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Monsters (2010)

 Monsters (2010)
type
TVTItem
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010)
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters2010
 Monsters (2010)
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Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })Monsters is a British sci-fi thriller directed by Gareth Edwards released in 2010.Six years previously NASA believed they had finally discovered alien life in our solar system and went about trying to gain themselves a sample. Unfortunately the probe they sent crashed upon re-entry over an unsuspecting Central America. It wasn't long before new (and terrifying) lifeforms emerged and spread at such an alarming rate that half of Mexico found itself quarantined. Now as the Mexican and American military struggle to prevent the creatures from expanding outside of the "Infected Zone" our story begins.Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy), an American photojournalist, is tasked with helping his rich employer's daughter, Samantha Wynden (Whitney Able), get back home to the states. As you'd expect the simple train ride home is prevented by damage to the tracks and soon the pair find themselves on a dangerous journey through the infected zone to reach the US border.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Notable for its miniscule budget (under $500,000) but high quality special effects. Director Gareth Edwards' experience working with visual effects (which he personally did for the movie) proved to be an incredible asset. All of the extras were just people that happened to be around while filming and a lot of the scenes were shot on location without worrying about the trivial need for permission to film.A sequel, Monsters: Dark Continent was released in 2014. There is a monster infestation in the Middle East, and American anti-monster operations are causing a lot of collateral damage. The film follows a squad of American troops, who find angry locals to be at least as dangerous as the monsters.
 Monsters (2010)
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2021-05-28T12:07:21Z
 Monsters (2010)
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2021-05-28T12:07:21Z
 Monsters (2010)
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Dropped link to JurassicPark: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Monsters (2010)
processingComment
Dropped link to RideOfTheValkyries: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Monsters (2010)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Monsters (2010) / int_14ed6ab7
type
Does This Remind You of Anything?
 Monsters (2010) / int_14ed6ab7
comment
Does This Remind You of Anything?: An unwanted bunch of aliens from Mexico are constantly attempting to cross the US border and actually succeeding despite a giant fortified wall being put in place to stop them. You've got the American immigration controversy.
 Monsters (2010) / int_14ed6ab7
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_14ed6ab7
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_14ed6ab7
 Monsters (2010) / int_19944e8f
type
Terraform
 Monsters (2010) / int_19944e8f
comment
Terraform: Specifically xenoforming might be occurring, although it's uncertain if it's truly going to pose a danger to the terrestrial ecology. Trees in the "Infected Zone" are hosting alien spores.
 Monsters (2010) / int_19944e8f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_19944e8f
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_19944e8f
 Monsters (2010) / int_19fd589b
type
Deadly Road Trip
 Monsters (2010) / int_19fd589b
comment
Deadly Road Trip: A journalist is tasked with bringing back his employer's daughter from Mexico. After it has been overrun by monsters.
 Monsters (2010) / int_19fd589b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_19fd589b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_19fd589b
 Monsters (2010) / int_1f294c9a
type
Bystander Action-Horror Dissonance
 Monsters (2010) / int_1f294c9a
comment
Bystander Action-Horror Dissonance: Exaggerated. Most of the unusual stuff seen by the protagonists is the aftermath of many offscreen attempts at getting rid of the aliens and the aliens' rampaging. Except for the prologue and the epilogue (which stops a few second short of a full How We Got Here) no aliens even appear in full on-screen.
 Monsters (2010) / int_1f294c9a
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_1f294c9a
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_1f294c9a
 Monsters (2010) / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 Monsters (2010) / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: Samantha sees a TV documentary on how jellyfish attract mates with a light display. Later on she realises the giant alien is attracted to the light of a television set and turns it off.
 Monsters (2010) / int_22cf536c
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1.0
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_22cf536c
 Monsters (2010) / int_22d639e6
type
If It Bleeds, It Leads
 Monsters (2010) / int_22d639e6
comment
If It Bleeds, It Leads: Discussed fairly heavily by Andrew after Samantha asks him whether he's bothered by the fact that he profits from tragedy.
 Monsters (2010) / int_22d639e6
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1.0
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_22d639e6
 Monsters (2010) / int_31c5e7fb
type
Starfish Aliens
 Monsters (2010) / int_31c5e7fb
comment
Starfish Aliens: The aliens are giant squid-crab things with bioluminescence that grow from mushroom-like polyps.
 Monsters (2010) / int_31c5e7fb
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1.0
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_31c5e7fb
 Monsters (2010) / int_3a234e46
type
Runaway Bride
 Monsters (2010) / int_3a234e46
comment
Runaway Bride: A passive version with Samantha clearly reluctant to return to her fiance and get married, but unwilling to take action to call the whole thing off.
 Monsters (2010) / int_3a234e46
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_3a234e46
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_3a234e46
 Monsters (2010) / int_3d4d3dc9
type
Humans Are Bastards
 Monsters (2010) / int_3d4d3dc9
comment
Humans Are Bastards: Surprisingly averted. It seems the military may rain down the occasional heavy-handed airstrike to take down an alien but aren't seen doing their usual "It's the Only Way to Be Sure" approach, namely making a crater the size of Mexico. People just seem to be trying to survive or adapt to the situation rather than kill each other over it. From the beginning of the movie, referring the alien infested zone as "infected", and gasmask being distributed to civilians gives an implication that the aliens are toxic/infecting humans and turning them into more aliens. During the jungle trek, it's revealed that the true reason is that the Americans are using chemical weapons against the aliens. Which puts the Mexicans protesting for the Americans to stop bombing the aliens into perspetive.
 Monsters (2010) / int_3d4d3dc9
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_3d4d3dc9
 Monsters (2010) / int_493a162d
type
Bioluminescence Is Cool
 Monsters (2010) / int_493a162d
comment
Bioluminescence Is Cool: The monsters that appear at the climax are flying jellyfish and the protagonists are mesmerized by their glow.
 Monsters (2010) / int_493a162d
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_493a162d
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_493a162d
 Monsters (2010) / int_5a3b8032
type
The Un-Reveal
 Monsters (2010) / int_5a3b8032
comment
The Unreveal: It’s never revealed whether the protagonists survive the giant alien attack and subsequent airstrike.
 Monsters (2010) / int_5a3b8032
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_5a3b8032
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_5a3b8032
 Monsters (2010) / int_607d4ada
type
Run for the Border
 Monsters (2010) / int_607d4ada
comment
Run for the Border: The protagonists are stranded in Mexico, which is overrun by gigantic aliens. They are trying to sneak across the American border without getting arrested or eaten.
 Monsters (2010) / int_607d4ada
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_607d4ada
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Monsters (2010) / int_607d4ada
 Monsters (2010) / int_6393c3ab
type
RoadMovie
 Monsters (2010) / int_6393c3ab
comment
Road Movie: The only difference between an average "two people traveling through a rough part of Mexico" movie and this one are the aliens.
 Monsters (2010) / int_6393c3ab
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_6393c3ab
 Monsters (2010) / int_77666408
type
Combat Tentacles
 Monsters (2010) / int_77666408
comment
Combat Tentacles: The only visible part of the monster encountered while traversing the river is these, which it uses to pull the wreckage of a fighter jet underwater.
 Monsters (2010) / int_77666408
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_77666408
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_77666408
 Monsters (2010) / int_7f8a8edd
type
Amateur Cast
 Monsters (2010) / int_7f8a8edd
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Amateur Cast: Besides the lead couple none of the cast members had any acting experience.
 Monsters (2010) / int_7f8a8edd
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_7f8a8edd
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_7f8a8edd
 Monsters (2010) / int_80251be3
type
How We Got Here
 Monsters (2010) / int_80251be3
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How We Got Here: The movie opens with a convoy of soldiers retrieving a young couple, then getting attacked by a giant alien which kills or wounds the woman. The rest of the movie depicts how the couple got to that point, but ends before actually reaching it.
 Monsters (2010) / int_80251be3
featureApplicability
1.0
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Monsters (2010) / int_80251be3
 Monsters (2010) / int_82518cf7
type
Motor Mouth
 Monsters (2010) / int_82518cf7
comment
Motor Mouth: Andrew whenever he's supposed to be quiet. The moment something mysterious happens, he's loudly asking "WHAT IS THAT? WHAT'S HAPPENING?". Probably largely due to the ad-libbed nature of the movie.
 Monsters (2010) / int_82518cf7
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_82518cf7
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_82518cf7
 Monsters (2010) / int_826f71ed
type
Obscured Special Effects
 Monsters (2010) / int_826f71ed
comment
Obscured Special Effects: Most of the time the aliens are shown at least one of several things occurs: we see small portions of them, they are shown through blurry amateur video or night vision, or they are seen when it is very dark. This was done to conserve the very low budget for the few shots where we do see the whole creature unobscured. Plus, anything more elaborate would have been a nightmare for director Gareth Edwards, who did all the special effects by himself with off-the-shelf software.
 Monsters (2010) / int_826f71ed
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1.0
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_826f71ed
 Monsters (2010) / int_863fa679
type
What Happened to the Mouse?
 Monsters (2010) / int_863fa679
comment
What Happened to the Mouse?: We never learn what originally happened to Sam's arm.
 Monsters (2010) / int_863fa679
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_863fa679
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_863fa679
 Monsters (2010) / int_8fed141a
type
Bloody Handprint
 Monsters (2010) / int_8fed141a
comment
Bloody Handprint: Seen on a wrecked yacht as the protagonists journey down the river in the Infected Zone.
 Monsters (2010) / int_8fed141a
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_8fed141a
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_8fed141a
 Monsters (2010) / int_91e894b4
type
Apocalypse How
 Monsters (2010) / int_91e894b4
comment
Apocalypse How: A Class 0, with northern Mexico and the border region infested by giant-sized extraterrestrial fauna that leave a lot of Urban Ruins.
 Monsters (2010) / int_91e894b4
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1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_91e894b4
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_91e894b4
 Monsters (2010) / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 Monsters (2010) / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: Andrew's earlier rant about seeing monsters up close winds up basically coming true. He doesn't take the picture though.
 Monsters (2010) / int_9d12bbc1
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1.0
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_9d12bbc1
 Monsters (2010) / int_a33b90b2
type
Improv
 Monsters (2010) / int_a33b90b2
comment
Improv: The film was shot opportunistically, with little to no outline of scenes and their direction. The two actors were given a general outline of scenes and simply interacted with one another and the other cast members, all whom are not actors. All the scenes and shots were improvised as well.
 Monsters (2010) / int_a33b90b2
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_a33b90b2
 Monsters (2010) / int_a4c37cbe
type
Mood Whiplash
 Monsters (2010) / int_a4c37cbe
comment
Mood Whiplash: Lampshaded by Andrew after he fills Samantha in on how his son's mother (they'd only spent 2 months together) had screwed him over regarding visitation.
 Monsters (2010) / int_a4c37cbe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_a4c37cbe
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_a4c37cbe
 Monsters (2010) / int_abf75585
type
Checkpoint Charlie
 Monsters (2010) / int_abf75585
comment
Checkpoint Charlie: Subverted. When the protagonists arrive at the huge wall at the US border they find it abandoned, as the aliens have overrun it.
 Monsters (2010) / int_abf75585
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-0.3
 Monsters (2010) / int_abf75585
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1.0
 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_abf75585
 Monsters (2010) / int_ac7471b0
type
The Dead Have Names
 Monsters (2010) / int_ac7471b0
comment
The Dead Have Names: Just before going into the Infected Zone, the pair visit a memorial filled with candles and pictures of those who had died. Also present is a memorial of nothing but scattered bones (skulls most prominently) marked as "Unknown Dead".
 Monsters (2010) / int_ac7471b0
featureApplicability
1.0
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_ac7471b0
 Monsters (2010) / int_ba5436eb
type
The Great Wall
 Monsters (2010) / int_ba5436eb
comment
The Great Wall: The film has a huge wall being built at the Mexican border to prevent giant aliens from entering the US, though it's proving not to be very successful. Those living in the Infected Zone joke that the giant wall erected around them by the US government will eventually be built around the world.
 Monsters (2010) / int_ba5436eb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_ba5436eb
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_ba5436eb
 Monsters (2010) / int_bc74ef27
type
Berserk Button
 Monsters (2010) / int_bc74ef27
comment
Berserk Button: Fighter jets flying overhead send the giant aliens into a killing rampage, presumably because they've come to associate the sound with Death from Above.
 Monsters (2010) / int_bc74ef27
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_bc74ef27
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_bc74ef27
 Monsters (2010) / int_bff6c493
type
Crazy Homeless People
 Monsters (2010) / int_bff6c493
comment
Crazy Homeless People: The only person left in the Texas Evacuated Zone is a mentally-ill bag lady who apparently didn't evacuate with the sane folks.
 Monsters (2010) / int_bff6c493
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_bff6c493
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_bff6c493
 Monsters (2010) / int_c34a1799
type
Kaiju
 Monsters (2010) / int_c34a1799
comment
Kaiju: The big, tentacly blue whale-sized aliens that stomp around on huge spider legs, fight the military (despite not actually being antagonistic) and smash things tick enough boxes to qualify.
 Monsters (2010) / int_c34a1799
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_c34a1799
 Monsters (2010) / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Monsters (2010) / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: Considering it's taking strange huge creatures, unnaturally introducing them to a foreign environment and then failing to contain them, it makes sense Jurassic Park was cited as the main influence. One of the soldiers on patrol in the opening scene hums "Ride of the Valkyries," calling it his personal theme song, in a clear homage to Apocalypse Now.
 Monsters (2010) / int_c75df49a
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_c75df49a
 Monsters (2010) / int_d0f0a80d
type
One-Word Title
 Monsters (2010) / int_d0f0a80d
comment
One-Word Title: The title is Monsters, if you didn't notice.
 Monsters (2010) / int_d0f0a80d
featureApplicability
1.0
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_d0f0a80d
 Monsters (2010) / int_d332bf54
type
Lampshaded
 Monsters (2010) / int_d332bf54
comment
Lampshaded by Andrew after he fills Samantha in on how his son's mother (they'd only spent 2 months together) had screwed him over regarding visitation.
 Monsters (2010) / int_d332bf54
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_d332bf54
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_d332bf54
 Monsters (2010) / int_e9f517e1
type
Artistic License – Geography
 Monsters (2010) / int_e9f517e1
comment
Artistic License – Geography: So apparently there are thick rainforests and Mayan ziggurats just south of the Rio Grande, since the main characters stand atop a ziggurat while looking at the American border wall.
 Monsters (2010) / int_e9f517e1
featureApplicability
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_e9f517e1
 Monsters (2010) / int_f56aeb67
type
Alien Invasion
 Monsters (2010) / int_f56aeb67
comment
Alien Invasion: An accidental incursion by beings that, aside from being incredibly deadly to humans, behave like normal animals.
 Monsters (2010) / int_f56aeb67
featureApplicability
1.0
 Monsters (2010) / int_f56aeb67
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 Monsters (2010)
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Monsters (2010) / int_f56aeb67
 Monsters (2010) / int_fd1b902c
type
Non-Malicious Monster
 Monsters (2010) / int_fd1b902c
comment
Non-Malicious Monster: It's heavily implied if not downright stated that the aliens aren't the aggressive monsters that they are perceived as. Sure they look scary, especially given they're nocturnal and their appearance. They do hurt and even kill people but this is probably curiosity, self defense and just their sheer size. During the finale, two of the creatures meet up in an awe-inspiring light show and completely ignore the humans nearby. This is made explicitly clear in Monsters: Dark Continent, as none of the onscreen deaths are caused by the creatures, and it's obvious that the locals could adapt just fine their presence.
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Monsters (2010)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Alien Works / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Bloody Handprint / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Checkpoint Charlie / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Crazy Homeless People / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Deadly Road Trip / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Escalating Punchline / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Films of the 2010s – Franchises / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
If It Bleeds, It Leads / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Improv / int_995508b0
 Monsters 2010
seeAlso
Monsters (2010)
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Motor Mouth / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Non-Malicious Monster / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Obscured Special Effects / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Run for the Border / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Runaway Bride / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
Terraform / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
The Dead Have Names / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
The Great Wall / int_995508b0
 Monsters (2010)
hasFeature
What Do You Mean, It's Not Political? / int_995508b0