Even before her starring role in Your Monster, Melissa Barrera was a unique beast…no pun intended. The actress has recently been called one of the great new “Scream Queens” for her roles in horror flicks such as Scream, Scream VI, Abigail, and Bed Rest. But she’s also a multi-talented performer whose musical gifts are seen in her breakthrough film, In the Heights, and the remake of Carmen. The thing about Barrera is that she loves horror and musicals equally, which is not something you typically find in any actor. It also makes her perfectly suited for Your Monster, which gives Barrera the chance to have it all.
In Your Monster, Barrera plays Laura Franco, a soft-spoken actress whose life crumbles when she is broken up with by her boyfriend, an egotistical playwright, shortly after her cancer diagnosis. But Laura begins to find her voice with the help of a terrifying but surprisingly charming Monster living in her closet.
The film is written and directed by Caroline Lindy, inspired by a low point in her own life. Barrera stars alongside Tommy Dewey who plays Monster, plus Edmund Donovan as Laura’s ex, Jacob, and Kayla Foster as Laura’s best friend Mazie.
I had the chance to speak with Barrera, Dewey, Donovan, Foster, and Lindy about Your Monster. It’s clear that this was a labor of love for everyone involved, and we talked about the fun they had in tackling some weighty themes with a film that encompasses multiple genres.
Your Monster is open in theaters now.
