Monster 1983

by Ivar Leon Menger, Marc Warren (Narrator), Callum Blue (Narrator)

AUDIBLE DEBUTS CHILLING NEW SCI-FI FROM BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNER IVAR LEON MENGER.

Callum Blue (Dead Like Me), Anastasia Griffith (Damages) and Marc Warren (Hustle) star in new audio-drama from Germany's master of thriller.

Catalysing the surge of interest in classic 70s and 80s sci-fi thrillers, and just in time for Halloween, Audible today exclusively debuts Monster 1983, an original audio-drama from Berlinale-winning director Ivan Leon Menger. Directed by multiple-Audie and RPA winner Cherry Cookson, the chilling tale stars Callum Blue (Dead Like Me), Anastasia Griffith (Damages) and Marc Warren (Hustle) amongst others.

Drawing influences from Poltergeist, Stand By Me and E.T. and other Spielberg classics, the story unfolds in the small coastal town of Harmony Bay, Oregon. Still reeling from a sudden and profound family tragedy, Sheriff Cody uproots his elder son Michael, and younger daughter Amy, from the chaos of Orlando to begin a new, more relaxed life in the Beaver State. Soon after their arrival however, this new-found tranquillity is disturbed by a succession of brutal but mysterious deaths. As the plot twists and turns its way through small-town secrecy, psychiatry wards and the supernatural, Cody comes under increasing pressure to solve each new case whilst keeping his family safe from harm.

Ivar Leon Menger, author of Monster 1983, 'Having been raised on Spielberg, King and Kubrick I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't watching some kind of horror, sci-fi or psychological thriller. I think the legacy of 70s and 80s horror cinema runs quite strongly through Monster 1983, and that's part of the reason I decided to create an audio-only story, it emphasises both the nostalgia and suspense for listeners.'

Steve Carsey, Director of Original Programming at Audible, 'After the enormous success of Alien, Out of the Shadows we knew there was a huge appetite for compelling sci-fi audio fiction. Ivar's stories have been immensely successful in Germany so we're really excited to introduce his work to UK listeners.'

Monster 1983 is a Wireless Theatre production for Audible Studios. Written by Ivar Leon Menger, translated by Guy Meredith and directed by Cherry Cookson with music scoring by Ynie Ray.

Monster 1983

Callum Blue (Sheriff Cody), Anastasia Griffith (Deputy Taylor Dunford), Marc Warren (Deputy Landers), Rachel Atkins, Barbara Barnes, Andrea Browne, Nicholas Boulton, Philip Bulcock, Sophie Cartman, Amy Cash, Lobo Chan, Charlotte Christie, Trevor Cuthbertson, Stephen Critchlow, Sean Delaney, Jessica Dennis,Tom Gregory, Adam Hall, Will Howard, Gerran Howell, Nicky Henson, Madeleine Kasson, Lorelei King, Stuart Milligan, Harry Myers, Nathan Osgood, Chris Rogers, Martin T Sherman, Thomas Stroppell and Trevor White.

Genres: Audiobook, Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Science Fiction

Audible Audio

First published October 12, 2016

About the author

Ivar Leon Menger, 1973 in Darmstadt geboren, studierte nach dem Abitur Grafikdesign an der Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst in Hildesheim (HAWK Fakultät Gestaltung) und entdeckte dabei seine Liebe zum Film. Nach dem Diplom verdiente sich Menger erst einmal fünf Jahre lang in der internationalen US-Agentur Ted Bates als Werbetexter sein Geld, um nach Feierabend und an den Wochenenden seinen ersten Kurzfilm „Geteiltes Leid“ schreiben und drehen zu können. Der fertige, zwölfminütige Thriller mit Florian Lukas in der Hauptrolle erschien dann nicht nur als Bonusfilm auf DVD („The Cell“, Regie: Tarsem Singh), sondern wurde im Jahr 2002 auch auf der Berlinale zum „Besten Kurzfilm Deutschlands“ ausgezeichnet. Daraufhin kündigte Menger seinen sicheren Job in der Werbeagentur, jobbte in einer Videothek und drehte seinen zweiten Kurzfilm-Thriller „Tramper“ mit Justus von Dohnányi und Fabian Busch, mit dem er u.a. 2004 den ProSieben Newcomer-Regie-Award gewann. Nach einem Semester Lehrtätigkeit als Dozent an der TU Darmstadt, zog Menger nach Berlin und lernte die Synchronschauspieler Oliver Rohrbeck und Jens Wawrczeck kennen, die ihn als Autor für „Die drei ???“ bei Sony Entertainment empfahlen. Menger bekam den Auftrag und wechselte daraufhin das Erzählmedium von Film zu Hörspiel. Seit nun mehr als 14 Jahren schreibt und entwickelte Ivar Leon Menger über 85 Hörspiele/Hörbücher und führt Regie. Mehr auf der offiziellen Webseite: www.ivarleonmenger.de

Reviews

[Nigel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is based on the Audible full cast recording.

I was very frustrated by this story since I was unaware that it wasn't the complete story until the "to be continued" line at the end of the performance, and having checked subsequent parts are not available in English. None of the key story lines were resolved which after a 7 hour full cast drama is a real disappointment. To be honest even up to that point when I believed the story would end, it was only ever an OK story. I was intrigued and wanted to know the identity of the killer, but it never reached the heights of being brilliant. The cast were only 1 step above wooden, the dialogue was unremarkable and the behaviour of some the characters was just too weird to be believable.
In a way I'm glad the subsequent parts are not available in English on Audible as though I want some of the storylines resolved I'm sure I could have waded through another long woodenish performance

[Georgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really should have liked this - it’s set in Oregon in 1983, in a small coastal town. A series of strange murders occur, and there may well be something supernatural at play. This is an Audible production done like a play, and that aspect of it works very well. The actors are great! The plot moves along well and is easy to follow. But I really HATED our supposed hero, Sheriff Cody. He came off (to me) as a dull, uptight, stick-in-the-mud a-hole who was often rude to his colleagues and the town’s residents for no good reason. Think Hopper from Stranger Things Season 1 without any of the redeeming features we later see in him. My dislike for Cody made it impossible for me to enjoy the story, and I gave up. I’d have preferred him as a minor character, perhaps with his deputy (Taylor) in the protagonist role. That said, it seems well written. I just hated Cody.

[Joshua Serpis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the overall story and setting, but I felt some of the editing was a bit off in terms of cutting in and out of effects, having listened to it on Audible, also was not so happy that it was only part 1 and the rest of the parts seem not to be out, despite the 2 be continued as it was made in 2016 I doubt there will be further productions which is a bit sad. I also feel the production didn't explain some plotlines well enough if we where going into a second book at times as well, clearly a drug/ smuggling enquiry line I would assume is up and coming.

[Bud Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it - ending was a bit abrupt but had a good twist. I'm enjoying these Audio dramas.

[Graeme O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meandering and somewhat boring, this is a horror story that perhaps should have been a one-and-done instead of setting up sequels which the listener ends up being indifferent to.

[Rusty Ray Guns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great murder mystery story audio drama that sadly stopped at the first book

[Megneto♓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this..what let it down was the ending. Such a shame as I think this would have been a 5 🌟 if it wasn't for that.