Love is a MONSTER is the story about the first love of a woman , that is so intense, that it eventually takes over her body.
Her feelings sprout claws. Her silence sharpens into teeth. This is a body horror where love doesn’t heal— it devastates.
We’re looking for bold partners who believe in powerful stories that leave a lasting mark.
The protagonist is Momo— a hotel cleaner in her late twenties living in Tokyo, who has never been in love. She sees love as irrational, even dangerous, so she keeps her heart firmly closed.
Kazama, a novelist in his 30s, is stuck in a creative slump and hasn’t written anything in years. One day, he checks into Momo’s hotel and begins eavesdropping on couples next door in search of new inspiration.
One day, Momo meets Kazama and falls into a fierce, first love. Overwhelmed by her emotion, Momo impulsively eats Kazama’s manuscript. Then to her surprise his words starts to appear on her skin, and her body begins to mutate.
Kazama is fascinated by her transformation and starts writing again—with Momo as his muse. But he already has a girlfriend.
Knowing how Momo feels, he brings her face-to-face with his girl friend. Consumed by jealousy, Momo mutates into something monstrous and bares her teeth at the other woman.
Kazama writes it all down—even that moment.
Momo continues to be his subject matter.. It’s the only way she can stay connected to him.
And on the night she learns he never loved her— “If I eat you, we’ll be together forever.” she whispers, then lunges toward him.
For Momo, love is a monster.
Momo’s transformation into a monster unfolds in four emotional stages:
The transformation into a monster symbolizes the aggression involved in romantic feelings and the inevitable violence that hides within human relationships.
In Japan, one in three young people choose to avoid romantic relationships, often due to personal priorities, social pressure, or emotional uncertainty. In a world where you can survive without love, Momo has kept her heart shut for years.
But one day, she falls in love—for the very first time. And her feelings are too wild and intense to contain.
This film explores what happens when someone who’s avoided love all their life finally falls for someone. Fear, anxiety, jealousy, despair— everything she’s buried rises to the surface, and takes the shape of a monster.
Director’s statemnts
I’ve always been drawn to people who can’t express their feelings in words. Momo is an extreme exampleof them. She doesn’t scream or cry—she simply wants to be loved. And in her quiet desperation, I saw part of myself.
This is a story about emotions that spill into the body. Feelings that can’t be spoken show up in skin, in claws, in teeth. I wanted the audience to feel that transformation—quietly, visually, viscerally.
What is a monster? Maybe it’s just what emotion that are held back inside becomes at the end
Love is a MONSTER is a story told through one woman, in one room— a tale of emotional and physical unraveling.
It’s a low-cost,[J12] high-impact project that blends genre with bold visual storytelling. And at its core, it speaks to something universal: the pain of wanting to be loved, and the monster that longing can become.
We’re looking for global partners who believe in stories that cross borders, cross genres, and leave a mark on the heart.
