The film’s "progressive" reveal—that the primary antagonists are a lesbian couple—was widely criticized for being regressive and sensationalist.

: Reviewers from The Hindu and Firstpost argued that the film further stigmatized the LGBTQIA+ community by associating queer identity with psychopathy and crime.

Monster serves as a cautionary tale for mainstream cinema attempting to tackle "modern" subjects without adequate research or sensitivity. It highlights a disconnect between the industry's desire to appear progressive and its continued reliance on reductive stereotypes to drive commercial thriller plots.