10 Monster Movies Where the Creature Wasn’t the Main Subject of the Movie

Monster movies are a classic trait. horror genre and have deep roots in cinema due to the universal nature of storytelling. However, the creatures in these films are not what they appear on the outside, as they often serve as a metaphor for the overarching themes and criticisms that the plot focuses on. This becomes especially apparent when the monsters featured in the film are not seen on screen for long periods of time, as the narrative is more about character development and their dynamics.

Universal’s classic monster films helped establish the genre as a place where humanity’s fears and anxieties could be safely explored. Since then, Monsters have taken many forms in film, and how they appear visually will determine how characters and audiences interpret them. Whether they are giant creatures, grotesque creatures, or could pass for humans, they all serve as a way for the filmmakers to convey the story’s central discussions. Many monster projects end up being character-driven, as the people in the story must band together to stop the beasts.

10

Host (2006)

Directed by Bong Joon Ho

Although Bong Joon Ho’s most famous film, Parasiteabout the metaphorical monsters within humanity, some of his best early work revolves around very real creatures. In his 2006 film Guest, a young girl is kidnapped by a monster emerging from the Han River in Seoul, and her family must work to get her back by entering a quarantine zone that has been taken over by the creature. It is widely considered one of the best monster films of the 21st century. Guest does much more than just scare the audience.

Although the mutated organism in Guest it’s horrible, larger topics Guest revolve around the consequences of environmental destruction and offer sharp criticism of government actions that perpetuate environmental discrimination. This is the lowest class that is most affected by the creature in Guestand the intervention of foreign governments, namely the United States, only harmed the characters’ efforts to stop the leviathan and find their loved ones. Guest it is a detailed project that uses the monster as a stand-in for the results of colonialism and globalization.

9

Jaws (1975)

Director Steven Spielberg

One of the best monster movies of the 1970s and of all time. Jaws did a lot for the creature genre and was instrumental in creating the summer blockbuster. Director Steven Spielberg is behind many iconic creatures, from the giant great white shark to Jaws dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. However, the amount of time the shark is in view throughout Jaws is relatively low, and It is not until the very end of the film that the audience first gets a clear picture of the cannibal.

This was partly due to the limitations associated with animatronic development and the idea that tension would be better created if the viewer was given the opportunity to speculate on what the shark looked like. However, this is also because The film’s central conflict revolves around Chief Brody’s struggles against the city’s fundamental social rules. Parallels between Jaws and classic works of literature such as Moby Dick are undeniable, and this sheds light on an additional facet Jawsa story that touches on humanity’s fear of nature.

8

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Directed by George A. Romero

It’s no coincidence that Night of the Living Dead came out in the late 1960s. It was a decade that saw increasing domestic tensions in the United States over racial and gender inequality, widespread protests against U.S. intervention in the Vietnam War, and growing anxieties about the Cold War. All this created a social and political context that led to Night of the Living Dead, a film that delves into the reality of fear of the other.

Night of the Living Dead is one of the most influential zombie films of all time, as the way the film portrays the undead is the de facto characteristic of zombies in most horror projects. However, zombies were just perfect monsters that could cause paranoia and mistrust in people trying to escape an apocalyptic situation. Throughout the film, characters attack each other. the grim ending emphasizes that terror will cause humanity to react to extremes.

7

Godzilla (2014)

Directed by Gareth Edwards

There have been many film adaptations of stories about GodzillaAnd the 2014 remake successfully brought the story into the modern era, inclusion of contemporary topics and discussions. Godzilla was the first film in Monster Universe A franchise that has grown in popularity since its inception. Although the action takes place in the present day, Godzilla still intertwined with the legacy of the nuclear age and the ravages of atomic weapons. As always, the monster Godzilla is a metaphor for how humanity creates its own monsters through technology.

However, over time, Godzilla has also become a personification of hope for the future, as the monster stands alongside humanity against invading creatures throughout the franchise. The film features some of the coolest monster designs in the world. Godzilla movies, which is an important part of why movies are popular. General, Godzilla was considered a more worthy successor than the failure of 1998, as it is deeply focused on the human drama and the current impact of the ways of warfare in modern times.

6

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Directed by Philip Kaufman

Although it is a remake of the original 1956 film, 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers considered the final version with incredible performances and timely topics. The story follows him and his allies, with Donald Sutherland playing the role of Matthew, the film’s protagonist. Throughout the story, they realize that emotionless alien replicants are replacing the human race. It’s a terrifying premise that continues today, given the fact that the monsters look exactly like humans.

The experience of watching loved ones become unrecognizable and the paranoia of believing that no one around you is who they say they are sets the tone for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Since the film was released after the Watergate scandal in the United States, this is due to the motive of distrust of organizations. They are replaced by people from the capsule in Invasion of the Body Snatchers characterized as a failure of the US political and social systems. and a growing desire for conformity.

5

The Fly (1986)

Directed by David Cronenberg

Like most of director David Cronenberg’s films, There’s no shortage of grotesque body horror Fly. However, Seth’s (Jeff Goldblum) slow transformation into the main fly is also a physical manifestation of the deterioration of his relationship with Ronnie (Geena Davis). Although Cronenberg has stated that the film is not a direct allegory for the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, it is easy to relate to the devastating effects of the disease. Performances by Goldblum and Davis highlight the humanity at the heart of Fly.

There are a lot of scary elements in the film though. Flyand the final physicality of the creature is disgusting, the film is more a tragedy than a horror film. Watching Seth lose his humanity and be ravaged by an entity he cannot control is devastating. as well as the inevitable loss of contact with Ronnie and any future he might have had. By the end of the film, Seth had turned into a monster, but in his last moments Fly reports that part of it remains inside the fly.

4

Cloverfield (2008)

Director Matt Reeves

One of the most popular videos in this genre. Cloverfield shows how best to incorporate monsters into modern horror films. The project features a character-driven narrative as the story unfolds from the perspective of the people filming the invasion of the clover monster. Active and dynamic the most interesting parts Cloverfield are the character’s journeys to save the people they care about. The fact that the world is being destroyed by a monster is in addition to the character’s feelings about these events.

The action takes place in New York Cloverfield Captures the destruction of iconic landmarks and destruction of social order. This prompted many critics and viewers to draw parallels between the monster’s appearance and the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The creature remains a distant and pervasive threat that serves as a means of unifying the characters. and remember life’s important moments after extreme disruption.

3

No (2022)

Directed by Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele’s latest directorial project. Nopepresents an innovative take on the concept of alien invasion. The film explores the exploitation of animals in film production and how Hollywood assigns actors based on race, gender and other socially discriminatory factors. Spectacle is one of the main themes of the film. and the motivating factors that encourage people to film spectacles and use them as a means of capitalist gain. However, in NopeMany characters make the mistake of thinking they can tame or control nature.

However, Nope is also deeply critical of the role of the spectator and the demand for entertainment that fuels the cyclical nature of exploitation and abuse. Jean Jacket, the alien, may be a large-scale creature, but ultimately follows the same rules and has the same boundaries as the normal animals in the story. Of course, characters are also vital to Nope. The sibling relationship between OJ and Emerald, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, is the emotional center of the story. and is enhanced by the fantastic chemistry between Kaluuya and Palmer.

2

Colossal (2016)

Directed by Nacho Vigalondo

Starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis. Colossal, A monster film that reveals the devastation caused by a lifetime of abusive relationships. Gloria (Hathaway) struggles with alcoholism and returns to her hometown to find herself in control of a reptilian monster in Seoul. However, her friend Oscar (Sudeikis), who makes her addicted and manipulates her into giving in to her and staying with him, manifests as a giant robot and threatens to destroy Seoul in order to control Gloria’s actions.

The metaphor of two monsters existing due to childhood rivalry and enmity between two friends is clear throughout the story, but that doesn’t make it any less impactful. Colossal is a unique combination of genres, but the fantasy and science fiction elements contribute to Gloria’s development and open her eyes to Oscar’s behavior. By the end of the film, Gloria has taken control of her life and her actions. taking responsibility for your inner monsters.

1

It Follows (2014)

Directed by David Robert Mitchell

Maika Monroe recently starred in a horror film Long-leggedbut her early introduction to the genre represents one of the actress’s best performances. It helps It follows considered one of the most innovative horror films of the 2010s. Monster in It follows terrifying, and one of the key features of the creature is that no matter how far the monster has progressed, it can always return to previous victims.

The motif of the monster constantly stalking its victims is a clear metaphor for sexually transmitted infections. Fear of teenage sexuality is a recurring theme in horror movies and It follows exploits this anxiety, as well as the trauma that can accompany the loss of innocence from adolescence into adulthood. IN It follows, characters face the moral implications of saving themselves rather than dooming others to a terrible fate.