded in real heartbreak and then veers boldly into camp territory, embracing the absurd without ever losing its emotional core. It’s ridiculous at times, and it knows it, but that’s part of the fun. The monster is as much a metaphor as it is a literal creature, and the film plays with that duality in a way that’s clever without being smug.

Every moment oozes style and charm, building toward a climax that delivers a real punch. When the horror hits, it’s not watered down or ironic. It’s sharp and sudden and effective. I literally gasped. Not out of cheap surprise, but because the moment was earned.

This is a film that gets what makes genre work. It’s weird, it’s romantic, it’s a little unhinged, and it’s completely entertaining. A fantastic date movie, especially for anyone who loves a little blood with their Broadway. And that ending!!! I was clutching the pearls.