The Monster (1994) Plot Summary Explained

Loris becomes the prime suspect because of his odd behavior and a series of coincidences. At a party, he mistakenly approaches the wrong woman after hearing about a nymphomaniac who sleeps with anyone. The woman runs away and reports him to police. His socially awkward manner and the fact that he constantly finds himself in compromising situations make him seem suspicious to Chief Frustalupi, who is determined to catch the killer 'red-handed' despite lacking real evidence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Loris is established as someone who hasn't paid rent in months and owes money to various people, creating a reason for the police to view him skeptically.

• loris suspect
• serial killer
• police investigation
• mistaken identity

Paride, the police psychologist, orders Jessica to dress in a Little Red Riding Hood costume to tempt Loris into revealing his supposed killer instincts. The chief believes this will provoke Loris into 'erotic urges' that would expose him. However, the plan completely backfires, Loris remains completely unmoved by Jessica in the costume, further proving he is not the dangerous killer they suspect him to be.

• red riding hood
• costume
• entrapment
• plan backfires

The real serial killer is Loris's Chinese instructor, the professor who teaches him Chinese. Jessica discovers this after finding the good luck charm that the instructor gave Loris at the crime scene of the latest murder, linking the instructor to the crimes.

Foreshadowing: The Chinese instructor appears in the film through the 'eerie thread' of the good luck charm that Jessica notices during Paride's fake suit-fitting session.

• real killer
• chinese instructor
• reveal
• twist

After living with Loris as his undercover roommate for several days, Jessica begins to doubt he is the killer because his behavior is completely innocent, he shows no violent or sexual aggression toward her, even when she dresses provocatively as ordered and wears the Little Red Riding Hood costume. Her growing certainty comes when she finds the good luck charm at the crime scene and connects it to Loris's Chinese instructor.

Foreshadowing: Jessica notices the good luck charm when Loris receives it from his teacher, and later finds the same charm at the crime scene.

• jessica
• discovers innocent
• good luck charm
• evidence

The good luck charm becomes the crucial clue that breaks the case open. When the killer strikes again, Jessica finds the same small Chinese good luck charm at the crime scene that Loris received from his Chinese instructor. This directly links the instructor to the murders, redirecting the investigation away from Loris.

Foreshadowing: Jessica spots the charm during the suit-fitting scene when the instructor's thread is introduced through the charm.

• good luck charm
• clue
• chinese instructor
• crime scene

Loris bombs the interview because despite studying Chinese for weeks hoping to become an assistant manager, he cannot even answer the most basic question: to tell them his name. His severe social awkwardness and nervousness prevent him from performing, highlighting his incompetence and the futility of the police's theory that he could be a cunning serial killer.

• interview
• fails
• chinese
• assistant manager
• name question

Paride visits Jessica's apartment under the false pretense of fitting Loris for a suit. While Loris thinks he's getting measured for clothing, Paride actually performs various medical tests on him, taking blood pressure, checking reflexes, and conducting other examinations, trying to find evidence that Loris is the killer. Loris remains completely oblivious, believing it's all part of the suit fitting process.

• paride
• medical tests
• suit fitting
• deception

Jessica starts doubting Loris is the killer after living undercover in his apartment for days and observing his harmless behavior. Even when she dresses provocatively and wears the Little Red Riding Hood costume as ordered to tempt him, Loris shows no aggressive or predatory behavior. His genuine kindness and social incompetence convince her he's innocent, leading her to investigate other suspects.

• jessica
• doubts
• innocent
• observes
• behavior

Jessica goes to the Chinese instructor's house after connecting the good luck charm to him. She finds both Loris and the instructor there. She orders a uniformed officer to release Loris, then calmly directs the real killer toward a squad car, completing the capture. The real killer is apprehended without violence, and Loris is finally cleared of all suspicion.

Foreshadowing: The good luck charm connects the instructor to the crime scene, providing the evidence needed to find the real culprit.

• capture
• real killer
• instructor house
• police
• resolution

The film ends with Loris and Jessica sharing a kiss and walking off into the sunset together. This romantic resolution signals the end of the investigation and suggests a new chapter in their relationship, with the innocent Loris completely exonerated and the true killer behind bars.

• ending
• kiss
• sunset
• romance
• resolution