There are a million horror movies out there to celebrate Halloween. We dig out our old dvds, VHS tapes maybe, full of werewolves, vampires, demons. Jump scares, girls tripping into victimhood, rowdy teens gratuitously slaughtered.
Monsters Within doesn’t fit that mold.
Sometimes, the hidden monsters are far scarier than the ones we imagine – I’m talking the monsters within us. Much more scary, much harder to control, much more real.
Instead of an endless string of cliched jump scares, Monsters Within is a slow burn. It’s visceral in a different way. Right from the beginning, I could feel the melancholy of veteran Luke’s return to his small town. I could feel the sadness of broken dreams, from the bartender still stuck waiting on locals in a dead-end job, to the older man singing, living out his broken dream for a handful of people.
I’ve seen that guy a million times. I’ve seen that bartender. In fact, I almost became her, because I come from a little town.
Suffice it to say, this film grabbed me from the start.
This is what I call “thinking man’s horror” — if you can even label it “horror.” Anybody can follow all those cliches: the creeping dread that turns out to be nothing, so you breathe a sigh of relief… then BAM! Jump scare!
This is REAL. Have you ever tried to run from something and realized you’re running from yourself? That no matter where you go, you take you with you… and all the baggage?
I bet the screenwriter has. Who also directs and stars — Devin Montgomery.
This isn’t just a “horror movie” in the conventional sense. It has so much feeling and depth. Bonus: Killer cinematography by Brendan Stewart (who also plays Darren) that’s original. With its narrow depth of field, falling in and out of focus. Not the grand, sweeping, (over) polished epic of Hollywood. Intimate and emotionally provoking, in a beautiful, understated way. And I say that as a “quiet” photographer who shoots – and appreciates – that.
This feels more like an art film than a horror movie, and I mean that in the very best way. Is it perfect? No. But the raw talent shows so much promise. The writer, director, and star, Montgomery, may not have perfected the art of writing and directing — there are places I think are overplayed, a few plot holes. But he has what you can’t teach—this film has heart. Let’s hope he can resist the lure of Hollywood dumbing down, watering down, commercializing the brutal honesty. In a brief cameo, his sister with Down’s Syndrome is played by Montgomery’s real sister, Daniella Montgomery, who really has Down’s. And the film is dedicated to actor Samuel French, in his final role.
It’s clearly a passion project, with several of the Montgomery clan in the credits.
The cinematography work shows true originality and promise—likewise for Stewart. The scoring was nice, an almost constant mix of blues and classic rock, so common in these small towns living in the past.
And of course, the actors. Montgomery handles a really long soliloquy very well. Not perfect, but he’s young. The whole cast shows great promise for getting beyond the low-hanging fruit of acting to gritty reality. I expect we will be seeing more of them soon.
You’re all on the right path. Don’t let the lights and money of Hollywood lead you astray.
If you’re looking for a wild horror ride loaded with chills? Nope, not here. This is the kind of movie you want to watch, then talk about over pie, as Mr. Tarantino wrote. I’m not going to spoil that conversation, you’ll have to watch it yourself. Then talk about it in some seedy all-night diner over a big slab of cherry pie.
And you should have plenty to talk about.
It’s a film about fighting monsters. Not some monsters from some hell underneath us or deep in the dark of the forest. The monsters in our head. The ones we try to run from but follow us, devouring us from the inside.
And, for some, the monsters they bring back from the battlefield.
You never know what monsters lie within us. Within you. But you never know what can tame them and put them back in their cage, either.
This isn’t a horror film for Halloween, but if you are a veteran or know one, you might find it really fits for a Veteran’s Day horror movie. And we all have our monsters within.
DETAILS:
Starring: Devin Montgomery (”Wildlife,” “Worm”), Kendall Cavener (”The Last Rodeo”), Samuel French (”Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Fear The Walking Dead”), Skeeta Jenkins (”Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich,” “Jakob’s Wife”), Katy Hayes (”Nefarious”), Daniella Montgomery, Brandon Stewart (”The Vast of Night”), Brandon L. Smith, Trey Sweeten, Curtis Gardner, Chris Bruza, Trey Murphy
This award-winning film has screened at numerous film festivals including WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival – WON BRONZE for BEST FIRST FEATURE FILM, Edinburgh Independent Film Festival – WON BEST LEAD ACTOR (Devin Montgomery), Stockholm City International Film Festival – WON BEST ACTOR (Devin Montgomery), Cowpokes International Film Festival – WON BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Samuel French), Bare Bones International Film Festival – WON AUDIENCE CHOICE FOR BEST FEATURE FILM and BEST ACTOR (Devin Montgomery), Red Dirt International Film Festival – WON BEST FEATURE FILM, Indie Vegas Film Festival – WON BEST HORROR/THRILLER FEATURE FILM, Massachusetts Independent Film Festival – awarded an OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT FOR FIRST FEATURE FILM, among many other festivals.
MONSTERS WITHIN has a running time of 100 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA. Buffalo 8 will release the film on digital platforms on October 3, 2025. The film will premiere on Cineverse’s Screambox on November 7 in time for Veteran’s Day.