The Monkey Movie Review (Spoiler Free)
- Axel J. Häger-Carrion
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
A horror-comedy with over-the-top acting, gruesome death scenes, as well as an unconventional format of storytelling. It is not the horror one expects to obtain.

Genre: Comedy / Horror
Director: Osgood Perkins
Cast: Theo James, Colin O’Brien, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Rohan Campbell, Elijah Wood, Sarah Levy, Tess Degenstein, Osgood Perkins & Adam Scott.
Run Time: 98 min.
US Release: 21 February 2025
UK Release: 21 February 2025
German Release: 20 February 2025
After Longlegs, which I absolutely loved, Perkins’ newest horror project was high on my anticipated list of this year's flicks. As such, I was more than disappointed in the final result, as this was not the movie it was marketed to be, but way more bizarre plus overly exaggerated than the trailers suggested. While I applaud the original take on this adaptation of Stephen King’s short story, I expected more gore, less whack. So let’s wind up the toy, to drum through my review for The Monkey.
A series of tragic deaths begins when twin brothers Bill and Hal find their absent father’s old monkey toy. Afraid of the diabolical puppet, the siblings decide to bury it, going their separate ways, but the plaything isn’t finished with them.
The film rights to King’s short fright tale were originally held by director Frank Darabont, who planned to bring it to life on the silver screen after his work on The Mist was completed. The project never materialised. Sixteen years later, Black Bear Pictures announced that it held the rights, while development of an adaptation was underway, hiring Osgood Perkins to direct, with James Wan joining as producer.
I appreciate what director/writer Perkins tried to create by incorporating the pointlessness plus randomness of death, in a gory horror show that displays absurd, Final Destination-like freak accidents, underlined by self-aware satire. On paper, the idea sounds intriguing, adding originality to a genre that has been slowly desensitised by bloodier splatter kills.
The truth of the matter, though, is that the screenplay is an absolute tonal mess, struggling to balance the intense psychological terror with insane, comedic segments, as well as the supernatural element of the monkey itself. Gruesome death sequences will involuntarily be followed by exaggerated acting, coming down to identity whiplash. Then there is the lack of exploration into the family’s background. As a result of all of this, the narrative suffers from pacing issues, dragging and feeling completely off at a lot of points.
Nevertheless, the use of atmospheric suspense is undeniable, as it builds up slow, creeping dread successfully, by masterfully layering scenes. It also doesn’t rely on jump scares, which is unusual for this genre, but rather utilises build-up to generate genuine fright.
The dialogue is a real mixed bag. Conversations sound natural when it comes to personal emotional duress. For example, when Hal tries to fight to stay in his son’s life, yet can’t express why he is neglecting him. This clashes with the wacky, overly theatrical lines that pull one out of the moment.
Supporting characters are one-dimensional, feeling like interchangeable people with no believable chemistry. This is a shame, as Tatiana Maslany gives a deliciously cynical rendition as the twins' mother, stealing every scene she is in. Unfortunately, she is criminally underwritten. The same goes for Rohan Campbell, who plays a secondary antagonist, yet nothing is known about him.
Theo James gives an emotionally layered performance as the twins Hal and Bill, displaying the sorrow and fear inside of Hal. However, as Bill, he tends to overact dramatically, not matching the rest of the performances. The same goes for the child actor Christian Convery, who portrayed the brothers in their younger years. His acting is strong, yet as Bill, he crosses the line into goofiness.
Colin O’Brien, as Hal’s neglected son Petey, gives the most grounded performance, juxtaposing the complete premise. O’Brien gives a good, subdued rendition that balances out the over-the-top insanity.
Director of Photography Nico Aguilar did a superb job with the camera, employing creative cuts, dissolves, just like angles to heighten the tension and create a creeping feeling of unease, every time the drumming monkey gets in the picture. Lingering shots of empty spaces, paired with slow, static zooms of mundane objects, give the framing a sense of purpose. Paired with the moody lighting and the desaturated colour palette, it makes for one of the most visually artistic horror films I have seen in a long time.
The effects, on the other hand, are a little conflicting. The puppet’s mechanical movements are practical, lending it some realism, as are some of the kill sequences. Visual effects for the supernatural, such as unnatural shadows, are discrete. This clashes with the CGI deployed for some of the bigger carnage, which looks unfinished.
The drumming of the plaything is utilised sparingly, creating jarring, malevolent moments. Ambient noises such as whispers, hums, or creaks, contrast with sudden, crass distortions. The score, by Edo Van Breemen, is subtle, plus atmospheric.
Verdict: Perkins' latest horror picture is very different to how it was marketed. The screenplay is muddled, struggling to balance out its shocker core with the over-the-top satirical humour plus surrealism. The supernatural elements are never fleshed out, simply there. Theo James does give a powerful performance as twin brothers Hal and Bill; however, he comes off as right out goofy at times. The same goes for Christian Convery, who played the younger versions of the siblings. Colin O’Brien gives the most grounded performance. The supporting cast is shallow, barely explored. That said, I still enjoyed it! The subtle layers of nihilism give the thin plot some depth, while the camera work adds an effective use of static shots, intercuts, as well as smash cuts to increase tension. The low-hanging angles showing the plaything make for unnerving sequences. As much as I was disappointed, I still like The Monkey. It deserves a 6.5 out of 10.
Have you seen this terrifying toy flick yet? Do you agree with my assessment? Leave a comment below. Thank you, as always, for reading!
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