The Monstrosity (Alyssa Price, 2010): USA

Reviewed by Byron Potau. Viewed on DVD screener as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Director Alyssa Price avoids the Sophomore jinx in her second directorial effort, proving her first film, the charming short, Pearl, was no fluke. Her new short film, The Monstrosity, playing as part of the Santa Barbara Shorts Program at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, shows a director maturing and, perhaps, on the brink of graduating to feature films.

Milly (Leanna Zamora) is attending her first day of middle school. She is nervous from the start and the other kids don’t make it any easier. To make matters worse she has a huge pimple right between her eyes, a fact not overlooked by class clown/bully Dylan (Beau Allen). Once Milly gets home she tries every remedy she can think of to rid herself of the pimple, but all to no avail.

Writer/director Price shows a talent for directing actors, especially the large cast of kids who perform admirably. The film is tightly scripted with funny dialogue that flows well.

Price keeps it visually interesting with properly used close-ups, freeze frames, slow motion, and brief montages all edited smoothly together to give the film a nice rhythm throughout.

This light hearted comedy about the anxiety of school is sure to please, and Alyssa Price is a talent that is starting to build a very respectable and impressive oeuvre.