Honestly, the zombie genre felt dead for a while. Pun intended. Between the endless seasons of The Walking Dead and high-budget action flicks, we lost that weird, bloody heart that made the genre fun in the first place. Then Abe Forsythe dropped a movie that somehow manages to combine a Kindergarten field trip, a foul-mouthed washed-up musician, and a Taylor Swift singalong. If you want to watch Little Monsters 2019, you aren't just getting another "brain-munching" flick. You're getting one of the most surprisingly heartfelt comedies of the last decade.
It's a weird vibe. You’ve got Lupita Nyong’o—who is basically a goddess in every frame she occupies—playing Miss Caroline, a teacher who will do absolutely anything to protect her students. Even if that means lying to them and saying the blood-soaked undead are just part of an elaborate game.
The Absurdity of the Kindergarten Apocalypse
The setup is pretty simple. Dave, played by Alexander England, is a mess. He’s a guy who just went through a bad breakup and ends up crashing on his sister’s couch. He’s the kind of guy who uses his young nephew to get close to a beautiful teacher. We’ve seen this character before. He’s selfish. He’s annoying. But then the zombies show up at a petting zoo, and suddenly, Dave’s cowardice has to face off against Miss Caroline’s terrifyingly efficient maternal instincts.
Josh Gad is in this too. He plays Teddy McGiggle, a famous kids' show host who is, in reality, a complete garbage human being. It’s a brave performance because Gad leans so hard into being unlikable that you’re practically rooting for the zombies to catch him. Most movies would make him a misunderstood jerk. This movie just makes him a jerk. It works perfectly.
Where Can You Watch Little Monsters 2019 Right Now?
Finding where to stream this can be a bit of a headache depending on your region. In the United States, the film was a Hulu Original. That means it’s usually parked there, but streaming rights are fickle things. Sometimes movies hop over to Disney+ or Amazon Prime for a digital rental.
If you’re outside the US, check platforms like Stan in Australia—since it’s an Australian production—or Sky Cinema in the UK.
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Don't just pirate it. Seriously. Movies like this, small-to-mid-budget indie horrors, need those streaming numbers to prove to studios that we want original stories, not just Transformers 14.
Why This Movie Hits Differently Than Your Average Zombie Flick
Most zombie movies focus on the "how" of survival. How do we get more ammo? How do we find a cure? Little Monsters focuses on the "why." Why do we keep going when the world is ending? For Miss Caroline, the answer is the kids.
There is a specific scene involving a ukulele and a Taylor Swift song that shouldn't work. On paper, it sounds cheesy. In reality, it’s a masterclass in tension. You have these terrified five-year-olds surrounded by the literal walking dead, and their teacher is singing "Shake It Off" to keep them from screaming. It’s high-stakes parenting. It’s beautiful.
Lupita Nyong’o deserves so much credit for this. She treats the role with the same intensity she brought to Us or 12 Years a Slave. She doesn't wink at the camera. She plays the protector with a sincerity that anchors the entire ridiculous premise. When she’s covered in gore but still maintaining a bright, "teacher voice" smile, it’s both hilarious and deeply impressive.
Behind the Scenes: The Australian Indie Spirit
Abe Forsythe didn't have a massive budget. This wasn't a Marvel-sized production. They filmed in Australia, and you can feel that gritty, practical-effects energy throughout. The zombies aren't CGI blurs; they are actors in makeup who look genuinely gross.
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- They used real kids, which meant limited filming hours.
- The contrast between the bright, sunny petting zoo and the gray, decaying zombies was a deliberate choice to make the horror pop.
- Much of the dialogue from Josh Gad felt like he was just letting out years of pent-up frustration with the entertainment industry.
The film premiered at Sundance in 2019 and immediately got people talking. It’s not a "scary" movie in the sense that it will give you nightmares, but it’s intense. It’s a "Zom-Com" in the vein of Shaun of the Dead, but with a lot more swearing and a lot more heart.
What Most People Miss About the Ending
People tend to focus on the gore. There's a lot of it. But the ending of the film is actually a pretty sharp commentary on growth. Dave, our protagonist, starts the movie as a child in a man's body. By the time you finish your watch Little Monsters 2019 session, you realize he’s finally learned what it means to be an adult. It’s not about being cool or playing in a band. It’s about being the person who stands between a kid and a monster.
It also avoids the typical romantic tropes. While there’s chemistry, the movie doesn't feel the need to force a "happily ever after" wedding sequence. It’s more about mutual respect earned through surviving a traumatic event involving a zombie petting zoo.
Critical Reception vs. Fan Reality
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie sits at a solid 77% from critics and a slightly higher score from audiences. Critics loved the performances, particularly Lupita’s, but some found the humor a bit "crass."
Yeah, it’s crass. It’s a movie about zombies at a petting zoo. If you're looking for high-brow philosophy, maybe go watch a Bergman film. But if you want to laugh while someone gets their head kicked in by a Kindergarten teacher, this is your jam.
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The pacing is also incredibly tight. At only 94 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, tells its story, kills some zombies, and rolls the credits. In an era where every movie is three hours long, this brevity is a gift.
Common Misconceptions
People often confuse this movie with the 1989 Fred Savage movie also called Little Monsters.
They are very different.
The 1989 version is about a monster under the bed (Howie Mandel) who takes a kid to a world of junk food and pranks. The 2019 version is about flesh-eating ghouls and a teacher trying to prevent her students from being eaten. Do not mix them up. Do not show the 2019 version to your toddler thinking it’s the Fred Savage one. You will have a very expensive therapy bill on your hands.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Movie Night
If you're planning to watch this, do it right. Here is how to maximize the experience:
- Check your region's availability: Start with Hulu (US) or Stan (AU). If it's not there, check "JustWatch" to see where it migrated.
- Double-feature it: This pairs perfectly with Shaun of the Dead or Cooties (another great "kids vs. zombies" movie starring Elijah Wood).
- Watch the background: There are tons of small visual gags in the petting zoo scenes that you might miss on a first watch.
- Appreciate the practical effects: Notice the lack of shaky-cam. You can actually see what’s happening during the fights, which is a rarity these days.
The film is a reminder that horror-comedy is at its best when it cares about the characters. We don't want to see the kids get hurt, and that’s why the stakes feel so high. Go watch it for Lupita. Stay for the Taylor Swift. Leave with a newfound appreciation for how hard Kindergarten teachers actually work.