Considering it, it does definitely challenge your presumptions about what a monster truly is, and, perhaps, whether monsters are born or made.
Of course, on the surface, you could say Aileen was the monster. No doubt, she did some monstrous things. (Quite a few beyond what we see in the film.) But I think that's a lazy way to look at it.
Selby/Tyria, definitely some monster in there. I don't know what Patty Jenkins' motivation was for changing so much about Tyria and turning her into Selby. I'd like to know. Even though you could probably say that Selby is less culpable (being much younger, impressionable, and floundering about as she was, having been ostracized from her own family), the same is not true for Tyria. But, even so, I still see the possibly-more-sympathetic Selby as partly to blame for what transpired.
You could say that a society that chews girls and women up and spits them out is the real monster here. Or that men who perceive girls and women as objects to use for whatever they like are the real monsters. Or the monsters are families who more or less throw away their own children.
And, of course, the Ferris wheel.
Soooo interesting. So many levels here in this film. Must. Have. The. DVD!!! I never watch a DVD with the commentary on, but I'm really looking forward to the commentary on this one.
It seems to be doing pretty well at the box office, too, doesn't it? I think a saw a bit in the news about it doing well. I know that when it started here, I thought I'd have to see it that week because it would be gone the next week. But not only is it still playing, it's playing in other theaters now.
go donut go