Monster

If only some people can have it, that's not happiness.

This really complicated story. At first i thought this just movie about a mother's love to her child, really think that mother can be monster if her child being bullied, but then as i continue watch it there's more than that. when mr. hiro's and minato's pov show, we kind understand the most of what happening really. and to me who understand that, make me think that im the 'monster' that accused mr. hiro one sidely. aside for the queer part, mr hiro is a kind person, even when his gf leave him, he don't blame everything on minato. even he questioning everything and try to make it sense for him enderstanding what is happening. and yet he felt sorry for minato understanding too late. then the minato's pov start to get me bawling my eyes out. where minato starting to realise what is the feeling he experiencing now, he got happy, sacred, and don't know what to do. it's his first time feeling this type of feeling, he want to tell it to his mom, everyone about his feeling, instead he keep silent, because if everyone know what his feeling, he's never be happy. how this world is so cruel to him to invalidate his feeling to think sort of type? and for my boy yori, i think this pure soul is too tainted by his evil father, what you mean being sloth is superpower, to not felt anything is super. no boy, you must fight it okay. oh well, this movie is open ending, and even minato said they're not reincarnated yet, i want them to died. this world is to cruel to them

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The Monster We Create

I went into Monster completely blind. I did not read the synopsis, watch the trailer, or know what to expect. Looking back, I genuinely believe that was the best way to experience it. If you are planning to watch this film, I highly recommend doing the same. The less you know, the more it has to give.

Set in a quiet lakeside town, what begins as an ordinary schoolyard incident sends ripples through the lives of everyone involved, like a stone thrown into still water. A devoted mother, a conscientious teacher, and a young boy each offer their own version of the same events, turning certainty into a moving target and allowing the truth to slip through the cracks of perception. Just when you think you understand what happened, the story gently asks you to look again. As public scrutiny grows and the media adds fuel to the fire, a simple misunderstanding evolves into something much larger. Then, on a stormy morning, two children disappear, leaving behind one haunting question: who, if anyone, was the real monster?

Monster adopts a Rashomon-style narrative, telling the same events through three different perspectives. It constantly challenges your assumptions, forcing you to question not only what is happening, but also why you are so quick to believe one version over another. It explores themes of perception, prejudice, identity, and the quiet pressure of societal expectations. It is remarkable how easily our opinions shift depending on who is telling the story. Every new perspective changes the picture, reminding us that truth is often less about what we see and more about what we fail to notice.

Some stories ask you to watch. This one asks you to look again.

That, to me, is Monster's greatest strength. Its brilliance does not come from shocking twists or dramatic reveals, but from understanding. The storytelling is quietly devastating, meticulously layered, and deeply humane. Every revelation feels earned instead of manufactured. Every emotional beat lands with purpose. It is one of the finest examples of storytelling I have seen in a long time, proving that the loudest stories are not always the most powerful. Sometimes the quietest ones leave the deepest scars.

One recurring phrase throughout the film is "pig's brain." Without going into specific details, it becomes one of the film's most heartbreaking ideas. It is used as a cruel label for behavior that society considers abnormal or "sick," planting seeds of shame in children who simply do not fit neatly into expected norms. What begins as a careless insult slowly transforms into something much more damaging as it is internalized by those around it. The phrase becomes a symbol of societal rejection, abusive labeling, and the painful belief that being different somehow makes someone broken or even monstrous. It is a chilling reminder that children often inherit the fears and prejudices of the adults around them.

The performances deserve just as much praise as the writing, especially from Kurokawa Soya and Hiiragi Hinata as Mugino Minato and Hoshikawa Yori. Both young actors deliver performances that feel incredibly natural, raw, and emotionally convincing. They perfectly capture the confusion, vulnerability, innocence, and complicated emotions their characters carry throughout the film. Considering the sensitive subjects Monster explores, I cannot help but admire both the cast and the production team for handling everything with such care and sincerity.

Beyond its writing and performances, Monster is also a beautiful film to look at. The cinematography, color grading, and visual presentation create a youthful summer dream atmosphere that gently contrasts the emotional weight of the story. There is a quiet warmth to its visuals, making moments of joy feel brighter while making moments of heartbreak linger even longer. It is the kind of film where every frame seems carefully considered without ever calling attention to itself.

[SPOILERS: TWO PARAGRAPHS AHEAD]

By the end, I realized that the "monster" was never meant to be a single person. Early on, everyone seems convinced that someone else must be the villain. The teacher, the principal, the children, or the parents all become easy targets depending on whose perspective we are following. But as each layer unfolds, it becomes clear that the real monster is born from misunderstanding, prejudice, fear, and the assumptions people project onto others. It is the invisible force created when society demands conformity while refusing to truly understand those who are different. The adults are not monsters because they are evil. They become monstrous because they allow fear, pride, and prejudice to cloud empathy, creating an environment where two innocent boys feel they must hide who they are.

The ending is beautifully open to interpretation. Whether the boys survived or not is left unanswered. Part of me wants to believe in the fairy tale where they made it through together. Another part of me sees the open gate as something more symbolic, a passage toward freedom, where they are finally released from the labels, fears, and expectations that imprisoned them. I think both interpretations are equally beautiful, and perhaps that is exactly the point.

[SPOILERS END]

By the time the credits rolled, I found myself thinking about the title one last time. Maybe we spend so much time searching for monsters because it is easier than confronting the uncomfortable truths within ourselves. Monster is not interested in giving easy answers. Instead, it gently asks us to question our own perceptions and reminds us that what we choose to believe can shape someone else's reality.

In the end, I was incredibly glad that I stumbled upon this film. It quietly became one of the most memorable movies I have watched in recent years. If there is one thing I would repeat, it is this: go in blind. Trust the story, let it unfold on its own, and allow it to challenge the way you see people. After all, perhaps we are all monsters in someone else's story.

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Brilliance, Depth and Thought Provoking

!!A Thought Provoking Film!!
What a movie, a masterpiece I watched after a long time, I was just bored on Sunday and randomly picked this movie to watch, I have three points to share with you all who are reading this.
1. It's has a beautiful cinematography, very intense like creating a whole level of suspense and depth.
2. The pov's are such an eye openers focusing on the actual matter or the story and we soon realise that we were too quick to judge anything, anyone from beginning.
3. It's an awakening and story of one's learning about themselves is so emotional indeed it was very nicely portrayed by those young actors👏overall, it's a film which left me feeling many things deeply. Monster "could be ppl and idea of how society is too quick to see things not for the truth", or "us as PPL can't really accept the 'differents' or can never be our true selfs hiding behind mask just to escape from facing reality"
Indeed, such a great film, a must watch!!!
and lastly "it's always deeper than it looks on the outside".

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Societal critic supported by a strong cast and impressive storytelling: very deep and impactful!

A beautiful movie very impactful and that made a deep impression on me upon watching. The scenario is one of the strong point of the movie: it almost felt like a theatre play in several acts. Every question find an answer, every element showcased at one point of the script has an importance for the rest of the story... The film approaches some very important societal topics and provide a sound critic of Japanese society without being preachy and with a lot of subtlety.

The cast is really great: the characters are multi-faceted and the actors and actresses manage to provide plenty of nuances to their roles. There are a lot of angsty and emotional moments that are played with expertise for the adults parts and candor for the children parts.

The production value is good, I loved some of the decors as well as the editing which really enhanced the various storylines intertwined with each other. The soundtrack was not overly present but there are some critical scenes involving music with a very interesting set up.

I would strongly recommend this movie to people looking for a film providing a critic of Japanese society, discussing important topics and very well acted. The ending made a very strong impression on me...I will not spoil it but the message behind it really moved me deeply. There are some triggering aspects to the movie but it is not too graphic, a lot happens in subtext and is understood as the story unfolds itself. If you are looking for some fluff or slice-of-life movie, it is not the film for you. But if you are ready for some great and poignant storytelling, give it a shot!

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A Mother's Struggle For Her Son

“Monster” is an intriguing movie, told from the perspectives of 3 individuals, a single mother who is overprotective of her son and wants justice for him, a well-meaning teacher who finds himself in the middle of an almost impossible situation in which he is falsely accused of hitting a child, and a young boy who is coming to terms with himself and his feelings for a friend. Although not quite the psychological thriller one would expect, “Monster” does a great job in shifting our perspective, in as much as we are constantly being asked “who is the monster?”, while viewing the movie. We are not looking for a monster, but rather seeing victims of circumstances that we empathize with throughout the film and the question of who the monster is becomes the furthest from the audience’s concerns.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/04/03/monster-movie-review/

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The World is The True Monster

If there was one movie that I could choose to erase from my memory so that I could experience watching it for the first time again, it would be Monster. The way this movie told the story from different perspectives that would change our views and opinions was so smart and made the movie move so quickly. I was surprised by the acting, especially by Kurokawa Souya (Mugino Minato) considering his age, he perfectly portrayed the confusing feelings his character was going through. There was a specific point in the movie where I just started sobbing when I had this moment where I went "these characters are so young but already have to worry about what the world thinks of them," and didn't stop crying until the end. I am a pretty emotional person but nothing has had this much of an effect on me. Just a perfect movie.

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Who is the real monster here?

Jan. 20 2024

I have dont have the exact words to say but this is absolutely a stunning piece of literature. I love every single bits of it. Prepare your tissues cause you are gonna need it a lot. The emotional rollercoaster I had to face. The scenes of the two leads and their innocence. How cruelty of this world is the real monster and not those who love others in a way that is not the "norm". The feeling of disappointment and feeling outcasted. Wishing to just be normal so you can find love. Disappointing your loved ones because they cannot accept for who you are. Wishing to live in a world where you feel accepted and love. To not be hated by society and be frown upon.

Monster 2023 movie explains this well. Strong signs of symbolism are present in the movie. The ending is open for your interpretation. And for me, it is that they are free. Free to live. Free to choose. Free to be themselves.

It is truly agonizing to realize how many people are basically experiencing this themselves. I hope everyone receives that happy ending we all deserve. Even though, life is cruel and unfair.

The amount of tears I produced was insane.

I hope everyone gives Monster the love that it deserves !

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“Who’s the Monster?”

“You have an amazing talent”

“Do I bite and poison others?”

“No, but when you’re attacked you let go of all your strength and give up”

“That’s not a strength”

“You stop feeling”

“Am I Hoshikawa Yori?”

I really couldn’t put it into enough words how phenomenal this movie was in the sense that it just, completely overwhelmed me. The thing about children is that yes, their worldview differs from those that are older than them, and yes maybe they don’t, perhaps, fully understand the complexities of life as adults, But i feel that more often that not, children are aware of things; they think and feel and process feelings just as we adults do too. However, there’s a certain rawness, a brutality to the truth that they don’t avoid.

Listening. To not simply hear what is being told to you, but to truly listen and understand. Throughout the entirety of this movie we are led to believe that there is one big mystery that must be revealed. Is Mr Hiro truly the “Monster” that he is portrayed to be, or is the monster Minato? Perhaps even Yori? At different points in the film we are led to believe that this ugly truth could be that this was either a detailed scheme conducted by two disturbed young boys looking to wreak havoc, or that there was a cruel teacher who has been abusing his authority and his pupils. We are even led to believe that Minato could be monster who had been caught by a classmate killing a cat (Allegedly). We see as Minato’s mother Saori jumps through hoops to defend her son from who she believed to be a monster, an abusive monster: Mr Hori. She searches for answers that would support her beliefs and feeds them, recklessly discarding anything that doesn’t align with her version of events. A notable example of this would be when the possibility of her son being the “monster” is suggested to her but she vehemently rejects this idea completely. In an attempt to prove Mr Horims guilt and in turn, Minato’s innocence, she visits Yori and instead of listening to him, gets him to corroborate a story that paints Mr Hiro as the abuser.

Now, Mr Hiro can indeed be seen as a victim here as he goee through his fair share of suffering as a result of false accusations. However, he is not completely innocent and also fails to pay attention and listen. Listen to the children. After being accused by Minato and his mother of physical abuse, he pleads his innocence adamantly, failing to realise that his actions come across aggressive and unhinged especially towards the children. Hori begs for the testimony of a student of his who states she witnessed Minato hurt a cat and begs her to show that he isn't the monster everyone claims that he is, but rather that Minato is. Here is one of the many mistakes the adults in this film make. They fail to listen. Yes they hear what these children tell them, but they only hear what they want to hear, which is why when he begs her to tell the principal that she saw Minato kill that cat, to prove his innocence she claims that, that is what she said, and she would be correct. At her response he lashes out and she is frightened. What all these adults fail to recognise all along is, that the real ‘monster’ had been there all along. Right under their noses.

Saori visited the house of the monster, and hell, Mr Hiro even met him himself. If they had not been so caught up with their own problems, fuelling their own narratives, they would have recognised the bigger issue at hand: Yori’s abusive father, The Real Monster. Upon visiting Yori’s house, Mr Hiro hears the words that started this all, come out of Yori’s father’s mouth. “His brain has been switched with a pig’s”. Yet Mr Hori doesn’t question this, or even attempt to connect the dots. Saori saw the burn marks and bruises littering Yori’s body, and rather than asking who they were from, or why he was so comfortable being left at home for long periods of time, she asked if it had been Mr Hiro who had inflicted the wounds. Another failure, another missed chance to save Yori from the monster.

For Yori and Minato, there was no doubt in their mind who the monster was, and they had not once wavered from their belief in this. For these two boys, the truth was so abundantly clear to them, the monster was Yori’s father. Whatever was going on with Mr Hori, With Minato’s mother, with the school, it didn't concern them, all that mattered was that they had each other and their special place, their escape from judgement, from lies and pain.

We are given several examples throughout the film, of this raw truth that children possess. Minato tells his mother “I’m not like dad” the truck sound conveniently passing by as Minato tells her something that he’s been holding back for so long, once again Saori fails to hear what it is that he’s really trying to tell her. It can be argued that it was either the loud sound of the truck To listen. Minato wasn’t trying to tell his mother that he wanted to be like his father, or get muddy like his father, or play rugby like his father, but he was telling her he isn’t like him. He doesn’t love in the same way his father did. In the way his father loved his mum. He tries to tell Saori he loves another boy, that he doesn't love a woman like his father did. and that is why he tells her “I’m not like dad” The raw truth. If only Saori had heard, had truly listened, had asked what this all meant,

Would we be fair in assuming that maybe, just maybe things could have panned out differently?

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Not sure about the hype

Got excited to watch this movie because of the high ratings. Didnt watch any trailers or new anything about it before watching. Thought it was going to be a good horror /thriller movie. Was waiting for something to happen....


Still very confused about the high ratings or is this what Japan horror movies is about?

It was about 3 different views/stories about their lives. I dont see anything about a thriller or a horror. Maybe a psychological drama.

Still very confused here... The theme is who is fhe monster? As you watch it from 3 different perspectives and then you change your views based on them. Thats why the question is are we the monster?

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So, who is the monster?

I actually watched this about 2 weeks ago, but I guess I just wanted to recollect my thoughts about this film before I could write the review because... woah, this was so interesting. Mesmerising. It made me think a LOT.

How this film unfolded the mystery through each character's perspective was so smart, and so well done. I just couldn't tell what was going on or what the main plot was at all, until it switched to Minato's perspective. At the beginning, we saw a single mother be just as confused as us viewers were-- what was her son doing? Why was he acting like that? What was going on with him? We felt her confusion, pain, struggle and then just as she was convinced that the teacher was the perpetrator, we were fully convinced too. If I were to speak further than her perspective, I'd be spoiling heavily because after that, everything blew my mind away. Nothing she thought were true. Frankly, I've never seen anything else quite like how this film is told.

The acting from all actors alike was brilliant. Passionate. I will never get how child actors can be such good actors at such a young age. They literally did just as well as the adult actors on the film, and to be this much talented already gives me the chills because wth am I doing with my life 😂

Amazing film. It's the kind of movie you can't help but hold your breath in for the entire 2-hour runtime-- even if you feel like your head might explode at some point.

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