A Monster Calls is a film directed by J.A. Bayona who has directed previous movies like The Orphanage and The Impossible that starred Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, and is a movie based on the award-winning bestseller of the same name by author, Patrick Ness (who is also the film’s screenwriter). The film itself focuses on 12-year-old Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall), a young imaginative boy that is struggling with not only the torment of cruel bullies at his school, but conflicts with his grandmother and the absence of his dad, and is fretfully scared of losing his terminally-ill mother. But then, one night, as the clock struck seven minutes after midnight, a massive yew tree monster rises from a cemetery near O’Malley’s  house, and promises him that he will return to tell him a series of tales with valuable morals that might help him with his emotional situations.

I have been anticipating this movie for a long time, ever since the trailer for the movie was released. As I finished watching, I can absolutely assure you from the bottom of my heart, A Monster Calls is a masterpiece beyond anything I have seen. It is without question the Best Movie of 2016. This movie is such an impactful and breathtaking picture all thanks to J.A. Bayona’s phenomenal direction. His visually arresting creativity and wide scope of imagination are  what makes the film such a marvel to behold. What Bayona also brings to the table is his portrayal of characters that are done in a very realistic fashion. Not one character feels underused or underdeveloped. What makes the characters so well written and emotionally gripping is thanks to the screenplay from Ness. He made them multidimensional and relatable; their dialogue felt natural and unique without feeling forced and clichéd, and the characters had absolutely beautiful chemistry.

The performances are simply mesmerizing. MacDougall is fantastic as the sympathetic Conor, and Jones had the best performance of her entire career as Conor’s mother. Other performances from Kebbell as Conor’s estranged dad, and Sigourney Weaver as Conor’s stern grandmother, are all also good in the film. But perhaps the biggest standout performance of them all is The Monster itself, monstrously voiced and motion-captured by Liam Neeson. His performance is what ultimately brings this frightening but peaceful character to life.

Not only does A Monster Calls nail its storytelling and its characters, its visual effects are euphoric beyond belief. Alongside the deeply detailed CGI character of The Monster, are the Monster’s stories. As they are being told, they are presented in gorgeous animation, containing computer-generated imagery and two-dimensional drawings with ink and watercolor effects to make them look vibrant and colorful. A Monster Calls also has an emotionally gut-punching score, composed by Fernando Velazquez. Every song fits perfectly into every scene, and it is one of those scores you would listen to over and over again.

One final thing I have to address about this amazing piece of filmmaking is that the movie is just more than a fantasy with talking tree monsters and fairy tales. It’s a heart-breaking, tear-jerking film that reaches into the moral lessons of letting go of someone you love and acknowledges the fact that not every story has a happy ending. This movie was something that emotionally broke me, so much so to the point that I cried three times while watching.

A Monster Calls is one of the most important films that you need to watch. It is a film that everyone can relate to. With gorgeous effects, fantastic acting, and mesmerizing screenplay, J.A. Bayona has created a visual phenomenon unlike anything I have ever seen. A Monster Calls is a film for the ages, and is without a shadow of a doubt, the best movie of the year. Also, before you watch it, make sure to bring some tissues to this one, you’re going to need them.