Based on Steven Kings short story of the same name The Monkey is written and directed by Osgood Perkins of ‘Longlegs’ fame and stars Theo James in the lead role with cameos from Adam Scott and Elijah Wood.

After recently seeing the trailer for The Monkey I thought to myself that it looks like an ok horror, but I was so wrong. It’s much better than I thought it would be. I enjoyed Osgood’s previous film the creepy ‘Longlegs’ starring an unrecognisable Nicholas Cage as a serial killer but it’s The Monkey that brings him to the next level as a filmmaker.

The Monkey begins with a cameo from ‘Severances’ Adam Scott wearing a pilots uniform trying to sell a windup monkey. The monkey is wound up and the killings begin. This all happens before the opening credits and sets the tone and the rollercoaster ride ahead.

The film jumps to the 1990s. We’re introduced to the pilots twin sons, Hal the quiet one and Bill the bully. They’re rummaging through their fathers closet when they discover a box which says ‘Like Life’ on it. They open it up to reveal the toy monkey. Hal is being badly bullied and after accidentally discovering that winding up the monkey causes people to die in all sorts of unexpected ways, he seeks revenge. What he doesn’t realise is that the monkey doesn’t listen to instructions but will kill whomever it wishes indiscriminately. The film then jumps to the modern day where we’re introduced to Hal as an adult as he reconnects with his teenage son. They go away together to stay in a motel and the killings begin once again. Hal tries to figure out where the monkey is to stop it. 

I’d describe The Monkey as a hilarious bloody horror film which will have you gasping and laughing out loud in equal measure. It balances the mixture of comedy and horror perfectly. It’s a very simple premise but it’s the execution of the simple premise that elevates the film to the next level. It’s crazy, unexpected and hits you over the head (excuse the pun) with some delightfully funny gory scenes. It reminds me a bit of the Final Destination series but with much better pacing. The music, the acting, the setups and delivery excel in this film. I must give a particular mention to Theo James who most recently starred in the ‘The White Lotus’ and ‘The Gentlemen’ series. He shines in this film with his brilliant deadpan delivery. Comedy really suits him, and I hope we get to see him in more of them. 

Bring your friends, grab the popcorn and drinks and go to see The Monkey. It’ll provide you with plenty of laughs and shocks and will ensure you’ll have a great night out in the cinema.

  • Directed by: Osgood Perkins
  • Written by: Osgood Perkins and Stephen King
  • Starring: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, and Christian Convery
  • Running Time: 1hr 35min
  • Released: Feb. 21st, 2025
  • Rated: R

Review by Claire Millane, a Dublin based actor and comedian. Follow on YouTube at COMEDYBreakz

 

The Monkey Trailer