Monster Party
Monster Party is a violent ride of a home invasion horror movie that puts its own stylistic spin on the genre, but doesn’t fully rise above the pack.
domicile intrusion horror movies are a subgenre unto themselves , with a fair number of notable entrance over the last decade or so . From Michael Haneke’sFunny Gamesand Bryan Bertino’sThe Strangersto Fede Alvarez’sDon’t Breatheand , of course , James DeMonaco’sThe Purge- the latter of which launched a multi - film franchise and tie - in television series - there ’s a home invasion horror picture show for just about every repugnance fan . Now , Monster Partyis the latest first appearance in the subgenre , but it effectively alternate the playscript on the home invaders , take in them the victim of the monsters within the sign they were seek to rob . Monster Partyis a tearing ride of a home intrusion revulsion movie that couch its own stylistic tailspin on the genre , but does n’t fully uprise above the pack .
Monster Partyfollows three stripling - Iris ( Virginia Gardner ) , Dodge ( Brandon Michael Hall ) and Casper ( Sam Strike ) - who support themselves by commit small - time home invasion schemes . However , when Casper acquire that his beginner owes a violent , chilling man thousand of dollars in gambling debt , he convinces his protagonist to target a much larger sexual conquest , one that comes with unforeseen complication . Iris and Dodge , who are bear a minor together and desire to establish a life for themselves , jibe to Casper ’s plan of robbing the sept for which Iris solve as a waiter . Unfortunately for the teenage thief , the Dawsons - Patrick ( Julian McMahon ) , Roxanne ( Robin Tunney ) , Elliot ( Kian Lawley ) and Alexis ( Erin Moriarty ) - are n’t the nice family line they come out to be .
The Dawsons act as strangely from the moment Iris , Dodge and Casper show up at their star sign , but the night take an even more eccentric tour when the family ’s dinner guest show up . objectionable Cameron ( Chester Rushing ) and Jeremy ( Jamie Ward ) , tattooed and guitar - toting Ollie ( Diego Boneta ) , and inflict Milo ( Lance Reddick ) with Beca ( Sofía Castro ) make for an odd assortment of guests . While the Dawsons and their Edgar Guest are focus on their solemnization , the teenaged thieves search for a secure desirable of being robbed and eventually make a play for it - but the security system proves to be too redoubtable for Dodge and Casper and they ineluctably touch off the house ’s dismay organization . With the teen , the category and the guests all trapped inside , the Dawsons discover their true monstrous nature and it quickly becomes clear that Casper and his friends must become freak themselves to run with their lives .
Written and directed by Chris von Hoffmann ( Drifter),Monster Partyinverts the typical premiss of a home invasion horror movie - wherein the residents are being hunted by outdoors , would - be invaders - for a new and compelling take on the subgenre . For the most part , the sexual inversion works to put enough of a semi - raw spin on the subgenre , though even this inversion of the distinctive premiss is something that ’s been done before ( as in 2016’sDon’t Breathe ) . The build - up to the reveal of the Dawsons and their Edgar Guest ' true monstrous ways cultivate to in effect heighten the tension for when the script is flipped on the teen thief and they become the prey of much more experienced predators . Though the wayMonster Partysubverts repulsion tropes may not be completely fresh , the film does bring fresh idea and a new point of view to the genre .
What to boot help oneself to setMonster Partyapart from fellow entries in the home encroachment subgenre of revulsion movies is Hoffmann ’s stylistic directing . The quick cuts during some of the more grisly moments ofMonster Party , paired with lingering shots of the Dawsons and their domicile awash in luxury and excess , works to juxtapose the character ' wealth with their violent natures . Monster Partyis by no means elusive , but the pulpy nature of its presentation works in its favor . Certainly , the movie - and Hoffmann - has something to say about riches and how it preys on the lower classes , and the pic ’s disposition to hits its viewers over the headland with its subject matter is no well certify than in McMahon ’s Patrick stating he’s"ready to make the Dawsons bully again . “But that substance is exhibit by direction of a trigger-happy , fun , and delightfully crashing kill fest that offer an entertaining drive in its own right hand . And , with an termination that feel victorious - until the witness truly sits with it and what it mean for those left alive -Monster Partymanages to stick a slenderly more pernicious landing place in its final routine .
The cast ofMonster Partyalso help to lift the film , with McMahon and Tunney doing much of the clayey lifting in term of build the tautness in the motion-picture show until the killing begins . Both veteran actors offer compelling performances , with McMahon ’s Patrick leaning more toward the frenzied killer and Tunney playing a more grounded side to their partnership . Still , it ’s clean from their performances that McMahon and Tunney had merriment with the stuff and that transform to the screen , bring more entertainment toMonster Party . The rest of the cast is rounded out strongly , with Lawley roleplay a disturbingly full sociopath in Elliot and Reddick bringing gravitas to the product as Milo . Strike execute the triad of teenages thief well , presenting Casper ’s evolution throughout the film compellingly , though he ’s pretty overshadowed by the charm of Hall . Still , the cast ofMonster Partyworks well together to bring this tarradiddle to life - even if the storey and killing take priority over actual theatrical role electric discharge .
Altogether , Monster Partyis a middling entry in the dwelling house intrusion subgenre of repugnance , put enough of a refreshed twist on the common tropes and premise to be memorable , but never quite turn over the high of what the genre has to offer . It ’s solid enough to keep viewers already concerned in horror endow in the events ofMonster Party- and offers plenty of gruesome kills in stylistic shipway to entertain even seasoned horror fans . But it ’s by no mean a must - see horror pic , especially for those less likely to enjoy violence and gore ( though it ’s not quite the bad the writing style has to provide ) . Still , for those looking for an entertaining horror drive , Monster Partycertainly birth the thrills and kills to keep viewers hooked throughout the moving picture ’s brisk hour and a one-half runtime .
Trailer
Monster Partyis now playing in select U.S. theater of operations . It runs 89 minutes and is not rated , but is destine for ripe audience .
Monster Party is a 2018 horror - thriller take aim by Chris von Hoffmann . The picture follows three thieves who pass through a dinner party under the guise of caterers , intending to soak the wealthy hosts . However , they promptly find that the gathering is actually for rehabilitated serial killers , turning their armed robbery into a do-or-die fight for survival . Sam Strike , Virginia Gardner , and Brandon Micheal Hall star in this tense , blood - drench thriller .
Virginia Gardner, Sam Strike and Brandon Micheal Hall in Monster Party
Virginia Gardner in Monster Party
Julian McMahon in Monster Party
