The Monkey: A twisted family drama wrapped in blood and horror

Horror fans, brace yourselves—Osgood Perkins’ latest film, The Monkey, is a chaotic blend of psychological family drama, dark humor, and gut-spilling carnage. Based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story of the same name, the film offers a chilling tale of cursed objects, childhood trauma, and brotherly rivalry—wrapped in a blood-soaked package that is both absurd and terrifying.

A Toy? Think Again.

The film wastes no time establishing its eerie premise. The opening scene introduces a frantic airline pilot (Adam Scott), drenched in someone else’s blood, stumbling into a pawn shop. He clutches an old mechanical organ grinder monkey—correction, NOT a toy—and desperately tries to rid himself of it. But when the shop owner dismisses his warning, he is almost instantly disemboweled by an arrow. This sets the stage for what’s to come: a cursed object that unleashes death and destruction whenever its key is turned.

Family Drama Meets Supernatural Terror

Perkins, fresh off the success of Longlegs, once again explores unsettling family dynamics. Unlike Longlegs, which focused on a mother-daughter relationship, The Monkey revolves around twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn, played by Christian Convery in their younger years, and Theo James as adults. The two struggle with the lasting trauma of an absent father—who, as it turns out, was the very pilot trying to rid himself of the monkey at the film’s start.

Hal is the sensitive, bespectacled sibling, while Bill is the aggressive, domineering one. Their mother (Tatiana Maslany) does her best to hold the family together, but when the boys discover the cursed monkey in their late father’s belongings, their lives take a horrific turn.

Their first encounter with the monkey’s deadly nature comes after an innocent night out at a hibachi restaurant. The toy is left in the car, but the next thing they know, their kind babysitter is decapitated. From there, the body count rises as Hal begins to understand that the monkey grants murderous wishes, whether he wants it to or not. When the infernal drumming starts again, it’s their mother who falls victim next.

From Childhood Trauma to Adult Nightmares

The boys, now orphans, are sent to live with their aunt and uncle, but even a change in scenery doesn’t free them from the monkey’s grasp. A desperate attempt to dump it down a well only delays the inevitable.

Fast forward 25 years: Hal, now an adult, is a loner working a dead-end job, haunted by his past and terrified of fatherhood. Despite looking like Theo James (a fact that makes his lack of friends almost unbelievable), he lives in constant fear that the monkey will return. His estranged teenage son, Petey (Colin O’Brien), becomes his reluctant travel companion, just as Bill—his now even more sinister twin—initiates a new plan that sets the monkey’s curse in motion once again.

The film shifts into high gear as the bloodbath resumes, blending over-the-top horror with dark humor. The kills are grotesquely inventive, a mix of absurdity and sheer brutality, ensuring that even the most jaded horror fans will find something to be both horrified and amused by.

Does It All Work?

That depends on how much you enjoy exaggerated, cartoonish violence. Perkins attempts to balance absurdist horror with emotional weight, but at times, the blend feels uneven. While the film excels in crafting an eerie atmosphere and delivering shocking deaths, its exploration of family trauma occasionally takes a backseat to sheer mayhem.

Still, The Monkey is undeniably creative, stylish, and packed with unsettling imagery. And one thing is certain—after watching this film, you’ll never look at a toy monkey the same way again.

Final Verdict

The Monkey, distributed by Neon, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout, and some sexual references.” With a runtime of 98 minutes, the film delivers relentless terror, shocking deaths, and a twisted take on familial bonds.

⭐ 2 out of 4 stars