Critic Reviews for A Monster Calls on Moviebuff.com

J.A. Bayona’s hybrid of fantastical fairy tale and coming-of-age drama has trouble combining its disparate elements

Al Hoff , Pittsburgh City Paper

A Monster Calls offers up a drama that dares to confront grief through hauntingly realized fantasy - and it works tremendously well

Adam Chitwood, Collider

A beautiful tale of the time when a Monster heals you.

Mansi Bengali, BookMyShow

What makes A Monster Calls work most of the time are the performances.

Alan Cerny, ComingSoon.net

Notoriously conceived by a studio executive's four-year-old son, this turgid January disaster is even dumber than it sounds and half as fun

David Ehrlich, Indiewire

Entertaining, tonally impeccable, and heartbreaking, this is a monster movie with a very human heart.

Marten Carlson, Consequence of Sound

A poignant effort, A Monster Calls pulls out all the stops to make sure there are waterworks

Deborah Cornelious, The Hindu

A Monster Calls is a heart-wrenching masterpiece that leaves you emotionally shaken.

Renuka Vyavahare, The Times of India

A Monster Calls is a pretty stunning achievement and a major triumph for Bayona

Chris Bumbray, JoBlo.com

The Monster’s twisted little morality tales are the best parts of A Monster Calls.

Noel Murray, AV Club

It’s too bad most of the film holds his singular talents at bay

Nigel M Smith, The Guardian

It’s a catharsis painted with bold, noisy imagery, one that makes death an overwhelming tsunami.

Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times

You know exactly where A Monster Calls is aiming in its attempt to strike the emotional chord, and there aren't many surprises to be found within the film

Jeremy Kirk, First Showing

'A Monster Calls' is devastating, unforgettable journey

Michael Smith, Tulsa World

It bravely tackles a difficult subject with grace and sensitivity, and its message is deeply moving and affecting

Chris Tilly, IGN

Deeply emotive and heart-achingly sad, A Monster Calls is a tremendous triumph.

Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“A Monster Calls” is a very grim fairy tale

Ron and Leigh Martel, The Friday Flyer

Liam Neeson stars in sweet, sad fantasy

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

‘A Monster Calls’ a little more grim than it needs to be

Michael Clark, Gwinnett Daily Post

Bayona’s creation is all bark and no bite

Peter Debruge, Variety

At it’s heart, A Monster Calls is a metaphor for facing the darkness and looking past it

Jimmy O , JoBlo.com

The monster's three stories are related in gorgeous animation.

Christopher Lloyd, Herald Tribune

The film version of children’s novel is a very dark proposition

Pete Hammond, Deadline

The soul of the story lies with the young Lewis MacDougall

Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly

'A Monster Calls' rides on a talking tree, a tragic tale and even more tears

Stephanie Merry, Pittsburgh Post Gazette

After The Impossible, I called J.A. Bayona the next Steven Spielberg. If that's true, then A Monster Calls is his E.T.

Sean O'Connell, Cinema Blend

It is a little too dark and sparse for little kids, and too obvious for those who have crossed over into adulthood

Shubhra Gupta, Indian Express

'A Monster Calls' is a universal picture of grief

Sandy Cohen, Yahoo News

“A Monster Calls” brings viewers into the ramshackle British household of young Conor and his unnamed mother

Glenn Kenny, Roger Ebert

While the monstrous metaphor may be a bit on the nose and the narrative straight as an arrow, A Monster Calls will please moviegoers looking for a family film that trods the path less traveled

Drew Wheeler, flagpole

When "A Monster Calls" calls, it’s worth answering

Bill Wine, CBS Philadelphia