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Movie review: First choice assignment
Review
Monster is a drama and crime movie that is based on the life of Aileen Wuornos
(portrayed by Charlize Theron); a long-time sex worker who becomes a serial killer. Throughout
the movie, Aileen (Lee) is shown engaging in risky and dangerous behaviors. It is explained that
she was sexually abused at the age of eight by a trusted friend of her father’s, and this abuse
continued for years. She was also physically abused by her father who did not believe her
allegations against his friend. This pushes her into sex work at the age of 13. As an adult, she is
the victim of brutal sexual violence, where a customer rapes and sodomizes her. She kills this
man and goes on to murder several more men. Lee is also shown to fall in love with a woman,
and subsequently, she attempts to find legitimate methods to earn money. However, this proved
to be difficult as she lacked skills, and she returns to sex work. Although not specified within the
movie, this writer believes that Lee would have met the diagnostic criteria for several mental
health disorders.
There are many profound scenes throughout the movie that allude to Lee’s emotional and
mental distortions as a result of her abuse. In the film, Lee states, “I have been hooking since I
was 13, I’m a hooker” (Filmax, 2004). This simple statement was impactful because it shows
Lee’s intrinsic emotion of her identifying as her work. She was not able to recognize that she was
exploited by adults in her childhood/adolescence. Within the therapeutic process, this could be
utilized in order to discuss the cognitive distortion of labeling and minimization. In another
scene, Lee is seen sitting in her storage unit. A friend comes to her and offers her a sandwich, to
which she nonchalantly proposes oral sex as a thank you for the food. This scene was incredibly
distressing. Lee’s response was automatic to her friend. She was conditioned to engage in sex
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work for more than half of her life as a means of survival. This interaction between her and a
friend showed that she needed a therapeutic intervention but first, her most basic needs had to be
fulfilled. As identified by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiological needs must be met for an
individual (in this case Lee) to move up the pyramid towards self-actualization. She was
homeless, she did not have funds for food, she was bathing in gas station sinks, and mostly, she
was always on high alert due to safety concerns. These facts, coupled with her history of sexual
abuse and exploitation, can potentially explain why she was conditioned to engage in sexual acts
for the most basic human necessities. Lee also stated, "So whenever I was down, I would just
escape into my mind...where I was someone else” (Filmax, 2004). This scene had a great impact
as it provided further insight into the mind of Lee. As a child, and surely as an adult, she
disassociated with reality. This disassociation allowed her mind to make sense of the terrible
things that she was experiencing, as well as the acts that she had to engage in, in order to survive
as an adult. There is little doubt that Lee suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This information could be useful in the therapeutic process, as it could provide insight into the
level of care that Lee would need to help her process her trauma.
Throughout the movie, there is narration by Lee. During the narration, she provides
information about simple things from her childhood such as a ride at an amusement park. These
tidbits of her life are imperative to gaining a glimpse into Lee’s childhood. Even through the
troubled and horrific aspects, she mentioned parts like the amusement park ride and wanting to
be discovered as an adolescent. At one point, Lee identifies giving up her baby for adoption at
the age of 13 years old. She speaks about this detachedly, and many of the narrations warrant
further reflection, as they can provide much needed understanding towards her trauma. Lee’s
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trauma was complex and further understanding, clarification and reflection is needed to truly
understand everything that Lee experienced.
Therapeutic Implications
Lee has an intense trauma history from her childhood/adolescent years, and it distorted
her ability to connect with others as she grew up. Steele and Malchiodi (2012) point out crucial
age periods where resilience and posttraumatic growth can be supported. However, for Lee, she
was unable to develop due to the lack of support systems and trusted adults that she had within
her life. Lee’s emotions were a roller coaster throughout the entire movie. She exhibited angry
outbursts, emotional breakdowns and constant attempts at connecting with her girlfriend Selby.
When she first meets Selby, she is on edge. She states that she is not a lesbian (regardless
of being at a gay bar) and that she does not want anything to do with Selby. It is apparent that
Selby was trying to find a friend. Lee gets up from the bar stool in order to leave, and Selby
attempts to place a hand on Lee’s shoulder. This causes Lee to have an emotional angry outburst.
She screams, yells and curses at Selby. This specific scene can be utilized to enhance Lee’s
understanding of her emotional dysregulation, as well as provide her psychoeducation
surrounding her trauma, and her knee jerk reaction when she is touched without consent. This
scene has value within counseling, as it would need to be processed in order to help the client
recognize social situations as well as appropriate methods through which to express oneself.
Steele and Malchiodi (2012) identify the fact that traumatized individuals adapt somatically. This
adaptation results in their responses to future environmental stresses (p.76). In Lee’s case, she
had no control over her abuser during her adolescence, therefore she reacts angrily when she is
on the verge of losing control as an adult. As described by Ham (2017), the survival brain is one
that is hyper focused on a threat. Lee’s childhood and adolescent trauma contributed to her brain
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always being on high alert, hence her angry outbursts during this scene as well as other times
throughout the movie. This trauma contributed to Lee’s mistrust and blame of others as the film
progressed. When Lee was murdering her ‘johns’, she was incredibly irate. It was as if she were
channeling her anger towards her childhood abusers and taking out her anger on unsuspecting
customers.
There are a few scenes that show Lee sitting under an overpass with a gun in her hand.
She discusses her suicidal ideations and narrates a conversation she has with God. This scene can
be utilized to make a spiritual connection as her dialogue consists of bartering with God.
Although Lee’s religious affiliation is not specifically mentioned within the movie, it is apparent
that these conversations are her way of asking for help due to her being in such distress that she
is suicidal. The value of this scene is that within the therapeutic process, and in life, protective
factors are necessary for one to live. Suicidal clients are unable to see value in their life and
intense emotional pain can contribute to their decision to die via suicide. Many, if not all,
suicidal individuals wish to end their pain and suffering. During this scene, Lee’s motive for
conversing with God showed that even with her being in immense emotional and mental pain,
she wanted to live. God and scripture would provide connection to Lee if she were to be in the
therapeutic process. Scripture teaches, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am
your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”
(Isaiah 41:10). Lee would benefit greatly from being taught that through many trials and
tribulations, Jesus gave his life for mankind. No matter the adversity, God is there to provide a
guiding hand and give strength. Lee had inner strength which is why she was having a
conversation with God. It would be of value for the therapist to acknowledge and validate Lee's
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inner strength in reaching out to God to continue living. This would help Lee to understand that
she was stronger than she realized.
Professional Implications
It is imperative to approach every youth and adolescent in a trauma-informed manner, as
well as assess every part of the youth’s history and their presentation. It is also crucial to create
trauma-informed environments. Within the agency that this writer is currently employed at, there
is a runaway/homeless youth shelter. It is always intriguing to have youth reside at the shelter
who come in with a plethora of diagnoses and a long list of placements that they have resided at
previously. The reason this is intriguing is because it is rare for a youth to exhibit defiant or out
of control behaviors that are usually listed on their incoming paperwork, during their 30 days
stay at the shelter. One reason for this is because the shelter is extremely trauma informed. As a
clinician, and more specifically, a trauma informed and trauma focused clinician, it is necessary
to be attentive to children and adolescents around oneself. There is a focus on safety, and as
reported by Steele and Malchiodi (2012), “a core set of values” (p. 106) that is adhered to by the
staff; this staff is also consistently educated and trained in trauma informed practices (p. 106).
These values are shared with the youth, who then provide their own triggers and warning signs.
All this information is collectively (and confidentially) discussed with staff to confirm that youth
is not triggered or retraumatized while at the organization’s facility. The information within the
movie will help this writer continue to be vigilant within the organization and therapeutic
process, to educate others and oneself regarding trauma and its impact across all facets of a
youth’s development.
There were no scenes that this writer explicitly agreed or disagreed with, however there
were scenes where this clinician questioned the inept ability of adults around Lee. It is reported
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within the movie that Lee had been engaging in sex work and being sexually exploited since the
age of 13. There is a scene where Lee is walking down the street after having been denied a job.
She is approached by a police officer in his car, and she is solicited and exploited sexually by the
officer. It is a gross demonstration of power and privilege held by this officer. Professionally, this
writer works with both the local police department and FBI office to remain united against the
exploitation of children and adolescents. It is saddening and infuriating to think that a person in a
position of authority would exploit someone further under the guise of, “You will not be arrested
if you...”.
There was a narration done by Lee where she stated, “I once heard this saying that’s
always stuck with me, all you need is love” (Filmax, 2004). This was impactful as it
demonstrated the simplest yet most profound characteristic of children. As a professional, this
statement can describe 100% of the children and adolescents that come through this writer’s
doors. Every child needs and deserves to be loved and nurtured. This was the case with Lee as
well. The opportunity for her to be loved correctly, and to be taught what healthy love should
look like, was stolen by her trauma. This concept will inform this writer’s delivery of therapeutic
interventions as this information should be recalled with every client. If one remembers that
trauma can impact the understanding of love within a youth, it can assist in comprehending their
difficulties with various points of concern across their lives.
This movie validated the importance of psychoeducation as well as a need for every
person to be trauma informed. This will contribute to making this writer a more competent
therapist, as it confirms psychoeducation surrounding trauma is as important as working on
relieving symptoms of trauma. Often, providers and clinicians attempt to tackle symptoms
without the client or youth knowing why their symptoms should be treated or changed. Providing
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psychoeducation to youth is an important method of building the therapeutic relationship as well
as providing the youth with the ‘why’ of their symptoms occurring in the first place. This writer
strongly believes that if Lee was provided with psychoeducation surrounding the impact of her
trauma on her physically and emotionally, she would have been more open towards trusting
others and getting the help that she needed.
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References
Filmax. (2004). Monster. Barcelona. https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Charlize-
Theron/dp/B00TT743E4.
Ham, J. (2017, July 25). Understanding trauma: Learning brain vs survival brain. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoqaUANGvpA.
Steele, W., & Malchiodi, C. A. (2012). Trauma-informed practices with children and
adolescents. Routledge.
