[Review] Colossal

If you were to take the prototypical indie movie about a millennial getting their life sorted out, and smash it together with a creature feature, you'd get Colossal. At least, that's how to seems at first... Starring Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, and Dan Stevens, Nacho Vigalondo's peculiar film dives into unexpected places, and it's all the better for it.

After being ousted from her boyfriend's (Stevens) New York apartment, the messy and directionless Gloria (Hathaway) returns to her humble hometown, reconnecting with her childhood friend Oscar (Sudeikis). During a night of reckless alcoholism, news breaks of a monster repeatedly attacking Seoul, South Korea. Gloria realizes that she might be the cause of it--discovering that every time she walks through a local playground--the monster appears, mimicking her exact moves. She now must figure out why her actions are creating a gigantic beast on other side of planet, and how to stop it.

It's strange, but intriguing. The absurd premise is enough to make you want to find out what the heck is going on, what the solution is, and if there's any particular meaning behind this high concept. It's all a bit shaky early on, but it gets a lot clearer and more substantial as it progresses, especially as the odd tone finds its footing and Gloria's character develops. Eventually, a feud erupts between Gloria and Oscar, who emerges as a villain--basically a walking robot of toxic masculinity. The narrative then pulls itself together and tackles heavy themes of bullying, destructive behavior, and abuse. I don't want to give too much away, but Gloria's character comes through with a cheer-worthy arc.

It's a genre hybrid that'll make you scratch your head, then pump your fist. And while there are some nagging flaws that cloud the film's overall vision, Colossal strikes with lightning in the end.

( 7.5/10 )

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