The Monkey - A Movie Review

That monkey is trouble.

Based on Stephen King’s short story, The Monkey is a 2025 film. Twin brothers, Hal and Bill stumble upon their father’s old mechanical monkey in the attic. Someone dies every time it plays the drums. Despite their attempts to rid themselves of the curse, the monkey resurfaces decades later, leading to tragic incidents.

The Monkey is the type of unapologetic, insane, and absurd horror-comedy we need more of. I was expecting a horror movie, but didn’t think I would laugh this much. Passed its horror concepts, The Monkey encourages viewers to put past mistakes behind them and don’t hold grudges.

Theo James plays Hal and his estranged twin brother, Bill. James did an excellent job playing two roles. Both characters are so different. Christian Convey had the same job as the character’s kid counterparts. It’s impressive to see him play both roles.

Everyone in the cast knew the assignment and delivered over-the-top performances. The supporting cast includes Tatiana Maslany, Colin O’Brien, Sarah Levy, Elijah Wood, Rohan Campbell, Tess Bergenstein, and Danica Dreyer. Osgood Perkins, the director, also plays a small role as the boy’s uncle.

I swear, now that I watch Toy Story 3, the wild cymbal-clashing monkey will always remind me of this creepy monkey. In fact, this monkey beat a drum because Toy Story 3’s cymbal monkey was under copyright law!

Stephen King has always been my go-to for horror. Like most of King’s stories, the film was primarily shot in Maine. This project was given to the right hands by Osgood Perkins, the son of the late Anthony Perkins. The Monkey had no rules. It’s a horror comedy. It even makes fun of itself!

Perkins’s choice to forgo a traditional origin story in favor of this immediate plunge into chaos underscores how the film subverts from the usual horror film. The very first scene establishes that. The film’s comedic elements are woven through its dialogue and character interactions.

Blood, guts, and body parts explode everywhere. A woman cries bloody tears. A weapon impales someone. When it retracts, the person’s innards are attached. The special effects time crafts practical effects to create stomach-churning sequences that will satisfy gore enthusiasts.

The Monkey is similar to Final Destination. Characters are killed off in gruesome ways. Plus, you don’t know how or when it will happen. It’s a darkly bloody horror film. I’m not exaggerating when I say it spews blood everywhere. Be lucky it’s not a 4-D film.

This is how you do editing. Editing also plays a key factor in comedy. Each scene transition is sharp. My favorite sequence was when a step broke and a character fell into a box of sharp fish hooks. Said character is so hysterical that they scream, dashes outside, and ignore a pivotal item that could save them until a horrific incident occurs.

Despite its strengths, the film has pacing and tonal shifts. I enjoyed the first half more than the second act. The first act achieves dark comedy. The rest of the film slows down and becomes dull. The storyline between Hal and his son, Petey (Colin O’Brien) wasn’t necessary. Hal and Bill’s sibling dynamic is the most important angle in the story.

The Monkey is a humorous expiration of fata, trauma, and reconciling. Darkly, this film showcases what holding grudges does. Things will get out of hand.

The Monkey is for mature horror fans only. While its tones may not resonate with all audiences, it experiments with different ideas. The theater is the place to experience it. Audiences expressed shock and laughter.