Monster Trucks (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story is set primarily in North Dakota, specifically in a small town where Terravex Oil conducts fracking operations. Key locations include a junkyard where Tripp builds his monster truck, Terravex headquarters where the corporate conflict unfolds, a hunting cabin used for confrontations, and the surrounding mountains that connect to underground tunnels.

• north dakota
• setting
• locations
• junkyard
• terravex

Terravex Oil is the corporation driving the film's central conflict. Led by CEO Reece Tenneson, the company conducts fracking operations that disturb creatures living underground. Their unethical practices and attempts to capture the creatures for profit create the main antagonism, representing corporate greed and environmental destruction.

• terravex
• corporation
• ceo
• reece tennessson
• villain
• fracking

Tripp is a high school senior who feels trapped in his ordinary small-town life. He is resourceful and mechanically inclined, building a monster truck from parts in a junkyard. Throughout the film, he transforms from a dreamer seeking escape into a courageous hero who learns about responsibility, friendship, and protecting those different from him.

• tripp coley
• protagonist
• hero
• main character
• lucas till

Creech is a squid-like creature that emerges from underground after Terravex's fracking disturbs its habitat. He is intelligent, emotionally aware, and forms a deep bond with Tripp. Creech serves as both a companion and a symbol of the connection between humans and nature, representing the film's themes of environmentalism and interspecies friendship.

• creech
• creature
• squid
• monster
• animal companion

Meredith is Tripp's loyal ally and friend who supports him throughout his adventure. She is portrayed as resourceful, courageous, and willing to stand up to challenges alongside Tripp. Her character represents strength and companionship, essential to the team's survival against Terravex's threats.

• meredith
• amy ryan
• ally
• friend
• support character

Reece Tenneson is the CEO of Terravex Oil, portrayed by Rob Lowe. He embodies corporate greed and is willing to go to extreme lengths to protect his company's interests, including sending mercenaries to capture the creatures. His unethical decisions drive the primary conflict and serve as a critique of corporate irresponsibility and environmental negligence.

• reece tennessson
• rob lowe
• villain
• ceo
• terravex
• antagonist

The film explores environmental destruction caused by corporate greed, specifically through Terravex's fracking operations. The creatures represent the consequences of disturbing nature, highlighting the need to respect the environment. The narrative encourages conservation and appreciation for the natural world as Tripp learns to understand and protect Creech and his family.

• environmentalism
• nature
• conservation
• pollution
• fracking
• ecology

Friendship is central to Tripp's journey, particularly his bond with Creech, Meredith, and later Rick. Their loyalty is tested as they face threats from Terravex and its mercenaries. The film emphasizes teamwork and camaraderie in overcoming challenges, showing how these relationships lead to personal growth and new beginnings for all characters.

• friendship
• loyalty
• teamwork
• bonds
• companionship

Betrayal emerges when Tripp's father, Wade, sells out his son and Meredith to Burke, a Terravex mercenary. This act of betrayal creates emotional turmoil and forces the characters to navigate trust issues amid danger. Overcoming this betrayal strengthens Tripp's character and reinforces the importance of his newfound relationships.

• betrayal
• father wade
• trust
• family
• conflict

The mountains and underground tunnels represent the creatures' natural habitat and the larger world beyond Tripp's small town. These settings connect the surface world with the underground, symbolizing the boundary between human civilization and nature. The tunnels serve as escape routes and paths to freedom for both Tripp and the creatures.

• mountains
• tunnels
• underground
• habitat
• escape
• nature