Sci-Fi Thriller MONOLITH Centers on Mysterious Objects

After facing questions about her integrity, a journalist becomes obsessed with a group of objects that have a mysterious effect on people. As she investigates their origins, she discovers an unexpected connection. Starring Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise), Monolith is an alluring science-fiction thriller that reels you in with its slow-burn delivery.

Following a defamation case that halted her career, an interviewer (Lily Sullivan) pivots to a podcast about unsolved mysteries to regain her audience. One day, she receives an anonymous tip about a woman who experienced a strange phenomenon when she came into contact with a bizarre brick.

After speaking with the woman for the first episode of this new series, it becomes a runaway hit. Soon, the interviewer hears from others who have encountered similar bricks, fueling her intrigue. However, her success makes her disregard any potential warnings until the story hits too close to home.

Written by Lucy Campbell and serving as the feature film directorial debut of Matt Vesely, Monolith captivates with an enigmatic story and a simplified setup.

The film has a unique premise where the lead actress, Sullivan, is the only character we see on-screen. The rest of the supporting cast is only heard through phone calls. It is certainly a difficult task to create a compelling story in such an isolated space, both locationally and in performances, but the film pulls it off exceptionally well.

It was a great choice to use this style because it imitates how we listen to podcasts without seeing a complete picture. Even in the brief segments where the interviewees share their experiences, we only get glimpses of the situations without any people present. As listeners, we are left to fill in the gaps, and those scenes are especially unnerving.

I also found Sullivan to be a perfect fit — especially considering so much relies on her. She delivers an effective performance that portrays a character unapologetically, but also at odds with how her determination leads her to unsavory choices. And Vesely frames her in many ways that perfectly support that.

After premiering in festival circuits last year, Monolith finally comes to US audiences on February 16. The film has a captivating build that slowly presents small tidbits that deepen the mystery and hook you more and more. There is a moment when it starts to drag heading into the third act, and the tension feels slightly lost, but it makes up for it with a pretty unexpected reveal.