After winning Best Actor awards in Toronto, Edinburgh, Stockholm, Los Angeles, etc., Devin Montgomery has been nominated for his performance in Monsters Within for another prestigious Best Actor in a Feature Film award. This time at Crown Point International’s Best of the Fest for 2025. The ceremony takes places in Chicago at the historic Logan Theatre. Monsters Within (which Montgomery also directed, and Curtis Gardner executive produced through their company The Cineval Picture Show) is also nominated for Best Horror Feature Film. Montgomery and the film secured nominations against hundreds of other films and performances throughout the 2025 season.
Montgomery’s performance has garnered rave reviews and attention throughout the film’s festival run. James Dean and a young Mickey Rourke are some of the comparisons that have been named. This was Montgomery’s first lead performance in a feature film, and it’s a calling card for the actor.
He plays a veteran (named Luke Wolf) that returns to his hometown after a ten-year hiatus to see his sister, who has Down Syndrome. Montgomery’s (Luke) Wolf faces the monsters that he’s been running from head on opposite other standout performances played by Kendall Cavener, Samuel French, Skeeta Jenkins, and Katy Hayes. Montgomery gives full credit to the amazing cast and crew of this feature film. “All of the success we’ve had would not be possible without each and every cast and crew member, and the beautifully gritty cinematography by Brandon Stewart” The film was shot primarily in Oklahoma. His real-life sister Daniella Montgomery, who has Down Syndrome, added a very real and authentic layer to the story and to Montgomery’s performance as Luke. There’s a one take monologue scene midway through the film that has been talked about all over the world for the performance Montgomery gives. He says, “My sister is my inspiration in life, and I wanted to showcase the amazing bond we have. She can light up the world with her smile. I wanted to showcase that even in a gritty and intense film.”
These nominations and the upcoming release of the film in the next couple months are dedicated to Samuel French, who plays the villain Cyrus in the film. French (Killers of the Flower Moon) passed away a few weeks before the announcement of the nominations. Montgomery credits French with elevating an intense second half of the film with a very layered performance. Montgomery says, “It was an honor to share the screen with him, and Samuel told me all the time how proud he was of this movie.” News of the upcoming release of the film will be announced soon. Montgomery is repped by Duvall Mac Talent in NY and the SE region and repped by Reel Talent in Oklahoma.
