A Monster Calls

Thirteen year old Conor O'Malley lives with a mother who is gravely ill and a schoolyard full of bullies who reduce him to silence. Late one night a towering, ancient tree in the church yard sprouts a branchy face and steps into the world as a talkative monster. It promises to tell him three tales, but insists Conor must speak the truth about his pain. What follows are surreal stories that echo his fears and memories, while the tree presses him to confront his own fear of losing his mother. The film never rushes toward easy answers, instead allowing Conor to move through grief at his own pace. Conor's father figure floats in occasional memories that deepen his isolation. Tonight.

Directed by J A Bayona, this adaptation of Patrick Ness's novel builds on Siobhan Dowd's idea. It is a multinational production, with Focus Features handling U S release and European partners bringing the story to life on screen in 2016.

Box Office: The film earned about 47.3 million dollars worldwide on a budget of 43 million, signaling modest but steady returns for a fantasy drama that leans on emotion rather than spectacle. Its quiet intensity earned a loyal audience worldwide.

Visually striking and emotionally direct, the film presents a talking tree monster and a storytelling frame that many families found resonant. It sparked conversations about grieving, illness, and the healing power of speaking one's truth, influencing later fantasy dramas to treat loss with sincerity worldwide and leaving a lasting impression.

Critical response highlighted Bayona's gravity and the performances by Lewis MacDougall as Conor, Felicity Jones as his mother, and Sigourney Weaver as the grandmother. The film examines grief and resilience, showing memory, guilt, and the way stories help children face painful realities without rushing to answers. For many viewers worldwide.