Monster (2003 film)
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox film Monster is a 2003 American biographical crime drama film written and directed by Patty Jenkins in her feature directorial debut. The film follows serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a street prostitute who murdered seven of her male clients between 1989 and 1990 and was executed in Florida in 2002. It stars Charlize Theron as Wuornos and Christina Ricci as her semi-fictionalized lover, Selby Wall (based on Wuornos's real-life girlfriend, Tyria Moore).
Monster had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 16, 2003. On February 8, 2004, it premiered at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Bear, while Theron won the Silver Bear for Best Actress. The film was theatrically released in the United States on December 24, 2003, by Newmarket Films.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Monster received positive reviews from critics and achieved box office success, grossing $64.2 million on a $1.5 million budget.
The film received numerous awards and nominations, particularly for Theron's performance, including the Academy Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama, the SAG Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead, and also the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature (Patty Jenkins). Theron's acting has continued to receive critical acclaim; film critic Roger Ebert called Theron's role "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema".<ref name= "ebert" /> The film was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films of 2003.
Plot
In 1989, after moving from Michigan to Daytona Beach, Florida, and on the verge of committing suicide, street prostitute Aileen "Lee" Wuornos meets another woman named Selby Wall in a gay bar. Although she is initially hostile and declares that she is not a lesbian, Aileen talks to Selby while drinking beer. Selby takes to Aileen almost immediately and invites her to spend the night with her. The two women return to the house where Selby is staying after being temporarily exiled by her religious parents following the accusation from another girl that Selby tried to kiss her. They later agree to meet at a roller skating rink, and they kiss for the first time. Aileen and Selby fall in love and agree to meet for another date the following evening.
Aileen begins prostituting the following day to make money to take Selby on the date. Towards the end of the day, she is approached by a client, Vincent Corey, who drives them to a wooded area. Aileen becomes uncomfortable by Vincent's bizarre demeanor and avowed hatred for prostitutes. As the two begin arguing, Vincent knocks Aileen unconscious. Meanwhile, Selby waits for Aileen but leaves after she does not show up. Aileen regains consciousness and finds herself tied to the steering wheel, as Vincent brutally rapes and beats her. Aileen manages to free her hands and shoot him to death with a gun from her purse. She disposes of his body, steals his car and decides to quit prostitution. Later that night, she visits Selby at the house and asks her to run away with her. Selby agrees after Aileen confesses her love and promises to support her. The two rent a motel and try to start a life together. Aileen decides to find qualified work, but because of her lack of education and work experience, she is rejected by potential employers. Desperate to keep her and Selby financially afloat, Aileen returns to prostitution. She kills her clients and steals their money and cars, each killed in a more brutal way than the last, as she is convinced that they are all rapists and predators. She spares one man out of pity when he admits he has never had sex with a prostitute. While driving one of the stolen cars, Selby crashes into the front yard of a house. The homeowners attempt to call the police, but Aileen manages to drive the car away and dispose of it.
Selby confronts Aileen about the owner of the car, and Aileen confesses to the murders but justifies her actions by claiming she had only been protecting herself. As money runs out, Aileen tries to find another client. She is picked up by a man who genuinely offers her shelter and assistance. Despite her hesitancy, Aileen kills him. Selby sees composite sketches of her and Aileen on the news and returns to Ohio on a charter bus. Aileen is approached at the biker bar she frequents by two men, who unbeknownst to her, are undercover police officers. Thomas, whom Aileen always referred to as the only friend she had, infers the men's intentions and offers to drive her off. Aileen declines, no longer trusting herself with the well-being of anyone dear to her. The two men eventually lure Aileen out of the bar, and she is arrested by the police. Aileen speaks to Selby one last time while in jail. Selby reveals some incriminating information over the telephone and Aileen realizes that the police are listening in. To protect Selby, Aileen admits that she committed the murders alone. During Aileen's trial, Selby testifies against her, with Aileen's loving consent. Aileen is convicted of the murders and sentenced to death. On October 9, 2002, Aileen is executed by lethal injection.
Cast
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 82%, based on 191 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus states: "Charlize Theron gives a searing, deglamorized performance as real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, an intense, disquieting portrait of a profoundly damaged soul."<ref name="RT">Template:Cite web</ref> On Metacritic, the film has a score of 74 out of 100, based on 40 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Monster received generally positive reviews from critics; most gave overwhelmingly high praise to Theron's performance as a mentally unstable woman – Wuornos had antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the role, Theron gained Template:Convert, shaved her eyebrows, and wore prosthetic teeth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Critics called her performance, and her makeup, a "transformation".<ref name="RT" /> Film critic Roger Ebert named Monster "the best film of the year", gave it four stars out of four, and noted that Theron's role is "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema":<ref name= "ebert">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2009, Ebert named it the third-best film of the decade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ricci's performance also drew some praise, but was not without criticism. In his review for the film, Ebert praised her performance, stating "Christina Ricci finds the right note for Selby Wall – so correct some critics have mistaken it for bad acting, when in fact it is sublime acting in its portrayal of a bad actor. She plays Selby as clueless, dim, in over her head, picking up cues from moment to moment, cobbling her behavior out of notions borrowed from bad movies, old songs, and barroom romances".<ref name="ebert" /> In 2025, it was one of the films voted for the "Readers' Choice" edition of The New York TimesTemplate:' list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century," finishing at number 195.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
However, several people who knew Wuornos criticized the movie for portraying her as a victim and her victims as villains.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In culture
In 2005, a reference to Monster appeared in the series Arrested Development. Charlize Theron plays the role of Rita in the series, and in the episode ″The Ocean Walker″, a frame from Monster appears on the screen with the clarification that this is a photo of Rita a year ago before the plastic surgery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2014, on Saturday Night Live, Charlize Theron made a self-reference to her role of Aileen Wuornos.<ref name="McKinnon">Template:Cite web</ref> In the sketch Pet Rescue Commercial, Kate McKinnon asked her to play a cat lady, whose image and behavior are based on Wuornos from Monster.<ref name="McKinnon" /><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
In 2018, comedian Willam released his third album with the song "Aileen" and the music video for the song, which are dedicated to Wuornos and this film.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Music
Soundtrack
Template:Infobox album In 2004, BT released an official soundtrack to the film.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Included with the release is a DVD featuring all fifteen original cues, and an additional nine cues that would not fit on the CD, as well as an interview with BT and Patty Jenkins, and remix files for "Ferris Wheel".
All music is composed by BT. Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- 1. "Childhood Montage"
- 2. "Girls Kiss"
- 3. "The Bus Stop"
- 4. "Turning Tricks"
- 5. "First Kill"
- 6. "Job Hunt"
- 7. "Bad Cop"
- 8. "'Call Me Daddy' Killing"
- 9. "I Don't Like It Rough"
- 10. "Ferris Wheel (Love Theme)"
- 11. "Ditch the Car"
- 12. "Madman Speech"
- 13. "Cop Killing"
- 14. "News on TV"
- 15. "Courtroom"
Songs
Songs which appeared in the film, but not on the official soundtrack:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- "Don't Stop Believin'" – Journey
- "Where Do I Begin" – The Chemical Brothers
- "Crimson and Clover" – Tommy James & The Shondells
- "All She Wants Is" – Duran Duran
- "Space Age Love Song" – A Flock of Seagulls
- "Shake Your Groove Thing" – Peaches & Herb
- "Tide Is High" – Blondie
- "What You Need" – INXS
- "Sugar and Spice" – The Searchers
- "Secret Crush on You" – Pete Surdoval, Al Gross
- "Flirtin' With Disaster" – Molly Hatchet
- "Keep On Loving You" – REO Speedwagon
- "Crazy Girl" – Molly Pasutti
- "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
- "A Road Runner: Road Runner's 'G' Jam" – Humble Pie
- "Sweet Peace and Time" – Humble Pie
Accolades
See also
References
External links
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Template:Patty Jenkins Template:Charlize Theron Template:Aileen Wuornos media Template:Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control
- 2000s English-language films
- 2000s American films
- 2000s serial killer films
- 2000s female buddy films
- 2003 films
- 2003 biographical drama films
- 2003 crime drama films
- 2003 romantic drama films
- 2003 crime thriller films
- 2003 independent films
- 2003 directorial debut films
- 2003 LGBTQ-related films
- English-language biographical drama films
- English-language crime drama films
- English-language romantic drama films
- Films about psychopaths and sociopaths
- English-language crime thriller films
- English-language independent films
- English-language buddy films
- American biographical drama films
- American crime drama films
- American romantic drama films
- American crime thriller films
- American independent films
- American serial killer films
- American LGBTQ-related films
- American rape and revenge films
- American female buddy films
- Crime drama films based on actual events
- Biographical films about serial killers
- Biographical films about LGBTQ people
- Lesbian-related films
- LGBTQ-related crime drama films
- LGBTQ-related romantic drama films
- LGBTQ-related buddy drama films
- LGBTQ-related independent films
- LGBTQ-related films based on actual events
- Cultural depictions of Aileen Wuornos
- Films about Aileen Wuornos
- Crimes against sex workers in fiction
- Girls with guns films
- Films about prostitution in the United States
- Films about rape in the United States
- Films about female psychopaths and sociopaths
- Films about post-traumatic stress disorder
- Films about female bisexuality
- Films about capital punishment
- Films directed by Patty Jenkins
- Films with screenplays by Patty Jenkins
- Films produced by Charlize Theron
- Films produced by Donald Kushner
- Films scored by BT (musician)
- Films set in 1989
- Films set in Florida
- Films shot in Florida
- Misandry
- Newmarket films
- Films featuring a Best Actress Academy Award–winning performance
- Films featuring a Best Drama Actress Golden Globe–winning performance
- Satellite Award–winning films
- Violence against men