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Mar 09, 2025 By Scott Howard

Another visually arresting modern horror classic, splattered with gore, from director Osgood Perkins. The Monkey takes audiences on a journey through a dark comedy fever dream of dread, the likes of which will probably make even the most rabid gorehounds blush with excitement. Like last year’s critical darling Longlegs, Perkins lays a foundation for over-the-top deaths enmeshed with stunning cinematography, creating some atmospheric tension amidst incredible laugh-out-loud moments.

The film opens with father Petey Shelburn Sr. (Adam Scott) desperately trying to offload the titular cursed toy monkey at a pawn shop. It’s quickly revealed that this is no common bauble, as the monkey kills randomly selected victims in gruesome freak accidents. Picking up in the future is our main protagonist in his youth, Hal, and his bully of a twin brother, Bill, raised by their jaded single mother (Tatiana Maslany). Lois carries a grim disillusionment with life that she passes on to her sons. After the boys find the monkey and learn of its horrific powers, Hal attempts to use it to rid himself of his tormentor, to tragic effect.

Many years and a pile of bodies later, Hal is presently a father estranged from his teen son, Petey Jr. (Colin O’Brien), due to his incessant worrying about the monkey’s curse upon his family. In a last-ditch effort to bond with his son, the power of the monkey returns, drawing Hal back into the explosively grisly cycle that psychologically damaged him in his youth. Spurred on by his twin’s spiteful encouragement, Hal must dig into the trauma that drove him from his home and some very real demons he left behind

Theo James plays Hal as the straight man, imbuing his performance with emotional distance and outright disbelief when the entrails start splattering. Conversely, James also plays the insufferable sibling, Bill, to hilarious ends through his shithead nature and constant need to belittle Hal. This portrayal serves to explore the branching paths of the progression to adulthood for children from broken homes. Maslany depicts a mother who truly loves her children but just cannot get out of her own way to connect with them. Her moments of joyous levity with her kids are disrupted with deeply cynical life lessons that serve to hurt the boys. Lastly, O’Brien embodies a wayward teen trying to see what’s beneath the surface of the man who has held him at arm’s length his entire life

Perkins pulls double duty as the writer and director of his Stephen King adaptation of childhood trauma, abandonment, and coming generational curses. Perkins infuses his film with an incredible amount of satire, utilizing his now-trademark cinematography to take viewers on a visual escapade invoking dread alongside delight. Lingering static camera shots of the environment develop the world and feel of the story ahead of everything else. The kills are exaggerated, creating a cacophony of gut-busting gags summed up by, “Well, shit, man. That sucks.” This one-of-a-kind experience also comes at a deficit for the story. There is an artistic zaniness for all of the characters and fever-dream-like setting, though the story is largely allegorical, deciding there is no need to paint a clear picture of what the film is trying to communicate to its viewers

Is it about acceptance of death and circumstances outside our control? Is it about trying to overcome the roles life set out for us? There’s a meaningful message to be explored here; it’s just difficult to comprehend inside the stylistic lens of the movie. Perkins’ direction is an acquired taste that establishes fantastical settings, occasionally at the cost of its substance. The big swings place this film a cut above the rest of the consistent stream of subpar horror permeating streaming. With its great cast, fun kills, and delectable scenery, it’s highly likely this will be a cult horror mainstay for years to come. The Monkey is certainly more about the journey than its destination and will definitely merit repeat watches in the future. “Everybody dies, and that’s life.”

Author rating: 8/10