Not monstrous

MOVIE: A Monster Calls STARRING: Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones RATING: PG

A REFINED, imaginative and serenely composed family drama, A Monster Calls has been dutifully adapted from the 2011 novel by Patrick Ness.

Those who cherish the book will be relieved to learn the movie version does not mess about with the core premise : it is hard enough growing up, let alone doing so when life is doing its utmost to grind you down.

Come 12.07am each evening, a yew tree in the backyard comes alive and takes an eerie interest in how Conor is faring.

Known as The Monster (voiced and motion-captured by a well-cast Liam Neeson), the tree starts telling a series of stories he promises will lend some reassuring perspective to Conor’s seemingly insurmountable problems.

With a cancer-stricken mother (Felicity Jones) and nasty schoolyard bullies playing on his mind, Conor can use all the help he can get.

In fact, Conor just might have a healing story of his own to tell afterwards: The Monster, for his own mysterious reasons, has demanded to hear it once his own yarns have been spun.

While its energy levels can sometimes drop there is still much to admire about A Monster Calls. Particularly the textured lead performance of young Lewis MacDougall.