A Monster Calls, a must-see film.

This film packs an emotional punch like few others. Directed by J.A. Bayona, it taps into deep wells of longing, loss and grief through a truly imaginative lens.

The central concept of a tree-like monster awakening to help a boy cope with his mother's impending death is beautifully realized.

It's haunting yet hopeful, scary yet comforting. I was in awe of how the monster's fables wove real life lessons into fantastical worlds.

What really struck me was the tender yet truthful way it portrayed the confusion, fear and anger that comes with facing mortality at a young age. Lewis MacDougall gives a devastatingly vulnerable performance.

And the bittersweet ending left me in tears, providing just the right blend of catharsis and lingering unease that reflects how loss continues to echo in the emptied spaces it leaves.

Overall, it's an incredibly moving film experience - one that will likely stay with you for days after as you process its universal messages about home, family and making peace with life's most profound mysteries.