Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Seven years since the Monsterpocalypse began, Joel Dawson has been living underground in order to survive. But after reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee, Joel decides to venture out to reunite with her, despite all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way.
Love and Monsters is a charming, well-executed post-apocalyptic adventure that punches above its weight for a mid-budget genre film. The plot is a familiar road-trip/quest structure but executed with genuine heart and fun monster encounters that keep it engaging. Dylan O'Brien delivers a likable, grounded performance and carries the film well, though the supporting cast is functional rather than exceptional. Cinematography is competent and colorful, making good use of its Australian locations with some inventive monster set-pieces, but nothing that pushes the form. Novelty is modest — it blends coming-of-age romance with creature-feature adventure in a refreshing way for its budget tier, but the premise and beats are recognizable genre staples. The ending is satisfying and emotionally resonant without being truly surprising. A solid, enjoyable genre film that earns its warm reputation without excelling in any single dimension.