Monsters and Men 2018

The film weaves together three compelling stories centered around the lives of Manny, Dennis, and Zyrick. It kicks off with Dennis Williams (John David Washington) being pulled over by police, but he is let go when they realize he is an officer himself. The narrative then shifts to Manny Ortega (Anthony Ramos), who struggles with his past as he fills out a job application, particularly the section about prior convictions. Living with his family, including his wife Marisol (Jasmine Cephas Jones), mother, and daughter, Manny finds himself in a precarious situation one night. While spending time with friends near a dice game, an encounter with the police turns tragic when his friend Darius Larson is shot during an attempt to arrest him for selling loose cigarettes outside a bodega, echoing the horrific circumstances surrounding Eric Garner’s death. Manny records the unsettling event on his phone, witnessing firsthand the chaos that unfolds.

Haunted by the incident, Manny reviews the footage at home. The following day, news reports claim that Darius was reaching for a police weapon, a narrative that leads to further turmoil for Manny. When confronted by two officers in a park, they attempt to intimidate him into silence, but despite Marisol’s warnings about potential repercussions concerning his job, Manny bravely decides to share the video online, drawing public attention to police misconduct.

As the story unfolds, the perspective shifts to Dennis, who navigates the expectations of his profession while grappling with the fallout from Darius’ death. During a joint patrol with his partner Stacey (Cara Buono), they witness protests erupting outside the bodega where the shooting occurred. As tensions rise, internal affairs investigates the officers involved, particularly focusing on Officer Scala, whose actions are questioned but whose misdeeds Dennis struggles to condemn during interviews.

The film also delves into Zyrick’s (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) journey. After facing racial profiling himself, he becomes increasingly aware of the societal issues surrounding him. When he witnesses the chaos following Darius’ murder, he decides to take action by connecting with Zoe (Chanté Adams) and participating in a community protest. As Zyrick navigates his excitement over potential baseball recruitment, he finds himself torn between celebrating his achievements and confronting the harsh realities of racial injustice.

As a pivotal protest unfolds, Zyrick actively joins demonstrators chanting “I am… Darius Larson.” The police, responding aggressively, further escalate the tension, forcing Zyrick to flee. Eventually, during an important baseball game, he wears a shirt adorned with the phrase “I am Darius Larson,” representing solidarity with the victim and all those affected by similar tragedies. The culmination of these intertwined narratives serves as a poignant commentary on systemic issues within law enforcement and racial inequality, driving home the film’s powerful statement as Zyrick takes a knee on the field, allowing the resonating chant to echo in the background before the screen fades to black.