The Monkey
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Directed By: Osgood Perkins
Written By: Osgood Perkins
Starring: Theo James, Christian Convery, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, Osgood Perkins and Sarah Levy
Rating: R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references
Runtime: 98 minutes
Since the debut of Brian De Palma’s Carrie nearly five decades ago, adaptations of Stephen King have appeared in diverse styles and genres, and I have witnessed nearly all of them. However, nothing quite like Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey has been seen before: an exhilarating fusion of dark humor, bizarre extremes, and gruesome body horror. It’s brilliantly absurd and a sheer thrill.
While it doesn’t faithfully adhere to King’s story, selectively adapting elements to craft an original narrative, it maintains the disturbing essence of its source. The film stumbles slightly in the third act due to a somewhat simplistic antagonist storyline, yet it remains delightfully entertaining and adequately offsets its weaknesses with its abundance of success.
Osgood Perkins’ film presents a captivating blend of extreme horror and humor in The Monkey.
Osgood Perkins’ previous works reveal his fascination with the macabre, yet The Monkey channels this creativity in a unique way compared to last year’s Longlegs, with an infectious dark whimsy. The movie recognizes the emotional toll of death while addressing the inevitable chaos of mortality, often depicted through absurd scenarios that leave characters in comical states of disarray. Various bizarre situations result in scenes of gory hilarity that never cease to amuse.
Perkins artfully orchestrates these macabre “accidents,” engaging the audience in piecing together the horror elements and satisfying them with unexpected twists. The blend of ridiculousness and eeriness creates a distinctive flavor that’s both humorous and twisted.
The Monkey imparts insights on mortality amidst the chaotic gore.
At its core, The Monkey is an outrageous horror comedy, but it also imparts significant depth. Although the subplot featuring Bill feels underdeveloped (disclosing specifics would spoil the experience), the film adeptly explores the effects of childhood trauma through the contrasting paths of Hal and Bill: one runs from the past, while the other is drawn to it. This dynamic illustrates personal growth amid madness.
Executing this duality effectively is challenging, yet both Christian Convery and Theo James showcase impressive versatility in exhibiting two distinct characters, achieving a strong synchronicity as the twins transition from adolescence to adulthood. While the twins take center stage, the film’s charm also lies in its supporting cast: minor characters pop in and out, enriched with memorable quirks—like Elijah Wood’s Ted, who dares to gamble his parental role in a contest of arm wrestling, and Nicco Del Rio as an unprepared pastor struggling to manage a grieving congregation during a funeral.
Elements of The Monkey evoke memories of franchises like Final Destination, The Addams Family, and Child’s Play, yet it uniquely carves its own identity, ensuring that audiences attuned to its bizarre aura will thoroughly enjoy. With The Monkey and Drew Hancock’s remarkable, twisty Companion, horror enthusiasts have much to celebrate in 2025, hoping that other forthcoming Stephen King adaptations can replicate its exceptional quality.
