Closet Monster

Play trailer

Closet Monster

2016

1h 30m

Drama

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Haunted by traumatic memories, an artistic teenager is driven to escape from his hometown.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Closet Monster is a unique, understated fable, buoyed by a strong performance from Connor Jessup.

Read Critics Reviews

Adam Nayman

Cinema Scope

Murder, masturbation, melancholy, molly-this is one overstuffed Canadian debut feature. Perhaps they should have cut the talking hamster.

Sep 28, 2017

Full Review

G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

One way to tell a promising director is by the acting in his or her film, and the performances in "Closet Monster" are solid all the way around, no matter how small the role.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 30, 2016

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

If it all doesn't work perfectly, that's oddly okay, the character-driven highs making up for the bits and pieces that fail to reach the same sort of unpredictably enthralling heights so much of the rest thankfully soars to.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 28, 2016

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A stunning feature directorial debut from Stephen Dunn that beautifully captures the difficulty of coming out, internalized homophobia, first crushes, and divorce

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

As a film about sexual awakenings, Closet Monster is commendable in its focus not on the mechanics of sexuality, but instead on its ramifications.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 2, 2021

Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

If I've said it once I have said it a million billion trillion times - every movie needs to have Isabella Rossellini voicing a hamster.

Jul 6, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

D.B. S

Beautiful story. A delicious hidden gem.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

Full Review

Troy C

Heartbreaking, warm, complex and beautiful. Incredibly clever story and superbly directed. Can’t believe I only just found it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

Full Review

Jason F

Poignant coming of age movie with a remarkable performance by Connor Jessup.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/24

Full Review

Michael L

A perfectly rendered, beautiful movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

Everyone needs a Buffy in their lives.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

Daniel L

My favorite movie as a teenager. To this day it is very difficult to give up this position. So many affective memories...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Stephen Dunn

Director

Connor Jessup

Oscar Madly

Aaron Abrams

Peter Madly

Isabella Rossellini

Buffy

Joanne Kelly

Brin Madly

Aliocha Schneider

Wilder

Lilting

82%

80%

Lilting

Watchlist

Fire Song

88%

53%

Fire Song

Watchlist

Margarita, With a Straw

86%

79%

Margarita, With a Straw

Watchlist

Henry Gamble's Birthday Party

86%

58%

Henry Gamble's Birthday Party

Watchlist

Salvation Army

77%

42%

Salvation Army

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Closet Monster: Teaser Trailer 1

0:44

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Haunted by traumatic memories, an artistic teenager is driven to escape from his hometown.

Director: Stephen Dunn
Producer: Fraser Ash, Kevin Krikst, Edward J. Martin
Screenwriter: Stephen Dunn
Distributor: Strand Releasing
Production Co: Rhombus Media
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.2K
Runtime: 1h 30m

Most Popular at Home Now