Directed by Michael Matthews — Written by Brian Duffield and Matthew Robinson — Starring Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick and Michael Rooker

In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by giant mutated creatures, a young man leaves the relative safety of his underground community to find his old girlfriend.

There’s a little bit of Zombieland in Love and Monsters, with its rules of survival and dangerous new world filled with things that want to eat you. But this movie has a much more endearing and earnest quality. It’s not trying too hard to be cool, and that’s a big part of its appeal.

Joel, played by Dylan O’Brien, isn’t much of a survivalist. He’s prone to freezing up when things get dangerous, and he’s clearly not the guy you’d want leading an expedition into monster territory. But he’s got heart, empathy, and a pretty strong desire to find love. He’s also so pure that he manages to befriend what might be the last good dog on Earth. So he’s aces in my book.

O’Brien is a capable lead, and I can see why he was such a popular fancast for Spider-Man. He’s got good comedic timing, can handle the more emotional moments, and is believable when the movie asks him to step up and be a hero. He makes Joel someone you genuinely want to root for.

The movie balances its different elements very well. There’s plenty of humor and adventure, but it also knows how to create a sense of danger. Some of the creature encounters are genuinely tense, and there are a couple of moments that tug at the heart. It manages to be a fun adventure without making its post-apocalyptic setting feel completely harmless.

We’ve had no shortage of movies and television shows over the last decade or so imagining the near extinction of humanity. What’s refreshing about Love and Monsters is that it takes a more hopeful approach. It isn’t just about finding ways to survive in a world that’s fallen apart. It’s about finding reasons to keep living, connecting with other people, and holding on to the things that make us human.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s a fun, entertaining adventure with a likable lead, great creature designs, and a surprising amount of heart.

Verdict: Excellent