Overview
A gripping tale of survival and the fragility of youth amidst chaos and conflict.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- hypnotic
- visceral
- bleak
- intense arthouse viewing
- political cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's extraordinary visual design, young ensemble performances, and thought-provoking but unsettling examination of human nature and war.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film uses hypnotic landscapes, ritualized exercises, and escalating disorder to create an experience described by critics as more sensory than narrative.
The teenage commandos follow orders from The Organization while lacking meaningful comprehension of the conflict surrounding them.
The mountain and jungle settings intensify the squadron's isolation, fear, and breakdown after the ambush.
The squadron's intricate bonds disintegrate as the mission moves from military training into jungle survival and anarchy.
Films like Monos, and why
The Battle of Algiers
unsettling child-centered war drama with visceral imagery and moral ambiguity
Apocalypse Now
surreal, psychologically intense depiction of guerrilla conflict and institutional brutality
Lord of the Flies
adolescent group dynamics, harsh rural landscapes, and politically charged violence
Embrace of the Serpent
abstract Latin American political cinema combining allegory, dread, and striking natural imagery
Movie Details
- Director
- Alejandro Landes Echavarría
- Release Date
- 2019-08-15
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (456)
Cast
- Moisés Arias
- Julianne Nicholson
- Sofia Buenaventura
- Karen Quintero
- Julian Giraldo
- Laura Castrillón
- Deibi Rueda
- Paul Cubides
- Sneider Castro
- Wilson Salazar
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Monos about?
- A hypnotic Colombian war drama follows teenage guerrillas whose fragile community fractures when violence pushes them from mountain rituals into jungle chaos.
- What is Monos like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Monos as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Monos violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Monos as brutal.
- What did critics think of Monos?
- Critics broadly praised the film's extraordinary visual design, young ensemble performances, and thought-provoking but unsettling examination of human nature and war.
- Which films are like Monos?
- Films with a similar feel include The Battle of Algiers, Apocalypse Now, Lord of the Flies, and Embrace of the Serpent.
- How long is Monos?
- Monos runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Monos?
- In United States, Monos is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
