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[Review] ‘Monochrome’ Isn’t Quite the Character Study It Strives to Be

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There are few things as satisfying as watching a compelling psychological thriller on a chilly day. Of course, after a lifetime of enjoying such occasions one might eventually run out of movies like Seven or Silence of the Lambs and be forced to look for lesser known titles in order to fill that void. Thomas Lawes‘ Monochrome is the latest in this long line of thrillers, though it might not be the serial killer investigation you were expecting.

Monochrome follows Cosmo Jarvis as Gabriel Lenard, a synesthetic investigator on the hunt for Emma Rose (Jo Woodcock), a young woman involved in a nation-wide financial scandal. As Emma attempts to evade the authorities by fleeing to the British countryside, she unwittingly discovers her talents as a serial killer, preying on wealthy individuals. A curious game of cat and mouse ensues, as Gabriel must confront his own peculiar flaws in order to catch this unassuming killer.

As far as crime dramas go, the plot is actually fairly original, and avoids the usual pitfalls of clichéd serial-killer investigations by presenting a less theatrical take on murder. Gabriel himself serves as an unorthodox protagonist, lacking most of the noir-inspired features endemic to the genre. Overall, the narrative itself is the strongest part of the film, with several layers of nuanced characters and even some social critique thrown in for good measure.

Unfortunately, the creativity present behind the plot doesn’t quite extend to the rest of the movie. In other hands, this script might have blossomed into a genuine genre classic, but some uninspired direction, frigid pacing and limited production value keep Monochrome from achieving greatness.

This surface-level approach to the story can get frustrating, especially when the film treats incredibly interesting plot elements like Gabriel’s synesthesia as side notes, represented by lackluster visuals. It’s disappointing that the movie doesn’t quite evolve into the fascinating character study that it could have been.

Nevertheless, both Jarvis and Woodcock provide the film with compelling performances, it’s just a shame that so little is done with their unique characters. The movie ultimately succeeds in making us sympathize with these flawed individuals, but most of the hard-hitting emotional beats are saved for the last act, and by then many viewers will already have tuned out.

Monochrome is far from a bad movie, boasting a strong script and excellent casting, it’s just weighed down by some questionable creative decisions and a bloated runtime. The film has all the ingredients for a memorable thriller, but ultimately comes up short due to its execution. It might still entertain those willing to endure a few boring scenes in order to get to the meat of the story (which is legitimately interesting), but others should probably give this one a pass.

Monochrome will be available on VOD and Home Video June 6th!

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

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SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

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As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

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