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{{short description|2016 film by Juan Antonio Bayona}} {{short description|2016 dark fantasy drama film by J. A. Bayona}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = A Monster Calls | name = A Monster Calls
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| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producers = {{plainlist|
⚫ * Belén Atienza
* Mitch Horwits
* Jonathan King
⚫ }}
| screenplay = ] | screenplay = ]
| based_on = {{Based on |'']''|Patrick Ness}}<br/>from an idea by ] | based_on = {{Based on |'']''|Patrick Ness}}<br />(from an idea by ])
⚫ | producer = Belén Atienza
| starring = {{plainlist| | starring = {{plainlist|
⚫ * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
⚫ * ]
* ] * ]
}} }}
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| production_companies = {{plainlist| | production_companies = {{plainlist|
* ] * ]
* River Road Entertainment * ]
* Apaches Entertainment * Apaches Entertainment
* ] * ]
* Peliculas La Trini * Peliculas La Trini
}} }}
| distributor = ] (Spain)<br/> ] (United Kingdom) | distributor = {{Plainlist|
* ] (Spain)
* ] (United Kingdom and Australia)
* ] (United States)
* ] (International)<ref>{{cite news|title='A Monster Calls': Toronto Review|website=]|access-date=9 August 2021|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/a-monster-calls-toronto-review/5108835.article}}</ref>
⚫ }}
| released = {{film date|2016|9|10|]|2016|10|7|Spain|2017|1|1|United Kingdom}} | released = {{film date|2016|9|10|]|2016|10|7|Spain|2017|1|1|United Kingdom}}
| runtime = 108 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 108:13--><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/monster-calls-film | title=''A Monster Calls'' (12A) | publisher=] | date=September 23, 2016 | accessdate=September 23, 2016}}</ref> | runtime = 108 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 108:13--><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/monster-calls-film | title=''A Monster Calls'' (12A) | publisher=] | date=23 September 2016 | access-date=23 September 2016}}</ref>
| country = {{plainlist| | country = {{plainlist|
* Spain<ref name=tiff>{{cite web|url=http://www.tiff.net/films/a-monster-calls|title=A Monster Calls|work=]|accessdate=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714191605/http://www.tiff.net/films/a-monster-calls/|archive-date=14 July 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> * Spain<ref name=tiff>{{cite web|url=http://www.tiff.net/films/a-monster-calls|title=A Monster Calls|work=]|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714191605/http://www.tiff.net/films/a-monster-calls/|archive-date=14 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* United Kingdom<ref name=tiff/> * United Kingdom<ref name=tiff/>
* United States * United States
}} }}
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $43 million<ref name="budget0">{{cite news |last=Browne |first=Kit Simpson |url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/4096901 |title=Patrick Ness Explains Why 'A Monster Calls' Is Going To Make You Cry |accessdate=13 October 2016 |date=15 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010130601/http://moviepilot.com/posts/4096901 |archive-date=2016-10-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | budget = $43 million<ref name="budget0">{{cite news |last=Browne |first=Kit Simpson |url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/4096901 |title=Patrick Ness Explains Why 'A Monster Calls' Is Going To Make You Cry |access-date=13 October 2016 |date=15 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010130601/http://moviepilot.com/posts/4096901 |archive-date=10 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| gross = $47.3 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=amonstercalls.htm |title=A Monster Calls (2016) |website=Box Office Mojo |accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref> | gross = $47.3 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=amonstercalls.htm |title=A Monster Calls (2016) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
}} }}


'''''A Monster Calls''''' is a 2016 ] film directed by ] and written by ], based on his 2011 ], which in turn was based on an original idea by ]. The film stars ], ], ], ], and ], and tells the story of Conor (MacDougall), a child whose mother (Jones) is ]; one night, he is visited by a monster in the form of a giant anthropomorphic yew tree (Neeson), who states that he will come back and tell Conor three stories. The film is an ] between Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.<ref name=tiff/> '''''A Monster Calls''''' is a 2016 ] ] directed by ] and starring ], ], ], ], and ]. Featuring a screenplay adapted by ] from his own ], the film follows a boy grappling with his mother's terminal illness who is visited and told stories by a giant anthropomorphic ].

The film rights to Ness' novel were acquired by ] in March 2014, after which he was hired as screenwriter and Bayona signed on as director. Jones was cast that April, Neeson joined the film in May, and the rest of the main roles were cast by September. ] began on 30 September, with filming taking place primarily in ], ], and ] in England, as well as in Bayona's native ].<ref name=tiff/>


''A Monster Calls'' premiered at the ] on 10 September 2016. It was then released in Spain on 7 October 2016, and in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2017. In the United States, the film began a limited release on 23 December 2016, followed by a wide release on 6 January 2017. It received positive reviews, being praised for its themes, directing, performances and visual effects, but underperformed at the box office, grossing $47 million worldwide on a budget of $43 million.<ref name=BOM/> After premiering on 10 September 2016 at the ], the film was theatrically released on 7 October in Spain by ], on 1 January 2017 in the ] by ], and five days later in the United States by ]. It received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Bayona's direction, the acting, the visual effects, and the thematic content, but underperformed at the box office, grossing $47 million worldwide.<ref name=BOM/>


==Plot== ==Plot==
<!--PLEASE READ: Per WP: FILM PLOT, plots are 400-700 words only--> <!--PLEASE READ: Per WP: FILM PLOT, plots are 400-700 words only-->
In rural England, 12-year-old Conor O'Malley has a close bond with his seriously ill mother. He asks her mother for help following her regular ] treatments, but Conor does not like his strict grandmother and is troubled by the plan for him to go live with her in the event of his mother's death, as his father lives in the United States and has a new wife and daughter.
13-year-old Conor O'Malley holds a close bond with his seriously ill mother, and maintains the household during her regular ] treatments at the hospital. Conor's grandmother often visits, and she suggests that Conor live with her in the event of his mother's death. Conor is reluctant to take up this offer due to her cold personality. At school, Conor is ridiculed as a daydreamer and is regularly tormented and bullied by his classmate Harry. Conor is also plagued by a nightmare in which the old church near his house collapses and falls into a hole, where someone else is in danger of plummeting and he tries to hold onto them. Conor vents his emotions via drawing, a talent he inherited from his mother. One night, exactly seven minutes past midnight, he awakes from his nightmare to see the large ] next to the church transform into a gnarled monster that approaches Conor's home and speaks to him. The Monster says that it will tell Conor three stories during their next meetings, after which Conor must tell the Monster a fourth tale in return.


At school, Conor is regularly tormented by his classmate Harry. He is also plagued by a nightmare in which the old church near his house collapses into a hole, and he tries desperately to hold on to his mother to prevent her from plummeting to her death. Conor vents his emotions by drawing, a skill he learned from his mother.
In the Monster's first story, a prince escapes from his stepmother, the supposedly-evil elderly queen, with his bride, but then kills his sleeping bride under a yew tree and makes the queen into a scapegoat so that his people can drive the queen away and make him king. As the condition of Conor's mother worsens, Conor moves in with his grandmother. Conor's father, who lives in Los Angeles with a new family, visits Conor and invites him to visit his stepfamily on Christmas, which gives Conor hope that he might live with him permanently. After Conor angrily damages his grandmother's valuable clock, the Monster appears and tells his second story: a hard-hearted ] forbids an ] from extracting medicine from an old yew tree, only to rescind this measure when his own children become ill. However, the apothecary cannot help him, and the Monster begins to destroy the parson's house as punishment. Conor enthusiastically joins in on the destruction, but comes to find that he has decimated his grandmother's living room. His grandmother, while bitter, does not punish Conor.


One night, at exactly seven minutes past midnight, Conor sees the large ] next to the church transform into a gnarled Monster and approach his home. The Monster says it will tell Conor three stories during their next meetings, after which Conor must tell the Monster the truth of his nightmare.
Conor's mother's condition declines further, and her doctors turn to a final treatment involving yew wood. Conor learns of this and implores the Monster to heal his mother, only for the Monster to dismiss the matter as outside of his responsibility. At school, Harry proclaims to Conor that he will no longer bother Conor because he "no longer sees ". The Monster appears and tells a story of an invisible man who did not want to be so. With the Monster's support, Conor attacks Harry and hospitalizes him. To Conor's astonishment, the headmistress refrains from punishing Conor as she comprehends Conor's current situation. When it becomes clear that his mother will die, Conor runs to the yew tree, where the Monster forces him to relive his nightmare, in which his mother dangles for her life. Conor finally admits that he had long suspected that his mother would not survive her illness and secretly hoped that she would die soon, which fills him with guilt. The Monster tells him that he did not truly want his mother to die, but simply to end his own suffering. Conor's grandmother finds him asleep under the yew tree and drives him to the hospital, during which Conor reconciles with her. At the hospital, Conor embraces his mother one last time and as she is passing she glances at the Monster, as if she was acknowledging its existence. She dies at seven minutes past midnight. Conor returns to his grandmother's house, where his mother's old room is refurbished for him. In the room, he finds his mother's old art book, which depicts the stories that were told to him by the Monster, and a drawing of his mother as a child with the Monster.

In the Monster's first story, a prince flees from his step-grandmother, the supposedly-evil queen. He then kills his sleeping beloved and scapegoats the queen so the people turn against her and make him king. The Monster, knowing the truth, takes the queen and hides her far away.

As Conor's mother worsens, he moves in with his grandmother. His father comes for a visit and takes Conor to an amusement park. He invites Conor to come spend Christmas with him, but Conor is disappointed, as he had hoped his father would ask him to move to America.

That evening, Conor summons the Monster by making the hands of his grandmother's prized grandfather clock display 12:07. In the Monster's second story, a hard-hearted parson forbids an apothecary from extracting medicine from an old yew tree, only to change his mind when his own children become ill. The apothecary refuses to help him, and the Monster begins to destroy the parson's house as punishment. Conor enthusiastically joins in on the destruction, and really destroys his grandmother's sitting room in a fit of frustration. When she returns, his grandmother, while shocked and upset, does not punish Conor.

The doctors try a final treatment. As it is derived from the yew, Conor implores the Monster to heal his mother, but the Monster dismisses the matter as outside of his responsibility. At school, after Harry tells Conor he will no longer bother him because he "no longer sees ", the Monster tells his third story, a brief tale about a man no one sees who cannot stand it anymore, and calls a monster. Conor angrily attacks Harry, hospitalizing him. To his disappointment, the head teacher, aware of his current home situation, refrains from punishing Conor.

When it becomes clear his mother will die, Conor runs to the yew tree, and the Monster forces him to relive his recurring nightmare. His mother dangles from Conor's hand over the edge of the enormous sinkhole and then falls, disappearing into the void. The Monster repeatedly demands that Conor tell his story, saying it is the only way for him to be set free, but Conor steadfastly refuses, fearing the truth will kill him.

Eventually, Conor admits that in his nightmare he lets go of his mother's hand. He says he has long suspected his mother will not survive, and secretly hoped she would die to end their suffering, although, at the same time, he did not want her to die. The Monster commends Conor for his bravery in telling the truth and tells him that it is human to feel as he does.

Conor's grandmother finds him asleep under the tree and takes him to the hospital. Conor embraces his mother, and she glances at the Monster and dies at exactly seven minutes past midnight. Back at his grandmother's house, Conor learns his grandmother has refurbished his mother's old room for him. He finds his mother's childhood art book, which includes pictures of characters from the stories the Monster told him, as well as a drawing of his mother as a child on the Monster's shoulder.


==Cast== ==Cast==
* ] as the "Monster" (voice and motion capture), a giant humanoid yew tree.
** Neeson also appears uncredited in a photograph as Connor's grandfather.
** ], who worked with Bayona on '']'', served as the stand-in for the Monster during one week of production.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schwerdtfeger|first=Conner|title=The Strange Role Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Plays in 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1559479/the-strange-role-spider-man-star-tom-holland-plays-in-a-monster-calls|accessdate=24 September 2016|work=Cinemablend|date=24 September 2016}}</ref>
* ] as Conor O'Malley * ] as Conor O'Malley
** Max Golds as 5-year-old Conor ** Max Golds as 5-year-old Conor
* ] as Mrs. Clayton (credited as "Grandma"), Conor’s strict grandmother who has a tense relationship with him. * ] as Mrs. Clayton (credited as "Grandma"), Conor's strict grandmother
* ] as Elisabeth "Lizzie" Clayton (credited as "Mom"), Conor’s mother who is diagnosed with an unspecified ]. * ] as Elisabeth "Lizzie" Clayton (credited as "Mom"), Conor's mother, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified ]
* ] as Liam O'Malley (credited as "Dad"), Conor’s father who is divorced from Lizzie and now lives in the United States. * ] as Liam O'Malley (credited as "Dad"), Conor's father, who is divorced from Lizzie and now lives in the United States with his new wife and daughter
* James Melville as Harry, a school bully who frequently targets Conor. * James Melville as Harry, a school bully who frequently targets Conor
* ] as the head teacher of Conor’s school. * ] as the head teacher at Conor's school
* ] as the "Monster", a giant humanoid ]. Neeson provided the Monster's voice and ] performance, while ] served as the stand-in for the Monster on set.<ref name=Holland>{{cite web|last=Schwerdtfeger|first=Conner|title=The Strange Role Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Plays in 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1559479/the-strange-role-spider-man-star-tom-holland-plays-in-a-monster-calls|access-date=24 September 2016|work=Cinemablend|date=24 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=Holland2>{{cite web |last=Siegel|first=Tatiana|date=22 September 2016|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/spider-man-star-tom-holland-s-surprising-role-monster-stand-931176|title='Spider-Man' Star Tom Holland's Surprising Role: Monster Stand-In|publisher=]|access-date=14 March 2021}}</ref> Additionally, Neeson appears in the film in a photograph as Conor's grandfather.


==Production== ==Production==
Focus Features bought the rights to the book in March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://www.deadline.com/2014/03/focus-features-juan-antonio-bayona-a-monster-callsiver-road-and-participant/ |title=Focus Features Makes $20 Million Deal For 'A Monster Calls' Movie |website=Deadline Hollywood |date= |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> Patrick Ness, the book's author, served as the film's screenwriter, with ] hired as director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2014/04/a-monster-calls-october-14-2016-release-focus-features-juan-antonio-bayona/ |title=Focus Dates 'A Monster Calls' For October 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> On 23 April 2014, ] joined the film to play the boy's mother.<ref>{{cite news|title=Felicity Jones To Star In Juan Antonio Bayona's 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.deadline.com/2014/04/felicity-jones-to-star-in-juan-antonio-bayonas-a-monster-calls/|accessdate=24 April 2014|newspaper=deadline.com|date=23 April 2014}}</ref> On 8 May, ] was cast to voice the Monster,<ref>{{cite news|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|title=Cannes: Liam Neeson Joins 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-liam-neeson-joins-a-702270|accessdate=10 May 2014|newspaper=hollywoodreporter.com|date=8 May 2014}}</ref> and on 18 August, ] joined to play the boy's grandmother.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sigourney Weaver Joins High-Profile 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sigourney-weaver-joins-high-profile-726024|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> On August 19, ] was also cast in the film.<ref>{{cite news|title='Fantastic Four' Actor Toby Kebbell in Talks to Join 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/fantastic-four-toby-kebbell-a-monster-calls-1201286443/|work=Variety.com}}</ref> On 3 September, author Ness tweeted that ] had been set for one of the lead roles as the boy in the film.<ref name=MacDougall>{{cite news|last1=Espina|first1=Alfonso|title=Lewis MacDougall to Lead Adaptation of Patrick Ness' 'A Monster Calls'|url=http://upandcomers.net/2014/09/04/newcomer-lewis-macdougall-lead-adaptation-patrick-ness-monster-calls/|accessdate=1 October 2014|website=upandcomers.net|date=4 September 2014}}</ref> On 30 September, ] joined the cast.<ref name="casting-three">{{cite news|title=Three Join 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/alec-baldwin-kevin-spacey-boss-baby-843783/|accessdate=1 October 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=30 September 2014}}</ref> ] bought the rights to ]' book in March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/focus-features-juan-antonio-bayona-a-monster-callsiver-road-and-participant-693667/ |title=Focus Features Makes $20 Million Deal For 'A Monster Calls' Movie |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=5 March 2014 |access-date=9 April 2014}}</ref> Ness served as the film's screenwriter, with ] hired as director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/a-monster-calls-october-14-2016-release-focus-features-juan-antonio-bayona-712096/ |title=Focus Dates 'A Monster Calls' For October 2016 |website=Deadline Hollywood|date=9 April 2014 |access-date=9 April 2014}}</ref> ] was cast on 23 April 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title=Felicity Jones To Star In Juan Antonio Bayona's 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/felicity-jones-to-star-in-juan-antonio-bayonas-a-monster-calls-717960/|access-date=24 April 2014|newspaper=]|date=23 April 2014}}</ref> ] was cast on 8 May,<ref>{{cite news|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|title=Cannes: Liam Neeson Joins 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-liam-neeson-joins-a-702270|access-date=10 May 2014|newspaper=hollywoodreporter.com|date=8 May 2014}}</ref> ] was cast on 18 August,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sigourney Weaver Joins High-Profile 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sigourney-weaver-joins-high-profile-726024|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> and ] was cast on 19 August.<ref>{{cite news|title='Fantastic Four' Actor Toby Kebbell in Talks to Join 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/fantastic-four-toby-kebbell-a-monster-calls-1201286443/|work=Variety.com}}</ref> On 3 September, Ness tweeted that ] had been cast in the lead role.<ref name=MacDougall>{{cite news|last1=Espina|first1=Alfonso|title=Lewis MacDougall to Lead Adaptation of Patrick Ness' 'A Monster Calls'|url=http://upandcomers.net/2014/09/04/newcomer-lewis-macdougall-lead-adaptation-patrick-ness-monster-calls/|access-date=1 October 2014|website=upandcomers.net|date=4 September 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113013/http://upandcomers.net/2014/09/04/newcomer-lewis-macdougall-lead-adaptation-patrick-ness-monster-calls/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ] joined the cast of the film on 30 September.<ref name="casting-three">{{cite news|title=Three Join 'A Monster Calls'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/alec-baldwin-kevin-spacey-boss-baby-843783/|access-date=1 October 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=30 September 2014}}</ref>


===Filming=== ===Filming===
] began on 30 September 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title='A Monster Calls' Begins Production |url=http://www.participantmedia.com/2014/09/a-monster-calls-begins-production/ |accessdate=1 October 2014 |website=participantmedia.com |date=30 September 2014|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003032223/http://www.participantmedia.com/2014/09/a-monster-calls-begins-production/ |archivedate=3 October 2014 }}</ref> in Spain and Britain.<ref name="casting-three" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Production Begins on A Monster Calls, Starring Liam Neeson|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=123546|accessdate=October 1, 2014|website=ComingSoon.net|date=30 September 2014}}</ref> On 9 October, the filming began on location in ], Rivington Pike (Chorley/Horwich), Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Marsden, West Yorkshire<ref>{{cite news|title=Hollywood film begins filming in Preston |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/video/entertainment-and-lifestyle/hollywood-film-begins-filming-in-preston-3829795664001 |accessdate=10 October 2014 |website=lep.co.uk |date=9 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011125817/http://www.lep.co.uk/video/entertainment-and-lifestyle/hollywood-film-begins-filming-in-preston-3829795664001 |archivedate=11 October 2014 }}</ref> ] began on 30 September 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title='A Monster Calls' Begins Production |url=http://www.participantmedia.com/2014/09/a-monster-calls-begins-production/ |access-date=1 October 2014 |website=participantmedia.com |date=30 September 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003032223/http://www.participantmedia.com/2014/09/a-monster-calls-begins-production/ |archive-date=3 October 2014 }}</ref> and took place in Spain and Britain.<ref name="casting-three" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Production Begins on A Monster Calls, Starring Liam Neeson|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=123546|access-date=1 October 2014|website=ComingSoon.net|date=30 September 2014|archive-date=3 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003023450/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=123546|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 9 October, filming began on location in ], ] (]), ] (]/]), ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hollywood film begins filming in Preston |url=http://www.lep.co.uk/video/entertainment-and-lifestyle/hollywood-film-begins-filming-in-preston-3829795664001 |access-date=10 October 2014 |website=lep.co.uk |date=9 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011125817/http://www.lep.co.uk/video/entertainment-and-lifestyle/hollywood-film-begins-filming-in-preston-3829795664001 |archive-date=11 October 2014 }}</ref>


Liam Neeson, who voices the titular tree creature, was not on set throughout the shooting process, and completed his motion-capture performance during a two-week period beforehand, with MacDougall in the room.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-monster-calls-speaks-kids-adults-says-sigourney-weaver-954240|title='A Monster Calls' Speaks to Both Kids and Adults, Says Sigourney Weaver|author=Ashley Lee|work=]|date=8 December 2016|accessdate=27 December 2016}}</ref> Tom Holland worked on set as The Monster with Neeson absent. Liam Neeson, who voices the film's titular tree creature, was not on set throughout the shooting process, having completed his motion-capture performance, with MacDougall in the room, during a two-week period beforehand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-monster-calls-speaks-kids-adults-says-sigourney-weaver-954240|title='A Monster Calls' Speaks to Both Kids and Adults, Says Sigourney Weaver|first=Ashley |last=Lee|work=]|date=8 December 2016|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> Actor ], who had previously worked with Bayona on '']'' (2012), worked on set as the stand-in for the Monster.<ref name=Holland /><ref name=Holland2 />


==Release== ==Release==
Originally scheduled for an October 2016 release,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=116965 |title=Focus Features Sets A Monster Calls for 14 October 2016 |website=ComingSoon.net |date= |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/a-monster-calls-focus-features-liam-neeson-felicity-jones-1201765985/|title='A Monster Calls' A Week Later In October|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|website=]|date=1 June 2016|accessdate=2 June 2016}}</ref> the film was delayed in order to avoid competition from '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} It was rescheduled for a limited roll out on 23 December 2016, followed by a wide release on 6 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/felicity-jones-liam-neeson-a-monster-calls-release-date-change-1201810548/|title=Focus Features' 'A Monster Calls' Dials Up Christmas Weekend Release|website=]|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=29 August 2016|accessdate=30 August 2016}}</ref> The film was released in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2017, by ] and ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finalreel.co.uk/a-monster-calls-uk-release-date/|title=A Monster Calls UK Release Date Set for January, The Tree Awakens on First Poster|website=Final Reel|first=Kenji|last=Lloyd|date=19 June 2016|accessdate=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024758/http://www.finalreel.co.uk/a-monster-calls-uk-release-date/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in India on 6 January 2017, by B4U Relativity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fCNm6UiSDw|title=A Monster Calls India Trailer|website=YouTube}}</ref> In the United States, the film was originally scheduled for an October 2016 release,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=116965 |title=Focus Features Sets A Monster Calls for 14 October 2016 |website=ComingSoon.net |access-date=9 April 2014 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124201/https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=116965 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/a-monster-calls-focus-features-liam-neeson-felicity-jones-1201765985/|title='A Monster Calls' A Week Later In October|first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro|website=]|date=1 June 2016|access-date=2 June 2016}}</ref> before being rescheduled for a limited rollout on 23 December 2016, followed by a wide release on 6 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/felicity-jones-liam-neeson-a-monster-calls-release-date-change-1201810548/|title=Focus Features' 'A Monster Calls' Dials Up Christmas Weekend Release|website=]|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=29 August 2016|access-date=30 August 2016}}</ref> It was released in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2017 by ] and ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finalreel.co.uk/a-monster-calls-uk-release-date/|title=A Monster Calls UK Release Date Set for January, The Tree Awakens on First Poster|website=Final Reel|first=Kenji|last=Lloyd|date=19 June 2016|access-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024758/http://www.finalreel.co.uk/a-monster-calls-uk-release-date/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in India on 6 January 2017 by ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fCNm6UiSDw|title=A Monster Calls India Trailer|website=YouTube|date=28 December 2016 }}</ref>


==Reception== ==Reception==
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''A Monster Calls'' grossed $3.7 million in the United States and Canada and $43.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $47.2 million, against a production budget of $43 million.<ref name=BOM /> ''A Monster Calls'' grossed $3.7 million in the United States and Canada and $43.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $47.2 million, against a production budget of $43 million.<ref name=BOM />


In North America, the film had its wide release alongside the opening of '']'' and the wide expansions of '']'' and '']'', and was initially expected to gross around $10 million from 1,523 theaters over the weekend.<ref name="preview">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-movie-projector-20170103-story.html |title='Hidden Figures' is likely to draw crowds as 'Rogue One' stays on top of the box office |work=]}}</ref> However, after making just $659,000 on its first day, weekend projections were lowered to $2 million, which it ended up grossing, finishing 13th at the box office.<ref name="opening">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/rogue-one-hidden-figures-underworld-blood-wars-weekend-box-office-1201879773/ |title='Rogue One' Doesn't Want To Fall To 'Hidden Figures' As Winter Storm Helena Closes Theaters |website=]}}</ref> In its second weekend of wide release it grossed $537,262 (a drop of 74.2%) and in its third week made just $19,080 (a drop of 96.4%) after being pulled from all but 42 theaters, one of the biggest third week theater drops in history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Uni/Blumhouse's 'Split' Is A Hit With High $39M To $40M+; 'Xander Cage' Falls Down|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/split-xxx-return-of-xander-cage-the-founder-late-night-thursday-previews-box-office-1201889940/}}</ref><ref name="theaters">{{cite web|title=Biggest Theater Drops|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/theaterdrops.htm |work=]}}</ref> In North America, the film had its wide release alongside the opening of '']'' and the wide expansions of '']'' and '']'', and was initially expected to gross around $10 million from 1,523 theaters over the weekend.<ref name="preview">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-movie-projector-20170103-story.html |title='Hidden Figures' is likely to draw crowds as 'Rogue One' stays on top of the box office |work=]|date=4 January 2017 }}</ref> However, after making just $659,000 on its first day, weekend projections were lowered to $2 million, which it ended up grossing, finishing 13th at the box office.<ref name="opening">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/rogue-one-hidden-figures-underworld-blood-wars-weekend-box-office-1201879773/ |title='Rogue One' Doesn't Want To Fall To 'Hidden Figures' As Winter Storm Helena Closes Theaters |website=]|date=9 January 2017 }}</ref> In its second weekend of wide release, the film grossed $537,262 (a drop of 74.2%), and in its third week, it made just $19,080 (a drop of 96.4%) after being pulled from all but 42 theaters, one of the biggest third week theater drops in history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Uni/Blumhouse's 'Split' Is A Hit With High $39M To $40M+; 'Xander Cage' Falls Down|date=23 January 2017 |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/split-xxx-return-of-xander-cage-the-founder-late-night-thursday-previews-box-office-1201889940/}}</ref><ref name="theaters">{{cite web|title=Biggest Theater Drops|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/theaterdrops.htm |work=]}}</ref>


===Critical response=== ===Critical response===
The aggregate site ] gives the film an approval rating of 86% based on 259 reviews, and an ] of 7.58/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''A Monster Calls'' deftly balances dark themes and fantastical elements to deliver an engrossing and uncommonly moving entry in the crowded coming-of-age genre."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_monster_calls/ |title=''A Monster Calls'' (2016) |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=23 January 2017}}</ref> At ], the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-monster-calls |title=''A Monster Calls'' Reviews |work=] |publisher=] |accessdate=23 January 2017}}</ref> Audiences polled by ] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CinemaScore/status/817625664748744704 |title=''A Monster Calls'' |author=] on ] |date=6 January 2017 |accessdate=1 June 2017}}</ref> On the ] website ], 86% of 266 critics' reviews of the film are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10; the site's "critics consensus" reads: "''A Monster Calls'' deftly balances dark themes and fantastical elements to deliver an engrossing and uncommonly moving entry in the crowded coming-of-age genre."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_monster_calls/ |title=''A Monster Calls'' (2016) |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> On ], the film has a ] score of 76 out of 100 based on reviews from 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-monster-calls |title=''A Monster Calls'' Reviews |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> Audiences polled by ] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CinemaScore/status/817625664748744704 |title=''A Monster Calls'' |author=] |via= ] |date=6 January 2017 |access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref>


===Accolades=== ===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:small" {| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" |- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! colspan="6" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | List of awards and nominations ! colspan="6" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | List of awards and nominations
Line 106: Line 122:
| ] | ]
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-aarp-nominations-movies-grownups-awards-956675/item/best-picture-956668 |title=Denzel Washington's 'Fences' Leads Nominations for AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards |first=Abid |last=Rahman |work=] |date=15 December 2016 |accessdate=26 December 2016}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-aarp-nominations-movies-grownups-awards-956675/item/best-picture-956668 |title=Denzel Washington's 'Fences' Leads Nominations for AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards |first=Abid |last=Rahman |work=] |date=15 December 2016 |access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| Best Intergenerational Film | Best Intergenerational Film
Line 117: Line 133:
| ] | ]
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| <ref name="Camerimage">{{cite web |url=http://www.camerimage.pl/en/Camerimage-2016-Main-Competition-Line-Up-1.html |title=Camerimage 2016 Main Competition Line-up! |work=] |date=24 October 2016 |accessdate=11 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029145227/http://camerimage.pl/en/Camerimage-2016-Main-Competition-Line-Up-1.html |archivedate=29 October 2016}}</ref> | <ref name="Camerimage">{{cite web |url=http://www.camerimage.pl/en/Camerimage-2016-Main-Competition-Line-Up-1.html |title=Camerimage 2016 Main Competition Line-up! |work=] |date=24 October 2016 |access-date=11 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029145227/http://camerimage.pl/en/Camerimage-2016-Main-Competition-Line-Up-1.html |archive-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan="2"| ] | rowspan="2"| ]
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| ] | ]
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|title=La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards |url=http://www.criticschoice.com/critics-choice-awards |website=criticschoice.com |publisher=Critics' Choice |date=1 December 2016 |accessdate=December 1, 2016}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|title=La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards |url=http://www.criticschoice.com/critics-choice-awards |website=criticschoice.com |publisher=Critics' Choice |date=1 December 2016 |access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| ] | ]
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| ] | ]
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| <ref name="DetroitCritics">{{cite web|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/movies/2016/12/14/moonlight-manchester-among-dfcs-best/95451014/ |title=Local critics: 'Moonlight', 'Manchester' best of 2016 |first=Adam |last=Graham |work=] |date=14 December 2016|accessdate=15 December 2016}}</ref> | <ref name="DetroitCritics">{{cite web|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/movies/2016/12/14/moonlight-manchester-among-dfcs-best/95451014/ |title=Local critics: 'Moonlight', 'Manchester' best of 2016 |first=Adam |last=Graham |work=] |date=14 December 2016|access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan="2"| ] | rowspan="2"| ]
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| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{won}} | {{won}}
| rowspan="2"| <ref name="EmpireAwards">{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/three-empire-awards-2017-rogue-one-tom-hiddleston-patrick-stewart-win-big/ |title=Three Empire Awards 2017: Rogue One, Tom Hiddleston And Patrick Stewart Win Big |last=Nugent |first=John |work=] |language=en |date=19 March 2017 |accessdate=19 March 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| <ref name="EmpireAwards">{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/three-empire-awards-2017-rogue-one-tom-hiddleston-patrick-stewart-win-big/ |title=Three Empire Awards 2017: Rogue One, Tom Hiddleston And Patrick Stewart Win Big |last=Nugent |first=John |work=] |language=en |date=19 March 2017 |access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>
|- |-
| ] | ]
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| Lewis MacDougall | Lewis MacDougall
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/evening-standard-british-film-awards-the-longlist-a3398101.html |title=Evening Standard British Film Awards - The Longlist |newspaper=] |first=William |last=Moore |date=17 November 2016 |accessdate=29 November 2016}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/evening-standard-british-film-awards-the-longlist-a3398101.html |title=Evening Standard British Film Awards - The Longlist |newspaper=] |first=William |last=Moore |date=17 November 2016 |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan="10"| ] | rowspan="10"| ]
| rowspan="10"| 29 January 2017 | rowspan="10"| ]
| Best Film
| ''A Monster Calls''
⚫ | {{won}}
| rowspan="10"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://academiadelcinema.cat/ca/premis-gaudi-ca/ix-premis-gaudi |title=Guardonades - IX Premis Gaudí |work=Academia del Cinema |date=29 January 2017 |accessdate=3 March 2017}}</ref>
⚫ |-
| Best Non-Catalan Language Film | Best Non-Catalan Language Film
| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{won}} | {{won}}
| rowspan = "10" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecartelera.com/noticias/lista-ganadores-premios-gaudi-2017-37040/|website=Ecartelera|date=30 January 2017|title=Lista de ganadores de los Premios Gaudí 2017|first=Amanda|last=Gil Conesa}}</ref>
|- |-
| Best Director | Best Director
Line 170: Line 182:
| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
| Best Production Director | Best Production Supervision
| ] | ]
| {{won}} | {{won}}
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| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
| Best Film Editing | Best Editing
| Jaume Martí and Bernat Vilaplana | Jaume Martí and ]
| {{won}} | {{won}}
⚫ |-
| Best Original Music
| ]
⚫ | {{nom}}
|- |-
| Best Cinematography | Best Cinematography
| Óscar Faura | ]
| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
| Best Art Direction | Best Costume Design
| Steven Noble
| ]
| {{won}} | {{nom}}
|- |-
| Best Sound | Best Sound
| ], Marc Orts and Oriol Tarragó | ], ], Marc Orts
| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
| Best Special Effects | Best Visual Effects
| Felix Bergés and Pau Costa | Félix Bergés, Pau Costa, David Martí, Montse Ribé
| {{won}} | {{won}}
|- |-
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| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| rowspan="12"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/juan-antonio-bayonas-a-monster-calls-leads-goya-award-nominations-956136 |title=Juan Antonio Bayona's 'A Monster Calls' Leads Goya Award Nominations |first=Pamela |last=Rolfe |work=] |date=14 December 2016 |accessdate=December 16, 2016}}</ref> | rowspan="12"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/juan-antonio-bayonas-a-monster-calls-leads-goya-award-nominations-956136 |title=Juan Antonio Bayona's 'A Monster Calls' Leads Goya Award Nominations |first=Pamela |last=Rolfe |work=] |date=14 December 2016 |access-date=16 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| ] | ]
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| Lewis MacDougall | Lewis MacDougall
| {{won}} | {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/moonlight-love-and-friendship-lead-london-film-critics-circle-nominations-1201945718/ |title='Moonlight' and 'Love and Friendship' Lead London Film Critics' Circle Nominations |date=20 December 2016 |magazine=Variety |accessdate=20 December 2016}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/moonlight-love-and-friendship-lead-london-film-critics-circle-nominations-1201945718/ |title='Moonlight' and 'Love and Friendship' Lead London Film Critics' Circle Nominations |date=20 December 2016 |magazine=Variety |access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan="7"| ] | rowspan="7"| ]
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| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| rowspan="7"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/01/23/ganadores-premios-feroz-2017_n_14339464.html |title=La lista completa de ganadores de los premios Feroz 2017 |publisher=El Huffinton Post |date=23 January 2017 |language=Spanish |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="7"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/01/23/ganadores-premios-feroz-2017_n_14339464.html |title=La lista completa de ganadores de los premios Feroz 2017 |publisher=El Huffinton Post |date=23 January 2017 |language=es |access-date=25 January 2017}}</ref>
|- |-
| Best Director | Best Director
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| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| <ref name="SDiegoNom">{{cite web |url=http://www.sdfcs.org/san-diego-film-critics-society-nominations-2016/ |title=2016 San Diego Film Critics Society’s Award Nominations |date=9 December 2016 |accessdate=9 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221165923/http://www.sdfcs.org/san-diego-film-critics-society-nominations-2016/ |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="SDiegoWin">{{cite web |url=http://www.sdfcs.org/2016-award-winners/ |title=San Diego Film Critics Society’s 2016 Award Winners |date=12 December 2016 |accessdate=12 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220225316/http://www.sdfcs.org/2016-award-winners/ |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | <ref name="SDiegoNom">{{cite web |url=http://www.sdfcs.org/san-diego-film-critics-society-nominations-2016/ |title=2016 San Diego Film Critics Society's Award Nominations |date=9 December 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221165923/http://www.sdfcs.org/san-diego-film-critics-society-nominations-2016/ |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="SDiegoWin">{{cite web |url=http://www.sdfcs.org/2016-award-winners/ |title=San Diego Film Critics Society's 2016 Award Winners |date=12 December 2016 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220225316/http://www.sdfcs.org/2016-award-winners/ |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan="2"| ] | rowspan="2"| ]
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| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| rowspan="2"| <ref name="SaturnAwards">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/awards/saturn-awards-nominations-2017-rogue-one-walking-dead-1202000833/ |title=Saturn Awards Nominations 2017: 'Rogue One,' 'Walking Dead' Lead |last=McNary |first=Dave |magazine=] |date=2 March 2017 |accessdate=3 March 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| <ref name="SaturnAwards">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/awards/saturn-awards-nominations-2017-rogue-one-walking-dead-1202000833/ |title=Saturn Awards Nominations 2017: 'Rogue One,' 'Walking Dead' Lead |last=McNary |first=Dave |magazine=] |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref>
|- |-
| ] | ]
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|- |-
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| Best Visual Effects | Best Visual Effects
| ''A Monster Calls'' | ''A Monster Calls''
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlfilmcritics.org/awards |title=2016 StLFCA Annual Award Nominations |publisher=] |date=12 December 2016 |accessdate=12 December 2016}}</ref> | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlfilmcritics.org/awards |title=2016 StLFCA Annual Award Nominations |publisher=] |date=12 December 2016 |access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| rowspan="4"| ] | rowspan="4"| ]
| rowspan="4"| ] | rowspan="4"| ]
| ] | ]
| Lewis MacDougall | Lewis MacDougall
| {{nom}} | {{nom}}
| rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafca.com/awards/ |title=The 2016 WAFCA Awards Nominations |date=3 December 2016 |accessdate=4 December 2016}}</ref> | rowspan="4"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafca.com/awards/ |title=The 2016 WAFCA Awards Nominations |date=3 December 2016 |access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>
|- |-
| ] | ]
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|- |-
|} |}

==See also==
* '']''


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
* {{IMDb title}} * {{IMDb title}}
⚫ * {{Metacritic film}}
* {{tcmdb title|2031954|A Monster Calls}}
⚫ * {{Metacritic film|a-monster-calls}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|a_monster_calls}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|a_monster_calls}}
*
* {{AllMovie title|595887}}


{{Juan Antonio Bayona}} {{Juan Antonio Bayona}}
{{Patrick Ness}}
{{Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy}} {{Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy}}


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Latest revision as of 16:37, 21 December 2024

2016 dark fantasy drama film by J. A. Bayona

A Monster Calls
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJ. A. Bayona
Screenplay byPatrick Ness
Based onA Monster Calls
by Patrick Ness
(from an idea by Siobhan Dowd)
Produced byBelén Atienza
Starring
CinematographyÓscar Faura
Edited by
Music byFernando Velázquez
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 10, 2016 (2016-09-10) (TIFF)
  • October 7, 2016 (2016-10-07) (Spain)
  • January 1, 2017 (2017-01-01) (United Kingdom)
Running time108 minutes
Countries
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$43 million
Box office$47.3 million

A Monster Calls is a 2016 dark fantasy drama film directed by J. A. Bayona and starring Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, and Liam Neeson. Featuring a screenplay adapted by Patrick Ness from his own 2011 novel of the same name, the film follows a boy grappling with his mother's terminal illness who is visited and told stories by a giant anthropomorphic yew tree.

The film rights to Ness' novel were acquired by Focus Features in March 2014, after which he was hired as screenwriter and Bayona signed on as director. Jones was cast that April, Neeson joined the film in May, and the rest of the main roles were cast by September. Principal photography began on 30 September, with filming taking place primarily in West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire in England, as well as in Bayona's native Spain.

After premiering on 10 September 2016 at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film was theatrically released on 7 October in Spain by Universal Pictures, on 1 January 2017 in the United Kingdom by Entertainment One, and five days later in the United States by Focus Features. It received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Bayona's direction, the acting, the visual effects, and the thematic content, but underperformed at the box office, grossing $47 million worldwide.

Plot

In rural England, 12-year-old Conor O'Malley has a close bond with his seriously ill mother. He asks her mother for help following her regular chemotherapy treatments, but Conor does not like his strict grandmother and is troubled by the plan for him to go live with her in the event of his mother's death, as his father lives in the United States and has a new wife and daughter.

At school, Conor is regularly tormented by his classmate Harry. He is also plagued by a nightmare in which the old church near his house collapses into a hole, and he tries desperately to hold on to his mother to prevent her from plummeting to her death. Conor vents his emotions by drawing, a skill he learned from his mother.

One night, at exactly seven minutes past midnight, Conor sees the large yew tree next to the church transform into a gnarled Monster and approach his home. The Monster says it will tell Conor three stories during their next meetings, after which Conor must tell the Monster the truth of his nightmare.

In the Monster's first story, a prince flees from his step-grandmother, the supposedly-evil queen. He then kills his sleeping beloved and scapegoats the queen so the people turn against her and make him king. The Monster, knowing the truth, takes the queen and hides her far away.

As Conor's mother worsens, he moves in with his grandmother. His father comes for a visit and takes Conor to an amusement park. He invites Conor to come spend Christmas with him, but Conor is disappointed, as he had hoped his father would ask him to move to America.

That evening, Conor summons the Monster by making the hands of his grandmother's prized grandfather clock display 12:07. In the Monster's second story, a hard-hearted parson forbids an apothecary from extracting medicine from an old yew tree, only to change his mind when his own children become ill. The apothecary refuses to help him, and the Monster begins to destroy the parson's house as punishment. Conor enthusiastically joins in on the destruction, and really destroys his grandmother's sitting room in a fit of frustration. When she returns, his grandmother, while shocked and upset, does not punish Conor.

The doctors try a final treatment. As it is derived from the yew, Conor implores the Monster to heal his mother, but the Monster dismisses the matter as outside of his responsibility. At school, after Harry tells Conor he will no longer bother him because he "no longer sees ", the Monster tells his third story, a brief tale about a man no one sees who cannot stand it anymore, and calls a monster. Conor angrily attacks Harry, hospitalizing him. To his disappointment, the head teacher, aware of his current home situation, refrains from punishing Conor.

When it becomes clear his mother will die, Conor runs to the yew tree, and the Monster forces him to relive his recurring nightmare. His mother dangles from Conor's hand over the edge of the enormous sinkhole and then falls, disappearing into the void. The Monster repeatedly demands that Conor tell his story, saying it is the only way for him to be set free, but Conor steadfastly refuses, fearing the truth will kill him.

Eventually, Conor admits that in his nightmare he lets go of his mother's hand. He says he has long suspected his mother will not survive, and secretly hoped she would die to end their suffering, although, at the same time, he did not want her to die. The Monster commends Conor for his bravery in telling the truth and tells him that it is human to feel as he does.

Conor's grandmother finds him asleep under the tree and takes him to the hospital. Conor embraces his mother, and she glances at the Monster and dies at exactly seven minutes past midnight. Back at his grandmother's house, Conor learns his grandmother has refurbished his mother's old room for him. He finds his mother's childhood art book, which includes pictures of characters from the stories the Monster told him, as well as a drawing of his mother as a child on the Monster's shoulder.

Cast

  • Lewis MacDougall as Conor O'Malley
    • Max Golds as 5-year-old Conor
  • Sigourney Weaver as Mrs. Clayton (credited as "Grandma"), Conor's strict grandmother
  • Felicity Jones as Elisabeth "Lizzie" Clayton (credited as "Mom"), Conor's mother, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified terminal illness
  • Toby Kebbell as Liam O'Malley (credited as "Dad"), Conor's father, who is divorced from Lizzie and now lives in the United States with his new wife and daughter
  • James Melville as Harry, a school bully who frequently targets Conor
  • Geraldine Chaplin as the head teacher at Conor's school
  • Liam Neeson as the "Monster", a giant humanoid yew tree. Neeson provided the Monster's voice and motion capture performance, while Tom Holland served as the stand-in for the Monster on set. Additionally, Neeson appears in the film in a photograph as Conor's grandfather.

Production

Focus Features bought the rights to Patrick Ness' book in March 2014. Ness served as the film's screenwriter, with J. A. Bayona hired as director. Felicity Jones was cast on 23 April 2014, Liam Neeson was cast on 8 May, Sigourney Weaver was cast on 18 August, and Toby Kebbell was cast on 19 August. On 3 September, Ness tweeted that Lewis MacDougall had been cast in the lead role. Geraldine Chaplin joined the cast of the film on 30 September.

Filming

Principal photography began on 30 September 2014, and took place in Spain and Britain. On 9 October, filming began on location in Glossop, Preston, Lancashire (Ramsbottom), Rivington Pike (Chorley/Horwich), Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and Marsden, West Yorkshire.

Liam Neeson, who voices the film's titular tree creature, was not on set throughout the shooting process, having completed his motion-capture performance, with MacDougall in the room, during a two-week period beforehand. Actor Tom Holland, who had previously worked with Bayona on The Impossible (2012), worked on set as the stand-in for the Monster.

Release

In the United States, the film was originally scheduled for an October 2016 release, before being rescheduled for a limited rollout on 23 December 2016, followed by a wide release on 6 January 2017. It was released in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2017 by Entertainment One and Lionsgate, and in India on 6 January 2017 by Relativity B4U.

Reception

Box office

A Monster Calls grossed $3.7 million in the United States and Canada and $43.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $47.2 million, against a production budget of $43 million.

In North America, the film had its wide release alongside the opening of Underworld: Blood Wars and the wide expansions of Hidden Figures and Lion, and was initially expected to gross around $10 million from 1,523 theaters over the weekend. However, after making just $659,000 on its first day, weekend projections were lowered to $2 million, which it ended up grossing, finishing 13th at the box office. In its second weekend of wide release, the film grossed $537,262 (a drop of 74.2%), and in its third week, it made just $19,080 (a drop of 96.4%) after being pulled from all but 42 theaters, one of the biggest third week theater drops in history.

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 266 critics' reviews of the film are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10; the site's "critics consensus" reads: "A Monster Calls deftly balances dark themes and fantastical elements to deliver an engrossing and uncommonly moving entry in the crowded coming-of-age genre." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 based on reviews from 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
AARP Annual Movies for Grownups Awards 6 February 2017 Best Supporting Actress Sigourney Weaver Nominated
Best Intergenerational Film A Monster Calls Nominated
Camerimage 19 November 2016 Golden Frog Award for Best Cinematography Óscar Faura Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards 11 December 2016 Best Young Performer Lewis MacDougall Nominated
Best Visual Effects A Monster Calls Nominated
Detroit Film Critics Society 19 December 2016 Best Supporting Actress Felicity Jones Nominated
Empire Awards 19 March 2017 Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy A Monster Calls Won
Best Male Newcomer Lewis MacDougall Nominated
Evening Standard British Film Awards 8 December 2016 Breakthrough of the Year Lewis MacDougall Nominated
Gaudí Awards 29 January 2017 Best Non-Catalan Language Film A Monster Calls Won
Best Director J. A. Bayona Won
Best Production Supervision Sandra Hermida Won
Best Art Direction Eugenio Caballero Won
Best Editing Jaume Martí and Bernat Vilaplana Won
Best Original Music Fernando Velázquez Nominated
Best Cinematography Oscar Faura Won
Best Costume Design Steven Noble Nominated
Best Sound Oriol Tarragó, Peter Glossop, Marc Orts Won
Best Visual Effects Félix Bergés, Pau Costa, David Martí, Montse Ribé Won
Golden Tomato Awards 12 January 2017 Best British Movie 2016 A Monster Calls 2nd Place
Best Kids/Family Movie 2016 A Monster Calls 3rd Place
Goya Awards 4 February 2017 Best Film A Monster Calls Nominated
Best Director J. A. Bayona Won
Best Supporting Actress Sigourney Weaver Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Patrick Ness Nominated
Best Original Score Fernando Velázquez Won
Best Cinematography Óscar Faura Won
Best Editing Jaume Martí and Bernat Vilaplana Won
Best Production Supervision Sandra Hermida Muniz Won
Best Art Direction Eugenio Caballero Won
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Marese Langan and David Martí Won
Best Sound Peter Glossop, Marc Orts and Oriol Tarragó Won
Best Special Effects Felix Bergés and Pau Costa Won
London Film Critics' Circle 22 January 2017 Young British/Irish Performer of the Year Lewis MacDougall Won
Premios Feroz 23 January 2017 Best Drama Film A Monster Calls Nominated
Best Director J. A. Bayona Nominated
Best Screenplay Patrick Ness Nominated
Best Main Actor Lewis MacDougall Nominated
Best Original Soundtrack Fernando Velázquez Won
Best Trailer A Monster Calls Nominated
Best Film Poster A Monster Calls Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society 12 December 2016 Best Visual Effects A Monster Calls Nominated
Saturn Awards 28 June 2017 Best Fantasy Film A Monster Calls Nominated
Best Performance by a Younger Actor Lewis MacDougall Nominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association 18 December 2016 Best Visual Effects A Monster Calls Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 5 December 2016 Best Youth Performance Lewis MacDougall Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Patrick Ness Nominated
Best Voice Performance Liam Neeson Won
Best Motion Capture Performance Nominated

See also

References

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External links

Films directed by J. A. Bayona
Works by Patrick Ness
Chaos Walking series
Other novels
Film and television
Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
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