Lupita Nyong’o might just emerge from 2019 as something of a horror icon. Not only did she headline Jordan Peele‘s horror smash “Us,” but she is also leading Abe Forsythe‘s (following up 2016’s “Down Under“) Sundance horror-comedy “Little Monsters.” Nyong’o’s casting, along with the zom-com premise and the addition of Josh Gad, make this one of the most intriguing prospects of 2019.
“Down Under” demonstrated Forsythe’s ability to closely mingle comedy and drama, as his ability to find humor in as dire a situation as a race riot ended up winning him accolades for Best Picture and Best Director at SXSW in the 2016 comedy features competition. Forsythe lent that film a kineticism of energy that surged the urgency of his portrait of two sides of an ideological coin failing to understand each other. The visceral nature of Forsythe’s electric debut reveals his potential to grow into one of the most vital, crackling filmmakers of our time. That alone stokes great enthusiasm for what he is serving us next, not to mention the involvement of someone with the pedigree of Nyong’o, a recent Oscar winner and blockbuster star.
Here’s the synopsis for “Little Monsters:”
After a rough breakup, directionless Dave (Alexander England) crashes at his sister’s place and spends his days expanding his young nephew’s questionable vocabulary. When an opportunity arises to chaperone an upcoming school excursion alongside the charming and enigmatic teacher, Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong’o), Dave jumps at the chance to impress her. What he wasn’t anticipating was Teddy McGiggle (Josh Gad), an obnoxious children’s television personality who shapes the excursion’s activities. What he was expecting even less was a zombie invasion, which unfolds after an experiment at a nearby military base goes awry. Armed only with the resourcefulness of kindergartners, Dave, Miss Caroline, and Teddy must work together to keep the monsters at bay and carve a way out with their guts intact.
“Little Monsters” premiered at Sundance and in our review of the film, we praised Nyong’o’s role in the zombie film.
“Little Monsters” will arrive in UK cinemas on November 15. A US release date has not been given.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d1KP-OhBP4
