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Monsters of California

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Rent Monsters of California on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Audience Reviews

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Tom DeLonge

Jack Samson

Casper Van Dien

Camille Kostek

Richard Kind

Arianne Zucker

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Critics reviews.

REVIEW: Tom DeLonge's Monsters of California Rocks When It Focuses on the Laughs

The Blink182 singer's directorial debut, Monsters of California, entertains when it brings the laughs and not the overcooked drama.

The average person knows Tom DeLonge for his time in Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves; however, he also holds an interest in other areas such as clothing, art, and the paranormal. Now, DeLonge can add co-writer and director to his list of accolades with the release of his feature film directorial debut, Monsters of California , which finds a way to combine the sophomoric sense of humor of Blink182 and his obsession with the supernatural. The resulting effort is a surprisingly entertaining film , even if it does falter in its emotional peaks.

Written by DeLonge and Ian Miller, Monsters of California follows teenager Dallas Edwards (Jack Samson) and his friends Ripley (Jared Scott) and Toe (Jack Lancaster) as they discover top-secret supernatural research left behind by Dallas' missing father. The teenagers, along with Dallas' new love interest, Kelly (Gabrielle Haugh), explore the conspiracy theories while trying to avoid the government official Captain Jim Myers (Casper Van Dien) on their tail.

From a narrative perspective, Monsters of California doesn't tell an entirely unique story. The main beats prove to be predictable, and there's no real twist that will catch the audience off guard. That said, the chemistry between Samson, Scott, and Lancaster more than makes up for the lack of originality here. They capture the spirit of 2000s teen comedies in their interactions with each other, as their funny moments evoke more than a few laughter-induced belly aches. Toe, in particular, shines as pure comedic relief -- never missing an opportunity to channel his inner Pauly Shore in how he responds (and overreacts) to perilous situations.

The trio delivers one of the best scenes in the film as they enter a haunted house. Combining elements of Goosebumps , Scary Movie , and Spielbergian sensibilities, this sequence of apparitional events provides a more entertaining and hilarious ghost encounter than the entirety of Disney's recent The Haunted Mansion . If there's ever any chance of a sequel to Monsters of California , these three actors need to be kept together at all costs because their synergy is off the charts.

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While the side-splitting moments land, the emotional scenes fall flat. They often feel forced, drawn out, and as if they belong in another movie. In fact, only Van Dien's Myers and Richard Kind's Dr. Eric Walker manage to carry their dramatic sections since they apply nuance and restraint in their performances. Van Dien steps up as the main antagonist of the film. At first glance, he comes across as a one-dimensional bad military man archetype, but his character arc develops, revealing more about him, his intentions, and his motivations. He's more than meets the eye in this story.

Visually, DeLonge showcases a keen eye for setting a scene aided by the crisp cinematography of Justyn Moro. While there are scenes that could have used a trim in the final edit, every shot remains clean and eye-catching for the audience -- never looking B-movie or low budget. From a visual effects perspective, there's a solid mix of practical and special splashed throughout the film, with the haunted house and climatic scenes having serious blockbuster qualities.

DeLonge's fellow Angels & Airwaves bandmate Ilan Rubin handles the score for Monsters of California , while DeLonge and Aaron Rubin produce. This is another high point of the film, as the filmmakers know when to switch from the electronic ambiance to Californian pop-punk panache. For fans of DeLonge's musical endeavors, the score never fails to be a treat for the ears.

While Monsters of California doesn't introduce anything new to the sci-fi genre and pales in comparison to something like Gareth Edwards' The Creator , it works as a breezy, entertaining feature that demonstrates DeLonge's aptitude as a filmmaker. Without a doubt, he possesses a knack for teen comedy, and if he leans more into this aspect in his next film, the audience will be better off for it.

Monsters of California rolls into theaters and on-demand on Friday, October 6.

Monsters of California

By Jason Delgado | October 6, 2023

NOW IN THEATERS AND VOD! Have you ever thought to yourself that you’d like to see a R-rated version of The Goonies , but with older teenage kids and Tom DeLonge from the band Blink-182’s sensibilities? Well, if that’s the case, first-time filmmaker Tom DeLonge and co-writer Ian Miller have got you covered with their new film Monsters of California . It’s got punk-rock, skateboarding, San Diego, aliens, and deep thoughts, all the things that fans of Blink-182 have come to know about Tom and his passions.

It’s great when a filmmaker can put their own unique stamp on a movie, and DeLonge has definitely done this here. Fans of punk rock will most likely notice an Easter egg or two, such as when the main character Dallas (Jack Samson) tells his mother Leah (Arianne Zucker) during an argument, “What are you trying to say, I’m crazy? When I went to your schools, I went to your churches.” It’s a line many punk rockers already have ingrained in their heads straight out of Suicidal Tendencies classic punk anthem, “Institution.”

The film follows Dallas and his buddies Toe (Jack Lancaster) and Riley (Jared Scott), along with eventual love interest and partner in crime Kelly (Gabrielle Haugh), as they go on a quest to figure out a mystery involving Dallas’ long-lost father, paranormal events and aliens. Standing in the way of their quest is Myers (Casper Van Dien), a mysterious former military co-worker of Dallas’ dad and family friend, who is keeping a close eye on Dallas and his strange activities.

“…figure out a mystery involving Dallas’ long-lost father, paranormal events, and aliens .”

Monsters of California also has a strong connection to Tom’s other prominent band, Angels & Airwaves, because bandmate Ilan Rubin did the music, and their musical style always had an otherworldly quality, which fits this movie perfectly.

I enjoyed seeing the raw acting style of the newcomers Samson, Lancaster, Scott and Haugh, and their chemistry together seemed natural. Casper Van Dien always brings a magnetic charm, even as a possible villain here. Veteran character actor Richard Kind, as the kids’ mentor, Dr. Walker, a resident alien expert, is quirky as a character who tries to ground theories that most people find absurd.

The first half of the movie felt fun and unpredictable, as an adventure film of this type should, but the last half lost some of that steam. The creatures and mysterious bits were cool but felt too few and far between. I know that it’s difficult to maintain those kinds of effects on a small budget, but I personally would have liked to have seen more. There’s a beautiful location scene in San Diego that’s a backdrop for the beginning of the romance between Dallas and Kelly. Give me more San Diego, punk rock, and everything Tom DeLonge. He’s got a unique style. It would have been nice to get even more of it on screen, along with the love story, which felt underdeveloped.

Overall, Monsters of California is a fine first film for Tom DeLonge, which could have been even better. “All the small things” add up, to quote a title from Blink-182. I’m sure that Tom did his best with the limited time and budget resources. Fans of DeLonge’s bands should definitely give this supernatural adventure flick a watch because the same Blink sensibilities may have them “feeling this.”

Monsters of California (2023)

Directed: Tom DeLonge

Written: Ian Miller

Starring: Jack Samson, Arianne Zucker, Casper Van Dien, Richard Kind, Jack Lancaster, Jared Scott, Gabrielle Haugh, etc.

Movie score: 6/10

"…Fans of DeLonge's bands should definitely give this supernatural adventure flick a watch..."

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Monsters of California (2023)

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MONSTERS OF CALIFORNIA – Review

The title MONSTERS OF CALIFORNIA intends to refer to a variety of entities sought by three adventuresome teen lads. We meet them hunting ghosts and demons before they shift into pursuing urban legend myths and ultimately trying to prove UFOs have been visiting from other worlds. The title unintentionally winds up equally applying to many of the mere mortals among them.

Dallas Edward’s (Jack Samson) dad was a Navy pilot, presumed dead from a secrecy-shrouded mission some years before. His smart pal Riley (Jared Scott) and their goofy stoner cohort nicknamed Toe (Jack Lancaster) crash headlong into conflicts with military and covert government entities thwarting their efforts while also dogging them in search of some intel Dallas’ dad may have left behind. That bunch is headed by Casper Van Dien, playing yet another stern military man – this time with suspense in whether his motives are good, evil or mixed. Along the way, Dallas finds a potential love interest in newcomer Kelly (Gabrielle Haugh) after their rom-com-esque meet-cute.

For kickers, Dallas is pissed that his mom is dating some bland fellow, despite lingering doubt as to whether her hubby is deceased rather than MIA. Dallas yearns for the latter to be true, and hopes to discover an extant father who had to lie low for some noble purpose. Or at least to get closure from confirming dad’s demise as a byproduct of their broader quest. Three of the kids provide fairly intelligent curiosity; Toe adds the comic relief that toking sidekicks contribute to most of the cabin-in-the-woods fright-fests.

The proceedings are more frenetic than amusing or profound, except for the several times they come to a grinding halt for windy monologues about protecting the environment. All the “message” efforts about governmental cover-ups and ecology ring hollow. The film never quite settles on being something coherent within a genre. It starts off as a horror flick, dangles bits of soap opera and coming-of-age themes, before lurching into sci-fi and conspiracy territory, with an overriding “who can you believe?” theme. Playful and profound do not blend well in director/co-writer Tom DeLonge’s (of Blink182) script. The title could have been CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE WORST KIND.

The most intriguing feature comes from Richard Kind, who built a fine career of playing a wide range of annoying doofuses (doofi?). He’s spot-on in a role calling for a scholarly look, demeanor and intellect straight out of Alfred Molina’s wheelhouse. Nice to see Kind’s stretch, albeit in an otherwise unsatisfying package.

MONSTERS OF CALIFORNIA debuts Friday, Oct. 6, in theaters and streaming on demand.

RATING: 1.5 out of 4 stars

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Monsters of california.

2023 Directed by Tom DeLonge

Teenager Dallas Edwards and his derelict friends go on a quest for the meaning behind a series of mysterious, paranormal events in Southern California. The truths they uncover begin to unravel extraordinary secrets.

Jack Samson Jack Lancaster Jared Scott Gabrielle Haugh Arianne Zucker Camille Kostek Casper Van Dien Richard Kind Roman Sayer Cote Jay Bringham Avery Clyde Eric Scott Woods Ian Eyre Michael Franklin Shon Richard Kitchen Dane DiLiegro Matt Rubano J. Teddy Garces London Cote Jonas DeLonge Tran Hoang

Director Director

Tom DeLonge

Producers Producers

Tom DeLonge Eric Scott Woods Anthony Fankhauser Stan Spry Russell Binder Kami Norton

Writers Writers

Tom DeLonge Ian Miller

Casting Casting

Editors editors.

Richard B. Molina Caleb Mallery

Cinematography Cinematography

Justyn Moro

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Dave Casper Joshua Glassman Jeremy Gerke

Lighting Lighting

Pierre Habib

Production Design Production Design

Laura Lahti

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Rebecca Contreras Daniel Amimoto Justin Bohorquez Xavier Mozejewski

Special Effects Special Effects

Tom Spera Brian Bero Joe Eckstein randy pike

Stunts Stunts

Ian Eyre Chris Silcox Tony Taboada

Sound Sound

Rusty Dunn Jonathan Scott Jared Orlando Tony Soils

Costume Design Costume Design

Isabel Mandujano

Makeup Makeup

Austyn Cuccia Elite Rothstein Samantha Telford

The Cartel Striker Entertainment To The Stars

Releases by Date

Theatrical limited, 06 oct 2023, releases by country.

• Theatrical limited https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13298500/?ref_=ttrel_ov_i

110 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Superargo ★★ 4

Hahahahahaha good lord. Tom DeLonge’s magnum opus, and to say that he throws EVERYTHING at us is an understatement. A gang of douchey stoner/skater bros. Lights in the sky. Hidden military underground bunkers. Pretty blond girls. A dewy-eyed, whisper-voiced, winsome, earnest main character who’ll remind you of Max fucking Landis. Domestic strife. An MIA dad. UFOs. A SASQUATCH (!!!!!!!). Richard Kind as a mysterious, bearded old guy living in the desert in a trailer with newspaper clippings taped to the walls. ENDLESS weed jokes, shit jokes, and “I think I wanna fuck your mom” jokes. There’s even a GHOST that shows up in the opening sequence (and is never discussed or referred to again!). It’s a godawful trashy cringey mess…

Review by joshrowley ★★

Curious; earnest; juvenile; lo-fi; overvoiceovered; self-serious; uneven; unscary.

Review by Joel Hilke ★½ 2

Monsters of California is a sci-fi movie I should have liked... by law. I like the gonzo philosophies and borderline magical realism it trades in... in theory. But it's so cheap and amateurish, it gets in its own way at every step.

The flick is about a bunch of ghost hunting teens who mock religion because it's not scientific enough. I guess they contain multitudes. Anyway, something something government conspiracies and UFOs.

The dialog in this movie is cringe (and I don't use the word often). It's borderline childish, like it was written by a very doped up teenager who finally realized, like, space is infinite, man. And also punching your friends in the dick is hilarious. Like... wow... how…

Review by sillycatmom ★★★★½

Wow did I have fun with this movie! Tom deLonge did a great job. Now if you are into Conspiracy Theories , you will like this movie. Tom covers it all. If this theme is Nonsense to you, pass on it! The friends were just trying to discover truths. They believed nothing but were willing to go along with Dallas’ theories. They cursed, a lot and got scared and laughed ALOT. It’s almost two hours long but worth the watch. Every Conspiracy you can imagine is mentioned. Enjoy this! Keep an open mind.

Review by Nik Carr ★★★★★

Hey Mom, there’s something in California

Review by Marya E. Gates ½

so ineptly made that it defies even the "technically a movie" label

Review by BenGrayeyard ★★½

It’s pretty cool that the dude from Blink 182 directed this film. Tom DeLonge has been very vocal about the existence of UFOs, and he felt very vindicated when “the government” acknowledged their existence. 

I got very excited when I saw Casper Van Dien was in this. Clearly this was going to be an awesome sci-fi creature feature!  Boy was I wrong. There are some super sappy moments, which made it so that I can’t recommend this one. It’s not bad though.

Review by Joey G. ★★★★

I really, really hope that people understand what Tom is trying to tell us with this film because I don't think people are getting it. Yes, the main story is fictional (For the most part), but about every 15 minutes, you get hit with some REAL information. Real concepts of time and reality that is not at all easy to explain, and that's what this film is truly about: taking a very convoluted subject matter that your average person can't even fathom, and trying to explain it through a fun, Amblin inspired story. I can't even call it reading between the lines because it's spoon fed to you at times, but I hope people are willing to set their personal…

Review by DeSvenster ★★★

By no means a top quality movie or anything, but I'll eat anything out-of-the-box and into the unknown. And I did have a good and cozy time.

Review by Chelle Soto ★

Close Encounters of the Richard Kind

Review by j “huge sigh” cassar ★½

Plan 182 from Outer Space

Review by 🎥 Kemper ★★★

If you’re a fan of Tom Delonge and you’ve kept up on all his work with To the Stars then you’ll probably have fun with this, while it’s not even close to perfect as a film it still feels like there’s so much passion behind it. Of course it’s got the dick jokes and stupid childish humor that a lot of people love about Tom, myself included, but film also takes everything that Tom spent many years chasing and packs it into the film. Whether you believe anything he’s said or uncovered in his work with To the Stars or not, the film does have a nice message at the end while not truly trying to offend anyone’s beliefs. It…

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CULTURE MIX

Where Lifestyle Cultures Blend

Review: ‘Monsters of California,’ starring Jack Samson, Gabrielle Haugh, Jack Lancaster, Jared Scott, Casper Van Dien and Richard Kind

Arts and Entertainment

Arianne Zucker , Camille Kostek , Casper Van Dien , comedy , Gabrielle Haugh , Jack Lancaster , Jack Samson , Jared Scott , Jay Bingham , Monsters of California , movies , reviews , Richard Kind , Roman Sayer Cote , sci-fi , science fiction , Tom DeLonge

October 31, 2023

by Carla Hay

“Monsters of California”

Directed by Tom DeLonge

Culture Representation:  Taking place in the San Diego area, the sci-fi comedy film “Monsters of California” features a nearly all-white cast of characters (with one African American person and one Latin person) representing the working-class and middle-class.

Culture Clash:  Three teenage buddies team up with a teenage girl and a scientist to solve the mystery of what the government agent father of one of the friends was investigating before the father disappeared. 

Culture Audience:  “Monsters of California” will appeal primarily to people who are fans director/co-writer Tom DeLonge (who is best known for being a singer/guitarist in the rock band Blink-182), because hardly anyone else will be able to tolerate this time-wasting and wretched film.

Completely awful on every single level, “Monsters of California” takes a mishandled detour from paranormal investigations of ghosts to hidden conspiracies about outer-space aliens. The movie’s three vapid and annoying lead characters make everything worse. It’s a comedy in name only, because the so-called jokes are not funny and are mostly pathetic.

Tom DeLonge, an on-again/off-again singer/guitarist for the rock band Blink-182, makes his feature-film directorial debut with “Monsters of California.” DeLonge co-wrote the “Monsters of California” screenplay with Ian Miller and Ben Kull. It would be a little too presumptuous to tell DeLonge, “Don’t quit your day job” as a musician, just because his first movie as a director is a stinker. There’s always potential to improve, but “Monsters of California” shows that DeLonge has a lot to learn about filmmaking.

“Monsters of California” takes place in the San Diego area, where three teenage pals spend their free time as amateur paranormal investigators. The three friends are supposed to be about 17, but the actors portraying these characters look like they’re in their mid-to-late 20s. The leader and irritating narrator of this trio is Dallas (played by Jack Samson), who spends too much time rambling with idiotic commentary throughout this dreadful movie.

For example, in the opening scene, Dallas says in a mindless voiceover: “Want to know something crazy? Time is an illusion. Physicists say that the past, present and future exist at the exact same moment. Like every possible thing that can occur is occurring all at once. So yeah, I guess I’m going to try to explain the unexplainable.” One thing that’s unexplainable: Why anyone thought this horrible screenplay was worth making into a movie.

Dallas’ two best friends are dimwitted stoner Toe (played by Jack Lancaster) and pretty boy Tyler (played by Jared Scott), two cretins who show more than a hint of misogyny in how they objectify women. The character of Toe is the worst. His nickname should’ve been Toe Fungus, which describes his personality.

Dallas is interested in the paranormal, partly because his government agent father disappeared three years ago while on the job and is presumed dead. Dallas’ father left behind a paranormal notebook that Dallas uses as his guide. The notebook has locations with known paranormal activity.

In an early scene in the movie, the three buddies visit an abandoned house that is the closest suspected paranormal location to them. They see a ghostly demon (which Tyler calls Mr. Asshole) that knocks over a few things in the house and scares off Dallas, Toe and Tyler, who run quickly away from the house. None of it comes close to looking believable.

“Monsters of California” is such a messy and disjointed film that it completely abandons the ghost storyline and then goes down an erratic path of outer-space aliens and conspiracy theories. If you saw the trailer for “Monsters of California” before seeing the movie, then you will already know that Dallas’ father Myers (played by Casper Van Dien) is still alive. The trailer reveals a lot about the movie, including how horrendous it is.

The U.S. government is looking for a secret GPS device that Myers had but he kept hidden. Dallas finds the device and some secret journals that were also hidden by his father. It all leads to a part of a story that you can figure out quicker than you can say, “Some people made a horrible movie that tries to be like ‘The Goonies’ in a place like Area 51.”

Along the way, Dallas meets a teenage love interest named Kelly (played by Gabrielle Haugh), who sneaks out of her house to join Dallas, Toe and Tyler on their misadventure. And here comes another sci-fi stereotype: the misunderstood scientist who’s gone rogue because he doesn’t agree with what the government wants to do with his research. This scientist is Dr. Walker (played by Richard Kind), who invented the GPS device that the government is desperate to have. Longtime actor Kind is the only person in this move’s cast who gives an adequate performance, but it’s hampered by such a witless screenplay.

“Monsters of California” has a poorly acted subplot about Dallas being unhappy that his religious mother Leah (played by Arianne Zucker) plans to marry her boyfriend Myron (played by Jay Bingham), who’s been dating her for about a year. Dallas, who believes that his father Myers might still be alive, thinks Myron is a dorky interloper who doesn’t deserve to be a part of the family. Dallas has two younger siblings: outspoken teen sister Meg (played by Camille Kostek) approves of Myron, while quiet brother Roman (played by Roman Sayer Cote), who’s about 8 or 9, has a blank personality.

There aren’t very many redeeming qualities about “Monsters of California,” which becomes more frantic in its foolishness, as the movie stumbles over plot hole after plot hole. The visual effects look very amateurish. And almost every character in the movie is unbearable to watch. “Monsters of California” is the type of sci-fi misfire about outer-space aliens that will make you wish that the aliens could zap this repellant movie into oblivion so no one else will have the misfortune of watching it.

Screen Media Films released “Monsters of California” in select U.S. cinemas, on digital and VOD on October 6, 2023. The movie will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on December 5, 2023.

Monsters of California Video Review

Tom DeLonge’s eagerly anticipated film, Monsters of California is a brash sci-fi comedy tailor-made for viewers who grew up loving late-night monster movies. But there’s a bigger story at play here tied to DeLonge’s involvement in the UFO disclosure movement. The latest UFO Movie Club episode covers Monsters of California , and delves into how the film ties into DeLonge’s attempts to expand public awareness regarding UFOs/UAPs.

Monsters of California synopsis:

Teenager Dallas Edwards, and his derelict friends on a quest for the meaning behind a series of mysterious, paranormal events in Southern California.

Let me know your thoughts about Monsters of California on X  and in the comments below.  If you enjoyed this review, please help out the site by sharing it on social media. And keep coming back to  VSR  for new reviews, interviews, and videos. 

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Blink-182's Tom DeLonge Makes His Directorial Debut in 'Monsters of California' Trailer

The sci-fi thriller stars Richard Kind.

Hey mom, there's something in the back room - and it is the creature from above. The new trailer for Screen Media's Monsters of California , the feature directorial debut of Blink-182 's Tom DeLonge , showcases a group of teenage conspiracy theorists who learn from a bearded Richard Kind that aliens do indeed exist.

Slated to hit theaters and video on demand October 6, the film will focus on teenage outcast Dallas ( Zodiac 's Jack Samson ) and his friends, who fancy themselves paranormal investigators - and soon become convinced that there's an alien conspiracy afoot in their small Southern California town. The team is assisted by Dr. Walker ( Beau is Afraid 's Kind), who reveals that aliens are all too real. They breach a government facility and lay their eyes upon what appears to be a real alien; mayhem ensues, to the strains of an eerie version of Blink-182's 1999 song, "Aliens Exist". The film also stars Casper Van Dien ( Starship Troopers ), Camille Kostek ( Free Guy ) and Arianne Zucker ( Days of Our Lives ).

Tom DeLonge, Alien Hunter?

"Aliens Exist", a track off Blink-182's 1999 breakout album Enema of the State , may have been a surprisingly accurate look into DeLonge's interests. A co-founder, singer, and guitarist for the venerable pop-punk band, DeLonge left the group in 2014, but has rejoined them for their current world tour; he has also been in the news in recent years thanks to his real-life interest in aliens, UFOs, and other Fortean phenomena. He runs a company, To the Stars, devoted to fringe science theories; they produced the History Channel series Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation . Outside the realms of music and UFOlogy, DeLonge is also set to produce the Tubi animated series Breaking Bear .

Monsters of California will debut in theaters and on demand October 6. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates, and watch the trailer below.

Screen Rant

Monster of california trailer: blink 182's tom delonge reveals directorial debut about aliens.

The Monsters of California trailer reveals Blink-182 member Tom DeLonge's directorial debut about his longtime fascination – the existence of aliens.

• Tom DeLonge, of Blink-182 fame, makes his directorial debut with the sci-fi film Monsters of California, following a group of teenagers on a quest to uncover evidence of aliens in Southern California.
• The trailer reveals the storyline and cast, including Jack Samson, Casper Van Dien, Camille Kostek, Richard Kind, and Arianne Zucker.
• Monsters of California continues Tom DeLonge's longtime fascination with aliens which provided the basis for the Blink-182 song "Aliens Exist," which is used in the trailer.

The Monsters of California trailer reveals Blink-182 member Tom DeLonge's directorial debut about his longtime fascination – the existence of aliens. The first film from DeLonge, who is best known as the guitarist and vocalist of Blink-182, follows a group of teenagers who attempt to uncover a government conspiracy hiding evidence of aliens and UFOs in Southern California. The Monsters of California cast includes Jack Samson, Casper Van Dien, Camille Kostek, Richard Kind, and Arianne Zucker.

On Thursday, Screen Media Films released the official trailer for Tom DeLonge's directorial debut Monsters of California . Check it out below:

The trailer follows teenager Dallas Edwards who, after discovering research left behind by his father, embarks on an adventure with his misfit high school friends to uncover a government conspiracy hiding extraterrestrial secrets in Southern California. Appropriately, the trailer features a version of the Blink-182 song "Aliens Exist" off their smash hit album from 1999, Enema of the State .

Monsters of California Continues Tom DeLonge's Longtime Fascination With Aliens

DeLonge's longtime fascination with the otherworldly provided the basis for "Aliens Exist," a silly song about the existence of extraterrestrial life. Over 20 years later, his fascination hasn't wavered and is now providing the basis for a feature-length film, which appears to be more serious in tone. In fact, the ethereal version of "Aliens Exist" used in the trailer takes on a different context compared to the playful pop-punk version from the original album. It's apparent that DeLonge has a serious interest in the topic and has a profound love for those who attempt to uncover evidence of aliens.

Related: 1 Upcoming Sci-Fi Movie Is Way More Exciting After Blink-182's Tom DeLonge Alien & UFO Update

DeLonge's interest in aliens extends beyond a song and movie. After stepping away from the band in 2015, his continued investigation into UFOs led to him launching the company, To the Stars, which includes former Pentagon officer Luis Elizondo as a key member. In fact, the company was instrumental in the United States government releasing military footage of an unidentified aircraft in 2017, which prompted the Pentagon to formally establish the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Whether these events directly inspired the plot of Monsters of California remains to be seen when the movie releases October 6 in theaters and on-demand.

Source: Screen Media Films

Review: ‘Monsters of the American Cinema’ confronts the horror in grief

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The first thing you notice about the set for “Monsters of the American Cinema,” a recent play by Christian St. Croix that’s having its Los Angeles premiere at the Matrix Theatre in a Rogue Machine production, is the glow of black and white horror films.

Lighting designer Ric Zimmerman has captured to perfection that cozy hue when you’re curled up in a blanket on the couch engrossed in an old movie that’s doing its best to scare you to death. But in this case, the otherworldly glare is more prominent than usual because Remy (Kevin Daniels) and “Pup” (Logan Leonardo Arditty) live in a motor home on the lot of the Good Time Drive-In in Santee, Calif.

This is the family business of a nontraditional family. Remy was married to Pup’s father, the owner of the cinema who lost his life to drug addiction. Pup is still in high school, and Remy, a Black gay man with an outsize personality, is raising him while managing the drive-in.

“Talk to Oprah,” Remy says to Pup, who’s nervous that his date for homecoming is going to expect him to dance. Normal adolescent stuff, except life in this household has been anything but normal.

Images of Frankenstein’s monster, the Werewolf and the Creature from the Black Lagoon wreaking destruction flicker in the background. But even more terrifying are reports of everyday horror — a gay bashing in the gay-friendly part of San Diego, an episode of cruel LGBTQ+ bullying at the high school, the treacherous specter of drug abuse and the inexorable phantom of death.

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To contend with the weight of their grief and trauma, Remy and Pup find escape in American horror classics. They’re both walking encyclopedias of the genre, able to reel off titles of films, popular and obscure, with the alacrity of true aficionados.

“Monsters of the American Cinema” unfolds in part through tandem monologues. Remy and Pup take turns filling the audience in on their backstory. The nature of their relationship is perhaps the sweetest element of the play. Remy is learning on the fly how to be a caretaker while Pup is figuring out through trial and error how to let someone look after him. They both have been burned by betrayal and loss, so trust is hard to come by. But they keep loving anyway.

St. Croix has written these characters with unflinching honesty. There’s grit in his depiction of their battered lives and capacious empathy in the way he honors their impressive resilience. These qualities are magnified in Rogue Machine’s production, directed with exquisite sensitivity by founding artistic director John Perrin Flynn.

The unorthodox domestic arrangement and horror movie dimension of “Monsters of the American Cinema” are adroitly realized in the snug scenic design by Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, the eerie soundscape by Christopher Moscatiello, the invigorating graphic and projection design of Michelle Hanzelova-Bierbauer and the haunting quality of Zimmerman’s lighting. But the play’s dramatic engine isn’t as well developed as the general situation of the characters or the resonant monster movie metaphor.

The duologues do perhaps too much of the play’s work. Not enough of the core material is dramatized. The playwright occasionally preempts the audience’s discovery with direct address explanation.

In his portrayal of Remy, Daniels nicely draws out the paternal fretfulness of an accidental dad. He fully inhabits the range of feelings of his character, who is still navigating his way through his bereavement. If the performance could use a bit more restraint in critical moments, it’s only to allow the audience the opportunity to connect the character’s interior dots without coaching.

Arditty brings an adolescent innocence that is as tumultuous as it is refreshing. There’s something unpredictable and even a touch dangerous about his Pup. The sorrow and anger repressed within him are as fearsome as the cinematic zombies, ghouls and homicidal maniacs that have seized his imagination.

St. Croix allows “Monsters of the American Cinema” to take a surreal turn, where dreams, reality and the movies blur into a coherent psychological story. The plot leaves a jumpy impression (the storytelling hasn’t yet settled into an assured rhythm), but the playwriting freedom is exhilarating.

As their performances grow in scale to match the black-and-white scenes of terror projected onto the stage, Daniels and Arditty ground these heightened moments in complicated family truth. They not only confront the monsters that have been stalking them, but together they find ways to coexist safely with what they fear most.

‘Monsters of the American Cinema’

Where: Rogue Machine (in the Matrix Theatre), 7657 Melrose Ave., L.A. When: 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays; 3 p.m. Sundays. (Check for exceptions.) Ends May 19 Contact: https://www.roguemachinetheatre.org/ or (855) 585-5185 Tickets: $45 Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

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Charles McNulty is the theater critic of the Los Angeles Times. He received his doctorate in dramaturgy and dramatic criticism from the Yale School of Drama.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Amazing, shocking new monsters in bloody doomsday horror.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Survival relies heavily on teamwork, and things ca

Thomas is somewhat irresponsible but still brave.

Main characters are White. Charlotte (Sadie Sovera

Shocking, bloody violence. Monster threatens and a

Brief teen kissing, flirting, hugging. Teen takes

Use of "crappy," "idiot," "shut up."

Adult smokes a cigar. Teen lights up a cigar, coug

Parents need to know that Arcadian is a post-apocalyptic monster movie in which a family (Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, and Maxwell Jenkins) tries to survive terrifying creatures that attack at night. Violence is brutal and often bloody, with monster threats/attacks, gun use, fighting monsters with knives and…

Positive Messages

Survival relies heavily on teamwork, and things can fall apart when one member of the team deviates from the plan. Sharing things is celebrated, while not sharing is eventually punished.

Positive Role Models

Thomas is somewhat irresponsible but still brave. Joseph helps his family, using his knowledge to build or invent useful things. He's very obedient to his father, but he also shows signs of being his own person. Charlotte is a strong woman who's ready to jump into battle. Paul is a survivor type who's mostly about teaching lessons and a little short on compassion. Characters show courage in dangerous situations.

Diverse Representations

Main characters are White. Charlotte (Sadie Soverall) is strong and thoughtful and fights bravely alongside the male characters. The only other woman is Charlotte's mom, who doesn't have much to do. The Rose family patriarch is played by Joe Dixon, an English actor born to Jamaican parents.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Shocking, bloody violence. Monster threatens and attacks. People fight monsters with knives and torches. Guns used to threaten and shoot. Killing monster with pitchfork and ax; head skitters across floor. Blood trails. Sounds of banging on door. Explosions. Buildings on fire. Bloody injuries. Dead bodies in bags (with sound of buzzing flies). Missiles. Sounds of bombs, sirens, and screaming. Anger. Brothers squabble with each other, grappling, slapping, choking, wrestling, throwing food, etc. Flying cockroach attack. Teen slips, hits head, falls into deep ditch. Grieving, mourning for characters who've died.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Brief teen kissing, flirting, hugging. Teen takes a second look at a picture of a pinup girl in a locker.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adult smokes a cigar. Teen lights up a cigar, coughs, and uses it to ignite a fuse.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Arcadian is a post-apocalyptic monster movie in which a family ( Nicolas Cage , Jaeden Martell , and Maxwell Jenkins) tries to survive terrifying creatures that attack at night. Violence is brutal and often bloody, with monster threats/attacks, gun use, fighting monsters with knives and torches, killing a monster with a pitchfork and ax (the monster's head skitters across the floor), blood trails, bloody injuries, scary noises, explosions, fire, a flying cockroach attack, fighting, and more. Characters also grieve for the dead. There's a bit of teen flirting, kissing, and hugging, and one teen takes a second look at a pinup photo. Language is limited to "crappy," "idiot," and "shut up." An adult smokes cigars, and a teen lights one up, but only to light a fuse (he coughs when he inhales). We've seen this story before, but this modest movie has an emotional pull and an amazing monster design. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

ARCADIAN takes place in a future where some kind of disaster has wiped out most of the human race, and hideous monsters roam at night. Paul ( Nicolas Cage ) has managed to live safely with his twin boys—thoughtful, clever Joseph ( Jaeden Martell ) and the bolder, more outgoing Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins)—for 15 years. They spend their days scavenging for supplies and reinforcing their home, while Joseph puts the finishing touches on a homemade truck. Occasionally, Thomas ventures over to a neighboring farm owned by the Roses (Samantha Coughlan and Joe Dixon), ostensibly to help out but really to visit their teen daughter, Charlotte ( Sadie Soverall ). One night, while returning home, Thomas gets trapped in a cave, and Paul is gravely injured while trying to rescue him. Worse, the incident has given the monsters a new idea for an attack.

Is It Any Good?

Its hide-and-survive scenario is hardly new, but this creature-by-night movie checks off the right boxes with its sympathetic characters and incredible, ever evolving monsters. Benjamin Brewer makes his solo directing debut with Arcadian (he previously made The Trust with his brother, Alex), and the result is an effective, low-budget take on stories like I Am Legend and A Quiet Place . It is, admittedly, a great idea, relying on just a few sets and characters. Paul has raised his sons in a no-nonsense way, getting down to basics. ("Are we not men?" he asks at dinner, stabbing his knife into the table, prompting the boys to do the same.) Their lifestyle is juxtaposed against that of the wealthier Rose family, who raise sheep and live in a much bigger house, guarded by a sentry. Charlotte even has a bedroom with toys in it. ("All we had to play with were rocks and sticks and bugs," says Thomas.) And, in relating to one another, the humans have little experience to draw from; the movie builds fascinating tension from this energy.

But it's the monsters that make it work. At first we only hear them. Then they seem ... ordinary. But they keep evolving, shooting out extra appendages or external mouths full of teeth. The most terrifying effect is the high-speed jackhammer chattering of their teeth, practically causing earthquakes, before they attack. And their method of travel is better seen than described. All in all, while less elaborate than its influences have been, Arcadian is a must-see for monster fans and proof that it's always possible to make an old story new again.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Arcadian 's violence . How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

Is the movie scary? Why do people enjoy horror movies ? Why is it sometimes fun to be scared?

How does the movie convey the importance of courage and teamwork ? Why are those important character strengths?

Do you consider Joseph and/or Thomas role models ? Why, or why not?

What's the appeal of monster movies? What can we learn about ourselves from watching monsters?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 12, 2024
• Cast : Nicolas Cage , Jaeden Martell , Maxwell Jenkins
• Director : Benjamin Brewer
• Inclusion Information : Asian actors
• Studios : RLJE Films , Shudder
• Genre : Horror
• Topics : Brothers and Sisters , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
• Run time : 91 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : bloody images
• Last updated : April 15, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Arcadian (2024) Movie Review

Plot summary.

A father, Paul, and his two boys, Joseph and Thomas, live in a world where humanity locks and boards up every door and window at night. Why? Because monstrous beings hunt at night and it does so in numbers that make fending for yourself a challenge.

Luckily, Paul has his boys, and Thomas has made friends, maybe even a girlfriend out of Charlotte, on a nearby farm. However, as the monsters seem to evolve or realize there are more ways to enter a home than through a window or doors, so comes the question of how Paul and his boys may survive as they are forced to find new ways to survive the night.

Content Information

• Dialog: Nothing Notable
• Violence: Gun Violence, Dismemberment, Blood, Torture, Notable Fight Scenes
• Sexual Content: N/A
• Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror, Drinking, Smoking

Question(s) Left Unanswered

• Where did these monsters come from, and how long have they’ve been roaming?
• Are these monsters mutated humans or just an alien species?
• Is the battle we see early in the movie and in the trailer a fight between humans or against the monsters? It is in the daytime, so wouldn’t the seemingly nocturnal monsters be hiding somewhere?

Characters and Cast Members

Character description(s).

Paul is a survivor of what happened to humanity. He has spent the last 15 years raising two boys he has found, teaching them everything he has learned so they can survive on their farm.

• The actor is also known for their role in “ Renfield .”

Joseph is the nerdier of the two boys, often reading and trying to research the monsters and these strange roach infestations that consistently appear in the movie. He also is interested in technology and might be an inventor of sorts.

• The actor is also known for their role in “ Knives Out .”

Thomas is the athletic one, the risk taker, and because of that, Paul worries about him far more than Joseph and is a bit harder on him.

• The actor is also known for their role in “ Wonder Woman 1984 .”

Charlotte is a young lady who lives on a more affluent farm than Paul, which includes sheep and lots of land, and her family even has money for stuff like medicine.

• The actor is also known for their role in “ The Last Exit .”

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Good If You Like

• Horror movies focused on characters with survival skills

Similar To This

• A Quiet Place : A movie also featuring monsters that only hunt humans under certain conditions, specifically if they make a sound.

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

How Freaky The Monsters Look

I don’t know how to describe the monsters beyond saying they look like something out of a “Resident Evil” game. They join together to make a wheel to chase down prey. They may have a standard, contortionist body, but then they open their mouths, and their jaw dislocates and rapidly opens and closes in the most freaky of manners. Then, when you add in the sound of it? Oh, the monsters become what could be the sole highlight.

The Lack Of Character Development Or World-Building

“Arcadian” isn’t the type of movie that gives you background or builds up its characters in a way that makes the possibility of them dying something that could make you emotional. Charlotte hints at what may have led to the world being as it is, but it is not treated as fact and is a literal thing she explains within less than a minute as a game she plays with Thomas. So, in terms of how the world ended up this way, when, and what is the overall state of society? You are given very little to go by.

The same can be said with the characters. Paul is a father and a farmer, and that’s the beginning of the end for him. Joseph is introverted, likes to read and draw, and is a bit of an inventor. Thomas? He runs fast, has a crush on a girl in his community, and is a bit more of a risk-taker. Charlotte? Beyond being a girl from a family doing well? There isn’t much to her as an individual.

Together, these aren’t characters you can get invested in or a world that pushes you to be curious or rewards you for asking questions or wanting to know more. This is a bare-bones film with very little to offer beyond scenes when the monsters attack.

Background Information

The post Arcadian (2024) Movie Review first appeared on Wherever I Look and is written by Amari Allah .

Entertainment | Heist flick, monster movie collide in…

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Entertainment

Entertainment | review: heist flick, monster movie collide in entertaining ways in ‘abigail’, “this whole thing is a trip,” says one of the gang. believe them..

By Mark Kennedy | Associated Press

If you always thought your garden-variety heist movies could do with a bit more blood-sucking vampire, have we got a flick for you.

“Abigail,” featuring a 12-year-old tutu-wearing member of the undead, is way better than it should be, a gleeful genre-smashing romp through puddles of gore.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Oakland native, and Tyler Gillett and producer Chad Villella — part of Radio Silence Productions — have cracked the modern horror code with such hits as “Ready or Not,” “Scream” and “Scream VI.” They do not disappoint with “Abigail,” even perhaps opening a new, bloody revenue stream. (And wait for the phone call scene, a nod to “Scream.”)

“Abigail” starts with an odd assortment of mercenaries — played by “Scream” veteran Melissa Barrera, “Downton Abbey” star Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, William Catlett and the late Angus Cloud.

The six — representing the muscle, sniper, computer expert, getaway driver, medic etc — are hired to kidnap a rich preteen (nicknamed “Tiny Dancer”) and hold her for ransom. The rules are: No names. No backstory. No grabass, which is a weird request, if we’re being honest. All this group needs to do is detain the target for 24 hours until rich dad pays $50 million in ransom.

Why are six professional underworld characters needed to snatch and detain a sweet preteen, still wearing her tutu? That’s easy: Not all of them are going to survive to claim their share of $7 million. That’s because Abigail (Alisha Weir, awesome, stay away from me, no seriously) is really into, well, neckwork.

“I’m sorry about what’s going to happen to you,” Abigail sweetly tells the kidnappers. We have some idea — and it’s going to be great. Suddenly, the rambling estate they’re holding her becomes a prison. The tables are turned.

The script written by Stephen Shields (“The Hole in the Ground”) and regular Radio Silence collaborator Guy Busick (“Ready or Not” and the “Scream” movies) — gleefully mines humor in the horror. Laughing a moment after a body fully explodes is normal here.

“This whole thing is a trip,” says one of the gang. Believe them. “Something doesn’t add up,” says another. Believe that guy, too.

Garlic, sunlight, spears and crucifixes are employed to try to stop Abigail, who has hijacked the heist movie and turned it into a run-for-your-life thriller. She’s a very smart 12-year-old who turns hardened mercenaries against each other.

Barrera, who had been so central to the life of the “Scream” franchise, shows why she’s so good at horror — funny, sarcastic, vulnerable, athletic, soulful and very convincing with a stake in her hand.

Stevens, who famously left the aristocratic “Downton Abbey” for better roles, may wonder what he’s doing here now, bathed in blood fighting a preteen vampire, but does an admirable job, definitely in on the camp.

But it’s Weir in the titular role who carries it, doing pirouettes and leaps as she chases the bad-guys-now-good guys to the theme of “Swan Lake” with blood dripping down her throat, rotten teeth and feathers in her hair. “I like to play with my food,” she says.

Run faster!

“Abigail”

3 stars out of 4

Rating: R (for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, pervasive language and brief drug use)

Running time: 110 minutes

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Arcadian Review: Legitimately Scary Monsters Pack a Wallop

A father (Nicolas Cage) protects his sons (Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins) in a post-apocalyptic world.

• Excellent acting brings intelligent characters to life in this thrilling horror film.
• Terrifying monsters keep the tension high, despite a lot of familiar story beats.
• Themes of family, survival, and hidden dangers make for a nail-biting experience.

A father tries to protect his teenage sons in a post-apocalyptic world teeming with terrifying creatures in Arcadian , which takes a familiar scenario to legitimately scary-as-hell heights. Director Ben Brewer and screenwriter Michael Nilon deserve a golf clap for delivering originality in a genre we've seen before ad nauseam. Jaws will drop as ferocious monsters display unique abilities and work together to fill their hungry bellies . Strong performances by a solid ensemble lift the narrative when it strays into simplistic territory. Arcadian is a lean film that packs a wallop in its relatively short runtime.

Paul (Nicolas Cage) runs at top speed through a city on the verge of collapse. Gunfire, sirens, and explosions are heard as he reaches his destination. Paul picks up a pair of infants hidden in a garage. He clutches his precious boys as the skyline reveals the magnitude of what has happened. Paul doesn't look back as he trudges ahead towards an uncertain future.

15 years later, Paul nervously scans the horizon as the sun sets on his rural compound. He yells at Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins), his oldest son, for being late. He doesn't care what Thomas was doing at the nearby Rose farm. Joseph (Jaeden Martell) eyes his brother with annoyance as they enter the house. Paul begins his twilight routine of securing every entrance on the first floor. Windows are boarded up, the front door hammered shut and blocked.

Nicolas Cage Raises Boys in a Nightmare World

Arcadian (2024).

• The acting is great and you care about these smart characters.
• The monsters are genuinely scary.
• Themes of parenting and brotherhood are explored well.
• Arcadian has a lot of overused tropes and story beats but is done well.

The family eats upstairs after Joseph says a prayer. The boys continue to argue as howls loom in the distance. Paul stops their bickering. He hopes the worst is over. America will be reborn through the survivors. Their days of hiding shall come to an end. Joseph doesn't share that sentiment. He takes notes as clawing and shrieks are heard at the door. Paul and Thomas race downstairs to steady it as the hinges start to buckle under a withering assault. Joseph doesn't budge as his brother and father hold the line. He knows the unseen attackers can't break through. Joseph wants to learn more about their relentless enemy.

The 30 Best Apocalyptic Movies of All Times

Arcadian's remote setting is key to understanding the strained dynamics between Thomas and Joseph. Brothers are naturally competitive . They're both restrained by Paul's rules but understand the reasons. Daylight is the only guaranteed safety. The monsters come at night and have been predictable so far. The intelligent Joseph doesn't believe this will always be the case.

Brewer ( The Trust ) and Nilon, producer of Cage's last 11 films , deftly build suspense before dropping a masterful reveal . We learn snippets of what caused doomsday during casual conversation. That knowledge doesn't remotely prepare you for the horror spawned in the aftermath. Our first glimpse of the baddies is merely a peak behind the curtain, but alarming enough to build serious anticipation and dread. Audiences are going to be jumping out of their seats when the curtain finally drops. The filmmakers don't disappoint after carefully crafting tension.

Brothers in Arms in a Familiar Storyline

Martell and Jenkins, seasoned child actors who've successfully transitioned to older roles, are entirely believable as siblings . Their anger and frustration with each other comes to a boiling point. This turn in the second act reflects a pivotal time in adolescence. Good parents prepare their children and pass on the values needed to make smart decisions. Paul has done everything possible to ready his sons for the inevitable crisis. They must choose to be their brothers' keeper or face a horrific outcome alone.

Arcadian's overall narrative can be compared to a team version of Richard Matheson's classic novel and Will Smith's blockbuster adaptation of I Am Legend . Terror haunts at night. What happens when defenses are breached? And there's a dog along for the ride. The film has admittedly rote story elements like these and others that play out along an expected path .

Audiences are savvy. Something is obviously hiding in the closet. The trick is to make what comes lunging out of the darkness far worse than expected. Then to capitalize on that moment by amping up every interaction afterward. Brewer and Nilon aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. They stick to their guns until the opportunity arises to do something different.

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Arcadian Ticks Every Box

Arcadian ticks every box for a horror thriller. You're engaged, frightened, and genuinely root for the characters. It also helps that they're not brainless morons. These teenagers aren't running blindly into the woods without a plan. They're not putting themselves on a platter. Dad's lessons weren't ignored. The monsters may have met their match.

Arcadian is a production of Saturn Films, Redline Entertainment, Highland Film Group. It is currently in limited theatrical release from RLJE Films with a Shudder network premiere forthcoming. You can watch the trailer below.