No Such Thing as Monsters starts off as a typical run-of-the-mill abduction horror flick. David (Matthew Clarke) convinces his girlfriend Mary (Angel Giuffria) to spend a weekend in the Australian bush with him in a caravan (camper). This is after much bickering since Mary takes issue with small spaces (specifically, campers). While not fully explained, it is hinted that this fear is due to a previous trauma experienced that led to the loss of part of her arm. But…after much convincing, off they go. So there you have it…an enamored couple goes off into the middle of nowhere for a relaxing getaway and quickly finds out that not only is it not relaxing… getting away is almost impossible. 

During their romantic getaway, Mary and David happen upon a strange backwoods family who also (conveniently) want to camp in the same completely isolated area as the couple. Not only that, the family is unsettlingly friendly… What could go wrong? Well just about everything you can think of…and some things you can’t. Since this is such an overused concept, No Such Thing as Monsters ran the risk of feeling stale or unoriginal. But thanks to the creative genius of writer duo Stuart Stanton and Karen Elgar, the film is able to maintain originality and make a name for itself. 

The film takes place over almost an entire year, making the horrors endured by Mary and David much more astonishing and quite frankly gives the film a heaviness that sets it apart from its genre counterparts. This alone makes No Such Thing as Monsters the perfect title for this film. There are no supernatural beings or monsters to be faced and defeated. The only real monsters lie within human nature, and that ability to so viciously abuse others is where true horror lives. 

The engaging story would have fallen flat without this standout cast. Angel Giuffria was the perfect pick to embody the film’s centerpiece. She portrays strength, kindness, and resilience so effortlessly. Matthew Clarke was wonderful to watch as Mary’s loving counterpart and I caught myself gushing over the on-screen chemistry more than once. On the other side of the fence, Michaela Celeste delivers a devilishly sociopathic performance as Nelly along with siblings Elmer (Jacob Fyfe), and Becca (Rebecca Fortuna). Special recognition should be given to Georgia Crisfield Smith for her performance as Amy, a disfigured member of the backwoods bunch who is emotionally torn between doing the right thing and doing what her family asks. Crisfield-Smith does not have many lines but makes excellent use of her expressive eyes and clear body language to convey her inner torment and does so flawlessly.

Though entertaining, the film is not without flaws. Some of the more frenzied moments in the film lose some impact due to sound leveling issues. The music drowned out the dialogue during key points when I would have very much liked to hear the conversation unfolding. Overall, No Such Thing as Monsters is worth the watch. Despite the sound issues, the cast brings to life a new take on a not so new story. If you like abduction stories, then give this Aussie flick a try. You’ll think twice about sharing a campsite with anyone ever again.

6 out of 10