When someone mentions Beauty and the Beast, what comes to mind? For most people, it’s probably the animated film from the 1990s, but the story is actually much older than that. It’s a centuries-old fairy tale that’s been adapted for the big screen multiple times, and my personal favorite is the 1946 French version. But of course, there’s always room for new interpretations of this classic romance, so when I heard about Your Monster, I was instantly intrigued. The movie promised to put a modern, more comedic spin on the story and add in a dash of horror as well, and I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out.

Your Monster was written and directed by Caroline Lindy, and it stars Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster, and Meghann Fahy. In the film, Laura is an actress and a singer, but her career hits a roadblock when she’s diagnosed with cancer. To make matters worse, after a year of treatments and tests, her boyfriend, Jacob, breaks up with her, so her life is in absolute shambles.

But in the midst of all this chaos, Laura meets the true love of her life: a monster (known, appropriately enough, as Monster) who secretly lives in her house. At first, these seemingly incompatible characters don’t want anything to do with each other, but as they spend more time together, they develop a Beauty and the Beast-like relationship. Laura is able to get past the creature’s hideous appearance, and along the way, she also learns that it’s okay to let her emotions out and stand up for herself every once in a while.

With a plot synopsis like that, you might think Your Monster has to spend a large chunk of its runtime getting you on board with its main character, but surprisingly, the movie lays that foundation in the first 5-10 minutes. It starts with Laura already sick, and not long after the camera starts rolling, Jacob tells his girlfriend that he simply can’t be with her anymore. The stress of her illness is too much for him, so he walks right out of her hospital room without even saying goodbye.

From there, you’re ready to stick with the character as she tries to get back on her feet, but that’s only half the battle. Your Monster also has to keep your interest the rest of the way, and thankfully, the film pulls it off without breaking a sweat. On the most basic level, the gags are excellent from start to finish, and the music is surprisingly good too. I didn’t know Melissa Barrera could sing, but let me tell you, this woman has some amazing pipes.

However, to be frank, that’s all window dressing. The real heart and soul of this story is the dynamic between its two main characters, Laura and Monster, so the weight of Your Monster lies firmly on their shoulders. If they’re not great, the movie doesn’t stand much of a chance, and thankfully, they’re almost guaranteed to warm even the coldest of horror-loving hearts.

Let’s start with Laura. This woman goes through just about the entire emotional gamut, and actress Melissa Barrera absolutely nails it every step of the way. Sometimes she’s utterly despondent, other times she’s happy as can be, and still other times she lets her rage shine through, but whatever she does, it’s always 100% convincing.

Similarly, actor Tommy Dewey imbues Monster with a smooth, totally natural humanity that’s completely at odds with his horrific, somewhat Neanderthal-esque appearance, but in a somewhat paradoxical way, that contrast is what makes the character so great. His charisma catches you off guard, so it’ll slip past your defenses and charm your socks off before you even realize it.

Seriously, this guy is just a joy to watch whenever he’s on screen, and his chemistry with Melissa Barrera is off the charts. These two actors make you believe that Laura and Monster are genuinely falling in love, and seeing their relationship blossom right in front of your eyes is like watching two of your best friends couple up.

Last but not least, we have to talk about the message of Your Monster. As I said before, Laura’s romance with Monster teaches her that it’s okay to let her emotions out and stand up for herself, and that’s a lesson we should all take to heart. To be sure, this film focuses primarily on women’s need to break free of society’s expectations of “proper” feminine behavior, but men can learn from Laura’s journey as well. Nobody should keep all their pain and sorrow bottled up inside, and we should never let people treat us like living doormats.

On the flip side, I don’t have any big issues with Your Monster. Sure, there are a few things I could nitpick here and there, but the good in this movie far outweighs the bad. The funny gags, good music, great characters, and important message earn this film a thumbs up from me, so if you think you’d enjoy a horror-comedy version of Beauty and the Beast, I suggest giving Your Monster a watch. You won’t be disappointed.