SoTrumpBelieve
Must See Movie...
filippaberry84
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Adeel Hail
Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Tom Dooley
Based on real events this film starts out with Robert Stewart being discovered in his cell after he has murdered his cell mate Zahid Mubarek . The film then traces the events that led up to this murder. In doing so it appears to have drawn heavily on the findings of the inquiry into the events at Feltham Young Offender Institute during the year 2000.Stewart is played by Leeshon Alexander who also wrote this and he puts in a very commendable performance. The back story includes unvarnished criticisms of the Prison Service too and an attempt to understand why he did this terrible and unprovoked act.In terms of presentation this is a very 'staged' performance with few locations and obvious sets, but this is done for artistic impact and I felt actually worked really well. This is not an easy watch though as the material being covered is one that is alien to most people; it is though a very worthwhile piece of movie making that will appeal to those who like real life dramas and don't mind starting with the ending – especially one that is essentially an unhappy one.
frompagescreen
Using a series of flashbacks we learn about how Robert Stewart became a 'monster' but also how his younger years have moulded him into the brutal mentally disturbed racist that he is in his present days. The film is a very hard film to watch and is so uncomfortable as we watch and hear some of the most racist comments seen in films for years, but that is the point. We Are Monster shouldn't be a pleasant entertaining film to watch, it needs to be (and is) an extremely powerful piece of film that gives us a nasty glimpse into the minds of nasty peopleWhilst the film itself does sit firmly on the shoulders of the lead actor Leeshon Alexander (playing Robert Stewart), who does an all too convincing job of playing someone I wouldn't want to meet in a well lit alley, never mind a dark alley at night. The supporting cast also does a top notch job in this true story. Familiar faces such as Doug Allen (The Guvnors), Aymen Hamdouchi (My Brother The Devil), and Gethin Anthony (Game of Thrones) all have great roles in 'We Are Monster'.Without delving into spoilers for the film, the use of silence also works wonders in the film with a section at the start using mood, and scenery and looks to tell us everything we need to know.Recently the 2013 film 'Starred Up' gathered huge acclaim and 'We Are Soldier' is right up there alongside that film. Its a tough film to watch but its a film that everyone should see for many reasons. Its a story that should be shared, its a film thats brilliant put together, and contains some of the most subtle but powerful performances of recent years.For those who think the UK film industry is full of cockney-gangster films.'We Are Monster' will prove you wrong.
Theo Robertson
Just another morning at Feltham Young Offenders at day break . A officer does his rounds but upon looking in to a cell he finds young offender Robert Stewart has murdered his cellmate Zahid Mubarek . This film tells of the events that led up to the murder Based on a true story of a senseless murder my IMDb peer EuroGary suggests the film should have tried a bit harder . I've got to disagree because despite having a flaw which I will get to in a moment this isn't a film that's chosen any easy routes to tell a story . The easy option would have been for the production team doing a docudrama type of movie . Considering there's very little budget available and has a mainly static setting director Antony Petrou and screenwriter Leeshon Alexander have used a lot of imagination in telling much of the story in a surreal expressionistic style where much of the exposition takes place via Stewart as a literal split personality and as a film projection suddenly appearing on a wall . Add to all this a striking musical soundtrack by Fred Portelli that is assuredly unsettling and you've got a film that lives up to the tagline of psychological horror which creeps under your skin and stays there As good as all this is there is a fly in the ointment and that is not only does Leeshon Alexander write the screenplay but also stars in the role as Robert Stewart . Now I'm sure Mr Alexander is a good guy in real life and it probably shows on screen . Take a look at the real life Robert Stewart and the blood instantly chills and that alone should deter any youngster from committing the smallest misdemeanor . Being an actor no doubt meant that Alexander's performance is the dominating central element of WE ARE MONSTER and while this would have worked on the stage in a dynamic way it's rather negated in what is effectively an expressionistic horror movie . Sadly even here Alexander's performance isn't really strong enough to carry the film in the way the actor/writer envisaged . I found the "taunting alter-ego Stewart" just a little too self conscious and mannered to be absolutely disturbing and was often aware that I was watching an actor play a racist psycho rather than a real life monster . This is a pity you can see what the film is trying to do but doesn't do it in an entirely successful way
Danny
When I had heard that this movie was being released I was quite curious to see what it was going to be like: was it going to be a hard hitting truth and highlight the systematic failures of a UK prison system, which allowed a young man to be murdered in cold blood or was it going to be a limp drama which exonerated the guilty in their part? Well, when I saw the first 10 minutes I nearly switched off, as I soon realised that it was from the murderers perspective and I did not want to hear it. For what ever reason, I kept watching and I became drawn in by the surreal surroundings, brought to life with brilliant cinematography and effects and with a very well written story, I slowly regressed into the mind of a seriously disturbed individual.I know for sure that what really happened was nothing like the film, as the film missed out quite a lot of what really happened because I was part of the Inquiry into the Death of Zahid Mubarak 2006.Even so, I must admit the story was well written and it made great entertainment and at the same time it has brought Zahid back into the minds of the public. One day justice will be served and those responsible will be brought to book.I recommend this movie not just for it's subject matter but for it's accomplishments and they are a well written storyline, great cinematography, and very well acted.