Words by: Dustin Meadows
Fresh off the success of 2024’s Longlegs, writer/director Osgood Perkins delivers again with The Monkey. An adaptation of Stephen King’s short story of the same name, the film follows twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn (in a dual performance from Christian Convery as the childhood brothers and Theo James as the twins all grown up) and a wind-up drumming monkey that brings death randomly to anyone who dares turn the wind-up key in the simian percussionist’s back. With supporting performances from Tatiana Maslany, Colin O’ Brien, and a very brief cameo from Severance’s Adam Scott in an unforgettable and bloody opening sequence, the film boasts an incredibly fun cast, many of whom get little screen time due to the murderous nature of the titular Monkey.
The movie does a great job of exploring themes of familial ties and especially sibling rivalry between Hal and Bill, all in the middle of a darkly comedic story that features inventive, over the top, and incredibly bloody kills. The Monkey plays out like one of the Final Destination films if the Rube Goldberg-esque deaths were played more for laughs than for scares. I was fortunate enough to see an advanced screening of the film last month, introduced by Perkins himself, who said the film is very much meant to be a funny one. If you keep your eyes open early on in the film, you’ll catch an incredibly hilarious cameo from the writer/director.
After seemingly burying the Monkey forever after it causes the death of their mother, Hal and Bill are brought back together decades later when the Monkey resurfaces and begins wreaking absolute havoc once more. Easily one of the most entertaining Stephen King adaptations, not just recently, but ever, and the film has even earned praise from the author himself, describing it as “It’s batshit insane. As someone who has indulged in batshittery from time to time, I say that with admiration.” High praise straight from the horse’s mouth.
I don’t want to give away too much because you’ll absolutely want to see every hilarious, bloody moment unfold before you in this hyper violent, incredibly funny, and bloody as all hell thrill ride. The Monkey opens in theaters this weekend, but just make sure when the drumming begins you’re nowhere near the Monkey.
