Film review: ‘Monolith’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

Australian cinema isn’t renowned for its science fiction films although Mad Max and Upgrade fans might disagree.  Seemingly influenced by the likes of TV show Black Mirror, the latest Aussie sci fi film, Monolith makes for a topical and inventive, if limited, addition to the genre.

Monolith is as much a psychological mystery thriller as a sci fi film as it depicts the way in which strange (possibly alien-related) events cause a character’s mind to unravel. Lilly Sullivan, who recently appeared in the sequel/ remake of Evil Dead plays Laura, a disgraced journalist who has retreated to the solitude of a sprawling family property after her crusade to publicly bring down an alleged criminal backfired badly. Exiled from regular media, she’s started a pulpy podcast to investigate strange phenomena.  An anonymous tip-off prior to her first show leads her to a troubled woman, Floramae (Ling Cooper Tang) who recounts how she once mysteriously received an unusual black brick that appeared to have peculiar powers and when held, seemed to cause disturbing hallucinations. Laura finds that others have had similar experiences, that there’s even been government investigations into these bricks and scans have revealed that they contain strange hieroglyphics. With a cult audience of podcast listeners enthralled by these accounts, Laura’s show starts to become a minor sensation.  Soon, though, Laura begins having odd experiences with packages appearing on her doorstep apparently from nowhere and disturbing events occurring in her home.  As she’s warned to end her investigation into the bricks, events become more threatening and it seems these objects have some sort of connection to her past.

Monolith is about as far we could get from the big budget spectacle of most Hollywood sci fi movies. This is effectively (and pardon the expression) a ‘one-hander’ with Lilly Sullivan almost the only actor occupying the frame although others are heard.  The film is also shot almost entirely in Laura’s modern, spacious yet creepy abode and mostly with her sitting in her podcast studio.  Director Matt Vesely generally manages to make a virtue of the film’s limitations using Lilly’s isolation and growing anxiety to crank up a sense of threat that at times recalls the work of Michael Haneke.  The film also occasionally evokes the disorienting oddness of a David Lynch film. Occasionally, though, budget limitations show through and the scenario does feel a little too restricted and like a filmed monologue.

Lilly Sullivan does a fine job, though, in carrying so much of the film and the way in which Laura’s innate ballsiness battles with her growing uncertainty is compelling to watch.

Thematically, the film makes tantalising observations about the potentially dangerous impact of social media and viral conspiracy theories but doesn’t offer quite enough depth of insight into these social phenomena.

In the context of Australian film, Monolith is unlikely to have the impact on the sci fi genre that this year’s standout Aussie film, Talk to Me has had on the horror genre but it’s intriguing, well-crafted and spooky enough to satisfy those who enjoy their sci fi flavoured with a bit of mystery.

Nick’s rating: ***

Genre: Drama/ Science Fiction.

Classification: M.

Director(s): Matt Vesely.

Release date: 26th Oct 2023.

Running time: 94 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

 

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