Osgood Perkins’ sixth horror film as director, “The Monkey,” inspired by Stephen King’s short story from the 1980 collection “Skeleton Crew,” invites audiences to embrace their fears with a twist of dark humor. While it may fall short on emotional depth or thematic weight, the film more than makes up for it with its playful approach and sheer entertainment value.
Similar to King’s “It”, one of his most popular adaptations, the film follows a structure where characters fight an evil entity both as children and adults. The film centers on the Shelburn twins, Hal and Bill, portrayed by Christian Convery as children and Theo James as adults, as they grapple with the terror of a cursed toy monkey.
After years of estrangement, Hal and his twin brother Bill reconnect following the death of their Aunt Ida in a “freak accident,” eerily similar to the deaths caused by a cursed toy monkey from their childhood. Hal is forced to make a surprise detour to his hometown while on a road trip with his son to sort through his aunt’s belongings and search for the monkey in an effort to prevent further deaths.
Hal grapples with generational trauma while trying to protect his son, Petey, by distancing himself emotionally and physically as he only spends one week a year with his son. The awkward father-son dynamic, shaped by unspoken secrets, adds complexity to their relationship, following a classic trope in both horror and comedy where avoiding confrontation deepens their struggles.
While both King and Perkins have previous works known for their gore, it’s no surprise that the film includes six gruesome deaths, with several more implied off-screen. The balance between excessive carnage and shock factor is delicate, but the film succeeds in maintaining audience comfort with humor during each over-the-top death such as describing the death of the twins’ Uncle Chip as looking like “somebody drop-kicked a cherry pie” when his remains are dumped from a sleeping bag.
Perkins’ latest project, “Longlegs,” released July 2024, surprised horror fans expecting the same chilling intensity in “The Monkey” by offering a more comedic and fun experience. Instead of another unsettling, nightmare-inducing film, his newest film embraces a lighter, humorous tone, providing a refreshing departure from traditional horror.
The tone of the film is established early on, with the casting of comedic talents such as Adam Scott (known for “Parks and Rec,” “Stepbrothers”) as the twins’ father and Elijah Wood (Known for “Lord of the Rings”) as Ted, the award-winning stepfather. These choices signal to the audience that the film does not take itself too seriously. The blend of comedy and horror — a combination that has become increasingly rare in recent years — is effectively revived by James, who delivers a standout performance as the polarizing twin brothers.
Though overshadowed by humor, the film effectively explores father-son relationships, the impact of generational trauma and the human response to death.
In the film’s final act, it’s revealed that Bill is behind the deaths, spending his life consumed by revenge on his brother Hal, who had hoped for Bill’s death as a child but accidentally caused their mother’s death instead. Bill’s goal was for his nephew to kill Hal by turning the key on the monkey’s back. After the brothers reconnect, they apologize and reconcile, and Hal invites Bill on a road trip. However, their heartwarming moment is cut short by Bill’s gruesome death, triggered when the monkey’s key snaps into place.
The film’s central message is solidified when Hal and Petey leave Bill’s home with the monkey in their possession. Hal told Petey that the only thing left to ensure safety is to keep it close by: “We accept that it’s ours and we hold it close.” This left viewers to assume that with all of Hal’s past finally exposed and properly managed, the father and son may finally be able to have the relationship that Petey had been waiting on.
Where the film may have been lacking in an overall cultural criticism, it made up for in its articulate storytelling and undeniable humor. The most recent King adaptation from Perkins may be missing out once awards season hits, but will most likely be adored at upcoming family and friend movie nights for what is an undeniably, purely fun movie-going experience.
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