Why ‘Jurassic Park’ Fans Must Experience Gareth Edwards’ Hidden Gem ‘Monsters’ Now!

by

Approaching its summer release in July 2025, the highly-anticipated movie titled “Jurassic World Rebirth” will be intriguing to watch, given that director Gareth Edwards made a name for himself with his impressive debut – the low-budget creature feature “Monsters” back in 2010. This film demonstrated Edwards’ knack for turning limitations into opportunities, as he managed to create something remarkable despite having limited funds and resources through sheer determination and creativity.

, this movie is suggested not just for its own qualities, but as a benchmark tracing the artistic growth of director Gareth Edwards. Starting from low-budget independent films, Edwards has ascended to become one of Hollywood’s elite directors of blockbuster spectacles such as , , and now . In his first major film, showcased Edwards’ skill in filmmaking and his knack for stunning visual effects.

What Is ‘Monsters’ About?

2010 marked my first feature film, “Monsters”, directed by Gareth Edwards. This movie was created on a shoestring budget of $500,000, but it didn’t skimp on quality. The genius direction, chilling sound design, heartfelt acting performances, and sparingly used visual effects made up for any budgetary constraints. The narrative revolves around two strangers, Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) and Sam Wynden (Whitney Able), who managed to survive a catastrophic alien invasion that NASA had inadvertently triggered, leaving Earth in a post-apocalyptic state.

Edward conceived the concept for the film following observations of fishermen battling to pull up a net, which sparked his imagination about a monstrous alien ensnared within. Edward emphasized that he envisioned the narrative unfolding significantly after an extraterrestrial invasion, expressing to Empire Online that he desired the storyline to be set:

Decades following the typical run of monster films, when panic and fear have subsided, and daily life persists as usual. In this time, a colossal, deceased sea monster has become so commonplace that it’s no longer shocking or cause for alarm.

When Andrew, a seasoned journalist with a hardened demeanor and a dismal perspective, decides to guide Sam, a panicked American traveler yearning for safety within U.S. borders, they encounter an area infested by colossal, tentacled alien creatures of unidentified origin. To keep costs low, Edwards skillfully emphasizes the relationship between Able and McNairy’s characters in this suspenseful tale, resulting in a compelling two-person narrative.

How Edwards Embraced Low-Budget Filmmaking

Gareth Edwards’ creative approach to making the movie ‘Monsters’ is almost as astonishing as the finished product itself. With only seven crew members, he completed principal photography in just three weeks – an incredibly swift pace required by the film’s tight budget and limited time. Wearing multiple hats such as Cinematographer, Production Designer, and Visual Effects Artist, Edwards created a truly independent, DIY style of guerrilla filmmaking. He filmed in five different countries, often without official permission, using extras who were on hand during shooting days. The leads and extras were given basic plot outlines to learn, but their dialogue was improvised spontaneously.

Furthermore, Edwards devised a list of shots without creating a storyboard for the script, resulting in an improvised, documentary-like vibe throughout the film. During production, he handled the camera and employed simple audio equipment on-site. A budget-friendly approach was adopted by shooting the movie with less expensive digital video and editing it on a laptop computer.

In spite of facing numerous challenges, Edwards managed to produce a chilling and impactful creature movie that defied its limited budget. This film not only became a significant hit, earning over $5 million worldwide (as reported by Box Office Mojo), but it also catapulted Edwards into prominence in Hollywood. He has since directed movies like Godzilla, Rogue One, The Creator, and now Jurassic World Rebirth.

In simpler words, “Monsters” garnered high praise for its creative world-building, chilling peripheral effects, unsettling monster design, and character-focused narrative that challenges traditional blockbuster norms to present a more personal and compact story. Essentially, this film demonstrates the power of minimalism. The question arises, will director Edwards maintain this restraint in “Jurassic World Rebirth”?

How ‘Monsters’ Paves the Way for ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

Based on the progression of his career, it appears that Jurassic World: Rebirth is a perfect fit for Edwards’ talents. Monsters laid the foundation, and Jurassic World was a significant step up in scale and grandeur. Following Jurassic World, he moved onto Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which represents the epitome of a large-scale Hollywood blockbuster. Subsequently, The Creator, an ambitious AI thriller that Edwards wrote, marked his first screenwriting credit since Monsters.

In essence, we’re revisiting the Jurassic World Rebirth, where Edwards finds himself once more amidst colossal beasts in their natural habitat, similar to his past experiences with Monsters. However, this time, he’s armed with greater resources and finances. With a larger team and a star-studded cast, including Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, Edwards is expected to utilize the filmmaking techniques honed on a shoestring budget with Monsters, while also drawing from his experience in making Godzilla, Star Wars, and The Creator. This blend promises an extraordinary, mind-blowing outcome.

Edwards shared his enthusiasm about potentially creating a “Jurassic Park” film, expressing this sentiment during an interview with Collider.

I set aside everything I was doing, suddenly feeling compelled to jot down an idea for my next movie project. This is a script that would make me abandon everything instantly and plunge headfirst into it – it’s that captivating! I’m a huge fan of Jurassic Park, so the chance to be involved in this production feels like a dream come true. Working alongside Frank Marshall, Universal Pictures, and David Koepp, who is penning the script, is truly an honor. They are all renowned figures in the industry, and I’m simply overjoyed at the prospect of collaborating with them.

Before diving into “Jurassic World Rebirth”, it’s essential for any sci-fi enthusiast to experience Gareth Edwards’ unique blend of visual and auditory storytelling in the film, “Monsters”. This movie offers a fresh perspective on an alien invasion in a post-apocalyptic setting, and has been recommended by Steven Schneider as one of the 1,001 movies you should watch before you die.

Read More

2025-02-15 18:32