Monster is the tragic story about how a woman can degenerate to a shell of a human being who becomes a serial killer.
Aileen was a prostitute in Florida. She has almost no friends, except for Thomas, owner of a bar who she sometimes frequents. It is Selby, a lesbian who befriends her due to sexual interest, but also because she too needed a friend.
During the time of Selby and Aileen’s relationship, Aileen kills one of her Johns who was abusive to her. Initually it was self defence but somehow after the initual wounding it eventually turned into anger. Just weeks later Aileen sees the headlines in a local paper saying the police had no idea who did it. Aileen knew that she could kill a man and get away with it.
And so the killing spree began. Whenever Aileen needed money to live her dream, she killed one of her customers. Maybe it was out of desperation. Maybe it was out of revenge toward her abusive father. Together Aileen and Selby traveled around as nomads living in hotels and cheap apartments. Initually Selby was too naive to know what was going on. She regarded Aileen as some type of hero figure in her life, something she never had. Aileen too, saw Selby as a true friend, whom she never had.
What impacted me so much about the movie was how ugly the deep underworld can become. And how one human being can sink so low into killing people just to stay alive in a sense.
Initually it is unclear Selby’s role in the movie. She is the dimissive follower in the movie. She always looks to Aileen for advice and direction. Yet eventually we see Selby taking the law into her own hands and deciding to testify against her.
The real Aileen was excuted in 2002 for killing 6 men throughout 1989 to 1992. She refused her last meal and opted instead for a cup of coffee.
Charlize Theron transformation is phenomenal. She played Aileen in such a believeable fashion. We feel her pain. We see the struggles she goes through. Charlize gained 30 pounds for the role. No doubt heavy makeup was used to make such a beautiful woman into such a monster.