Blink–182’s Tom DeLonge Launches Sci-Fi Adventure ‘Monsters of California’

From Blink–182 frontman to filmmaker, Tom DeLonge continues his long-standing obsession with the paranormal in Monsters of California, a coming-of-age sci-fi adventure that lands on UK digital platforms from 7 July 2025. Co-written and directed by DeLonge alongside Ian Miller, the film is an unabashed homage to classic teen-driven genre fare, blending conspiracy theories, alien sightings and teenage recklessness into a fast-paced story with supernatural overtones.

Set under the sun-drenched skies of Southern California, the film follows Dallas Edwards, played by Jack Samson, whose adolescence is punctuated by grief, mischief and a consuming belief that extraterrestrial life is not only real but lurking dangerously close. Along with his closest friends Riley (Jared Scott) and Toe (Jack Lancaster), Dallas digs into a string of strange phenomena, convinced they’re connected to the disappearance of his fighter pilot father years earlier.

Their amateur investigations take a sudden turn when they discover remnants of their father’s work, revealing ties to shadowy government activity and classified military secrets. As their quest leads them deeper into conspiracy and paranoia, the stakes rise. They’re pursued by the military, headed by Dallas’ own uncle, Myers, played by Starship Troopers veteran Casper Van Dien, and find unlikely help from Dr Walker (Richard Kind), a former colleague of Dallas’ father who has clearly seen too much.

The tone leans heavily into the kind of nostalgic science fiction that shaped DeLonge’s youth, with nods to E.T., Close Encounters and The Goonies scattered throughout. But Monsters of California is also rooted in modern anxieties, tackling themes of institutional distrust, generational trauma and the emotional weight of grief beneath its pop-culture exterior.

DeLonge, who has long campaigned for public access to UFO-related government files and fronts the research organisation To the Stars, pours his beliefs and experiences into the film. It is less a vanity project than a genuine expression of his artistic preoccupations. The film positions itself as a blend of satire and sincerity, acknowledging the absurdity of UFO lore while treating its characters and emotional stakes with earnest intent.

The cast includes Gabrielle Haugh, Arianne Zucker and genre regular Richard Kind.

Monsters of California will be available to rent or buy digitally in the UK from 7 July.

Monsters of California trailer