‘Monster Island’ Theories, Meaning, Explanation, and Themes

I’m not typically into monster movies, but I found myself watching Monster Island with a friend recently and thought I might as well write about it.

As I sat down to type, I realized there’s a lot here — and in monster movies in general — to analyze.

Here is my analysis of Monster Island.

Screenshot from “Monster Island” trailer.

Top Theories About the Meaning and Themes of ‘Monster Island’ (2019)

1. Nature vs. Industrialization

Theory: The two kaiju represent natural forces in conflict with humanity’s attempts to control and exploit the Earth. Tengu, as a sea creature that reproduces endlessly, embodies unchecked consumption and overgrowth, while the Walking Mountain embodies the unyielding resilience of the land itself.

• Why It Fits:
  • The film places geologists at the center of the story—scientists whose job is to both study and manage natural resources—making the kaiju conflict a symbolic battle over who really “owns” the Earth.
• Key Moments:
  • Tengu’s rapid spawning (suggesting invasive, uncontrollable growth), Walking Mountain’s steady, destructive advance, and the human team caught between land and sea.

2. The Futility of Human Control

Theory: The film argues that humanity, despite its science and technology, cannot meaningfully control forces of nature that operate on scales beyond comprehension. The Coast Guard and geologists work desperately, but ultimately they are observers in a fight between titans.

• Why It Fits:
  • Kaiju films often critique human arrogance, and here the emphasis on scientists and government officials unable to contain the chaos underscores humanity’s limitations.
• Key Moments:
  • The Coast Guard’s failed containment attempts, scenes where human weapons prove ineffective, and the ultimate outcome determined not by people but by the kaiju themselves.

3. Creation and Destruction as Cyclical Forces

Theory: Tengu and Walking Mountain embody the dual forces of creation (sea life multiplying) and destruction (earth crushing and reshaping), locked in eternal struggle. The clash suggests that neither force can exist without the other.

• Why It Fits: 
  • Tengu’s spawning dragon-like offspring implies fertility and unchecked life, while Walking Mountain is barren but crushingly powerful. Together they reflect the mythic balance between birth and ruin.
• Key Moments:
  • Tengu’s relentless reproduction, Walking Mountain’s crushing indifference, and the final confrontation leaving the island scarred but renewed.

4. Humanity’s Role as Witness, Not Master

Theory: The focus on a small team of geologists emphasizes that humans are best positioned as interpreters of natural phenomena, not rulers. Their role is to understand, adapt, and survive in the presence of forces that will continue regardless of human interference.

• Why It Fits: 
  • The story emphasizes observation, naming, and categorizing (e.g., dubbing the creatures Tengu and Walking Mountain), which mirrors how humans historically mythologize what they cannot conquer.
• Key Moments: 
  • The act of naming the kaiju, the scientific attempts to explain their origins, and the final retreat once it is clear humans cannot dictate the outcome.

Key Themes in ‘Monster Island’

Human Resilience in Crisis

The film highlights how ordinary professionals—geologists and Coast Guard officers—respond to extraordinary dangers. Their persistence and adaptability show the resilience of human communities in the face of overwhelming threats.

Myth and Modernity

By giving the kaiju names rooted in folklore (Tengu, Walking Mountain), the film blends mythological resonance with contemporary science, suggesting that legends often emerge from humanity’s encounters with unexplained natural phenomena.

The Ocean as a Source of Mystery

The sea is portrayed not simply as a backdrop but as a wellspring of unpredictable and frightening life. Tengu’s origins underscore how the ocean remains Earth’s least understood frontier, capable of birthing both wonder and terror.

Scale and Perspective

The vastness of the kaiju battles places human struggles into perspective, reminding viewers of their relative smallness in a larger, indifferent natural order. The spectacle emphasizes awe as much as fear.

Plot Summary

• Year Released: 2019
• Director: Mark Atkins & James Thomas
• Writer: Mark Atkins

When seismic disturbances threaten New Zealand’s coast, a team of geologists joins forces with the Coast Guard to investigate. Their mission uncovers the emergence of two colossal creatures: Tengu, a giant starfish that spawns dragon-like offspring, and the Walking Mountain, a massive golem-like entity born of the earth itself. As the titans clash in a destructive battle, human efforts to contain the chaos prove futile, leaving the scientists and officers struggling to survive while bearing witness to nature’s overwhelming and mysterious power.

Movies Like ‘Monster Island’

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Godzilla (1954)

A prehistoric sea monster awakened by nuclear testing wreaks havoc on Japan, embodying humanity’s fear of uncontrollable natural forces.

—> Watch Godzilla online.

Rodan (1956)

Miners discover giant pteranodon-like creatures, highlighting human vulnerability when industrial activity unleashes ancient terrors.

—> Watch Rodan online.

Gorgo (1961)

A captured sea monster is put on display in London, but its towering mother arrives to reclaim it, blending myth with modern exploitation.

—> Watch Gorgo online.

The Host (2006)

A mutated creature emerges from Seoul’s Han River, forcing an ordinary family to confront a disaster born from environmental neglect.

—> Watch The Host online.

Pacific Rim (2013)

Giant monsters from an interdimensional rift battle human-piloted mechs, exploring themes of resilience, teamwork, and humanity’s smallness in the face of cosmic threats.

—> Watch Pacific Rim online.

Shin Godzilla (2016)

A rapidly evolving creature emerges from Tokyo Bay, forcing scientists and bureaucrats to confront the futility of human systems against overwhelming natural disasters.

—> Watch Shin Godzilla online.

Have Your Own ‘Monster Island’ Theory?

I bet this is one of the only deep analyses of Monster Island on the internet. 

If you’ve seen another one, share it (plus any other thoughts or theories about this film) in the comments.

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