Maika Monroe is a well-known American actress and professional kiteboarder. Her work primarily focuses on horror and thriller films, including her notable performances in It Follows (2014), The Guest (2014), Villains (2019), Watcher (2022), Significant Other (2022), and Longlegs (2024), solidifying her reputation as a scream queen.
Maika Monroe’s Horror Movies
It Follows
In 2014, Maika Monroe solidified her reputation as a prominent figure in the genre with her role in It Follows. The film has not only achieved success in the horror genre but has also become a significant part of popular culture.
Alongside The Babadook and Get Out, the movie remains a topic of discussion even years later. Monroe plays Jay, a woman who becomes the target of a deadly entity after a casual sexual encounter.
Monroe’s outstanding performance in this top-notch horror movie solidified her status as one of the most talented and captivating actors in the genre, making it one of the best of the 21st century thus far.
Longlegs
This blend of crime thriller and demonic terror, directed by horror movie director Oz Perkins, features Monroe as Lee Harker, an FBI agent on the hunt for the infamous serial killer (played by Nicolas Cage). As the killer becomes increasingly fixated on her, Harker must race against time to catch him.
Monroe portrays Lee with a determined self-control, concealing her feelings until the film’s frightening storyline gradually uncovers them. On the other hand, Cage is completely unbalanced in the most admirable manner. From the start, the movie exudes an unsettling and mysterious atmosphere, and Monroe adeptly navigates through it.
Watcher
Maika Monroe skillfully portrays Julia, the protagonist of Watcher who is adjusting to life in Bucharest and discovers that she is being followed. As her spouse Francis (Karl Glusman) is occupied with his job, ex-actress Julia grows restless at home and becomes aware of a man named Daniel Weber (Burn Gorman) watching her from a distance.
While Monroe delivers a captivating performance throughout the entire film, her most impressive moment is in the climactic scene where she outwits Daniel and saves herself after he murders her neighbor Irina (Mădălina Anea).
One of the reasons for the successful 87% rating of Watcher on Rotten Tomatoes is due to Maika Monroe’s outstanding performance. Her powerful acting is essential for the effectiveness of the film.
Villains
Villains is a darkly humorous crime movie that possesses the essence of a horror film. It stars Maika Monroe and Bill Skarsgård as two petty criminals who aim to gather sufficient funds for their desired future in Florida.
However, while stranded in the forest due to car trouble, they come across a peculiar couple (Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick) concealing a sinister mystery.
The chemistry between Skarsgård and Monroe is a major source of satisfaction, as they effortlessly transition from the film’s humorous moments to its terrifying plot twists. Despite being the most comedic film on this list, it still manages to evoke genuine fear.
Greta
In the psychological horror movie Greta, directed by Neil Jordan, Maika Monroe plays a secondary character. The film follows a young woman, portrayed by Chloë Grace Moretz, who develops a friendship with a mysterious older woman, played by Isabelle Huppert in the titular role. However, she soon realizes that she has unknowingly formed a connection with a terrifying creature.
While playing the role of Moretz’s roommate, the vibrant and fearless Erica, Monroe is absent from the movie for extended periods. However, Jordan cleverly ensures that she remains involved in the story and eventually takes the lead in two standout scenes.
In one, there is an incredibly suspenseful pursuit by a stalker, and in the other, she confronts Huppert in a thrilling showdown. Monroe expertly showcases her abilities as the ultimate survivor in both scenes, making them the most terrifying parts of Greta.
Tau
In contrast to Maika Monroe’s other works, Tau features a unique plot where the character of Julia, portrayed by Tau, is abducted by Alex (Ed Skrein) from a nightclub to be used in an artificial intelligence experiment.
The bond between Julia and Tau, who is a drone voiced by Gary Oldman, becomes significant as Tau strives to aid Julia in her escape. Julia ultimately places her faith in Tau, resulting in captivating interactions between the two.
Despite its frightening plot, Tau does not distinguish itself from other films centered on artificial intelligence or from the top thrillers of 2018. Additionally, Julia’s character development is lacking, with her past being largely unexamined and her traits remaining unclear.
Monroe effortlessly portrayed the character and showcased her acting abilities just as impressively as in her other horror movies. She effectively conveys both the character’s terror and her unwavering determination to survive, elevating the film to a more enjoyable level.
