Nobody expected a sequel to one of the most emotionally devastating fantasy dramas of the past decade, let alone one that cuts straight to the bone of adult trauma. When the hands of the clock crept toward 12:07, a cold shiver went through the entire theater.
Ten years after letting go of his mother, Conor O’Malley is back—not as a grieving boy clinging to watercolors, but as a young man drowning in the quiet, corrosive anger of unresolved adulthood. If you thought the original pulled your heartstrings, brace yourself: this chapter isn’t just about accepting loss. It’s about surviving the poison you keep inside.
From Childhood Grief to the Shadows of Adulthood
Directed with brooding atmospheric weight, A Monster Calls 2: Roots of the Yew catches up with Conor (Lewis MacDougall) trying to live an ordinary life while quietly carrying tectonic weight underneath his skin. The fragile stability he built shatters when his estranged grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) is suddenly hospitalized, hanging between life and death. The buried resentment, isolation, and guilt Conor spent a decade hiding don’t just boil over—they fracture his perception of reality.
Mild spoilers ahead — nothing past the midpoint.
When 12:07 Strikes Again: A Nightmare Reimagined
Just when Conor thinks he has hit rock bottom, the ancient yew tree tears through the soil once more. Liam Neeson’s seismic, rumbling voice returns with an unsettling presence, but the creature’s purpose has fundamentally twisted. It isn’t here to offer soothing parables about letting go. It has arrived to drag Conor kick and scream into the subterranean labyrinth of his own psyche.
And then… everything changes.
Instead of watching tales unfold from a distance, Conor is physically thrust into surreal, nightmarish landscapes forged entirely from his own repressed guilt. Regrets manifest as towering shadow-beasts with razor claws. But that’s where things get interesting: every beast Conor strikes down doesn’t diminish the threat—it exposes a raw, unhealed memory he desperately wants to deny. The yew monster isn’t protecting him; it is forcing him into a terrifying crucible where fighting back might be the very thing that destroys his soul.
What Hits Hard: The High Points
- Lewis MacDougall’s Transformative Performance: Stepping back into Conor’s shoes with decade-old baggage, MacDougall balances genuine fragility with explosive, defensive hostility.
- Liam Neeson’s Chilling Vocal Nuance: The yew tree sounds older, harsher, and far more uncompromising, delivering lines that hit like falling timber.
- Jaw-Dropping Psychological Visuals: The creature design and dreamscapes look organic, dirty, and genuinely eerie rather than overly polished CGI.
- Emotional Continuity: It refuses to reset the emotional canon of the first film, choosing instead to explore the ugly aftermath of surviving childhood catastrophe.
Where the Roots Falter
- Relentless Bleakness: Unlike the first film’s gentle moments of maternal warmth, this sequel offers virtually no comic relief or breather sequences.
- Dense Midpoint Pacing: The transition between Conor’s real-world vigil at the hospital and his inner dream-battles occasionally stumbles in momentum.
The Scene You Won’t Stop Thinking About
Here’s what most people missed during the jaw-dropping midpoint sequence: as Conor confronts a monstrous apparition bearing the silhouette of his childhood home, the monster forces him to admit the one secret thought he never dared whisper aloud to his dying mother. The visual collapse of the earth paired with Weaver’s haunting voice-over makes this one of the most chilling sequences in modern dark fantasy cinema.
The Verdict: An Uncompromising, Haunting Triumph
A Monster Calls 2: Roots of the Yew manages the rare feat of justifying its existence by maturing right alongside its audience. It tackles the terrifying realization that growing up doesn’t automatically heal old scars—sometimes it simply teaches you how to hide them deeper. If you have ever carried anger you couldn’t explain or grief that refuses to leave, this film will reach inside your chest and refuse to let go.
What Viewers Are Saying
Marcus T. (Chicago, IL): “Liam Neeson’s voice in IMAX shook the floorboards. I was holding back tears by minute twenty.”
Sarah Jenkins (Austin, TX): “Much darker than the original. Lewis MacDougall needs serious awards consideration for this role.”
Devon K. (Seattle, WA): “The practical effects and creature design during the mirror confrontation gave me absolute chills.”
Elena Brooks (Atlanta, GA): “It’s rare for a sequel to capture the emotional depth of the original, but this hits even closer to home if you’ve lost a parent.”
Tyler Ross (Denver, CO): “That twist at the midpoint completely reframed why the monster came back. Mind blown.”
Chloe M. (Philadelphia, PA): “Bring tissues. Lots of them. It hurts so good.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to watch the first film before seeing A Monster Calls 2?
While the film introduces Conor’s past through brief, evocative memories, watching the 2016 original will significantly deepen your emotional connection to his relationship with his mother and grandmother.
Is this movie suitable for young kids?
Unlike the first entry which worked as a mature family drama, this sequel leans heavily into psychological horror imagery and intense emotional themes, making it better suited for teens and adults.
Does Liam Neeson voice the Monster again?
Yes, Liam Neeson returns to voice the ancient Yew tree monster, bringing an even darker, more commanding presence to the character.
