Monsters is a low-budget indie sci-fi film that blends alien invasion themes with a slow-burn character drama. Set in a near-future Mexico where extraterrestrial creatures roam a quarantined zone, the film follows a photojournalist and his boss’s daughter as they journey through the infected area in an attempt to reach the U.S. border.

Monsters is a moody, understated, and surprisingly beautiful film that shows how science fiction can be intimate and human. It’s not for everyone—especially if you’re craving explosions or action—but it’s a remarkable achievement in atmospheric storytelling and indie filmmaking.