Impossible Monsters

Impossible Monsters is a psychological thriller from 2019 that promises to take the audience into a dark and twisted world of dreams and reality. The movie is helmed by Nathan Catucci, who has also written the screenplay.

The movie follows the story of a young aspiring art professor named Allie Barnes, played by Santino Fontana. Allie is in the process of completing her Ph.D. and is having trouble finding funds to support her research project. Allie eventually lands a teaching position at an upstate New York college, where she meets some of her colleagues, including Professor Samuel Solomon, played by Dennis Boutsikaris, who is known for his research on dreams and the subconscious mind.

The plot thickens when Allie meets another colleague on campus, Dr. Arthur Bernard, played by Geoffrey Owens. Dr. Bernard invites Allie to take part in his sleep study program, where she will be paid for sleeping and dreaming while connected to a machine. Allie reluctantly agrees, hoping to earn extra money for her research project.

As Allie confronts her own past traumas and anxieties, she begins to experience vivid, lucid dreams that blur the line between reality and imagination. In these dreams, she encounters impossible monsters that are both intriguing and terrifying. With the help of Professor Solomon, Allie delves deeper into her own subconscious, hoping to unlock the secrets of her dreams and gain control over her fears.

The movie's performances are commendable, with Laila Robins' portrayal of Professor Samuel Solomon a standout, as she delivers a performance that is both enigmatic and mysterious. Dennis Boutsikaris does a great job in bringing to life the character of the research-crazy professor Solomon, who seems to be obsessed with the idea of unlocking the secrets of the subconscious mind.

The screenplay is tight and well-written, with plenty of suspenseful moments, twists, and turns that keep the audience guessing till the end. The movie's score is also worth mentioning, providing an eerie and unsettling ambiance that complements the movie's themes and tones.

The movie's cinematography is excellent, making great use of the claustrophobic college setting and the dark and dreamlike atmosphere of the movie. Impossible Monsters explores some complex themes of loss, trauma, and the power of the subconscious mind, and does so with aplomb, making it a movie that will linger in the audience's mind long after the credits roll.

One of the standout elements of the movie is the visual effects, particularly the monsters that Allie encounters in her dreams. The monsters are both fascinating and terrifying, perfectly blending fantasy and reality to give the audience a glimpse into the workings of the human mind. The monsters are all unique, and it is a testament to the movie's creativity that they all feel like they belong in the same dreamscape.

The pacing of the movie is excellent, with no dull or slow moments that could take away from the overall impact of the story. The movie is not for the faint of heart, and some scenes can be graphic and disturbing, but these elements are necessary to underscore the movie's themes.

In conclusion, Impossible Monsters is a well-crafted psychological thriller that explores complex themes with deftness and grace. The movie's performances, screenplay, and visual effects all come together to create an experience that is both haunting and mesmerizing. Nathan Catucci has created a thought-provoking movie that will appeal to fans of the genre, but also to those who appreciate movies that are more than just simple entertainment.