The Monkey

The previews made this horror movie seem different and it peaked my interest.

In the end, the previews were better than the movie.

This seemed like a take on a couple of Twilight Zone episodes. The one with Talking Tina and the one with another doll that showed up in war zones and as evil charm.

The two main characters, the twins, were not likable characters. You didn't really get to know them, but what you do see in them, it's not something adorable or likable.

The killing scenes were just over the top unrealistic, made it seem like a cheap slasher movie made to attract a high school audience. We don't learn much about the monkey and not because of a cloud of mystery, more like and oversight. The plot in the end wasn't believable and the movie did little to make it believable. ...again, like they were more interested in just showing guts, buckets of blood, heads being blown up or removed, and deaths that defied the laws of physics . The other bright spot was I had the entire theater to myself with a bucket of popcorn and a Coke Zero.

I was surprised by how much gore there was as Osgood Perkins doesn't pull any punches.

The story is pretty simple but that's totally fine. It doesn't need to be over explained and it flows really well. There is never a dull moment. Theo James does a great job as Hal / Bill. Each brother has a different personality, and we get a good amount of time spent with both of them.

I think that Osgood Perkins has a unique film style, and he's really starting to find his footing as one of the standout horror directors for years to come. I don't think he suffers from the pressure of the success of his father, the great Anthony Perkins.

There's a few plot holes that were open ended but it's really not a big deal. I like that some things are up for interpretation.

If Final Destination and Wish Upon had a child, it would be The Monkey. That was our immediate thought as we left the theater. This film blends supernatural horror, dark comedy, and absurdity in a way that feels both ridiculous and wildly entertaining. It's a film that knows exactly what it wants to be; an over-the-top, blood-soaked thrill ride that makes you laugh even as you cringe at its gruesome kills.

What sets The Monkey apart from its influences is its surprising dose of humor. Horror comedies are tough to pull off, but this film manages to create an odd yet satisfying balance between gory chaos and weirdly charming absurdity. You're not exactly belly-laughing, but there's this strange, undeniable urge to smirk and chuckle at the madness on screen. It has the energy of a violent children's fairy tale. Think of a silent-era slapstick comedy, but with splattering blood and twisted fates. It's bizarre, but it works.

Now, let's talk about what horror fans are really here for; the kills. And The Monkey delivers. It's gruesome, creative, and wacky in the best way possible. The deaths feel like something conjured from a child's chaotic imagination; illogical yet strangely poetic. The Monkey itself, this cursed toy at the center of the carnage, has a mischievous, almost gleeful way of orchestrating its victims' fates. If you love the elaborate, almost Rube Goldberg-esque deaths of Final Destination, you're in for a treat. It's all so over-the-top that it somehow becomes hilarious. The violence is exaggerated, stylized, and so absurd that it loops back around to being entertaining rather than just shocking.

Then there's Theo James, the ever-dashing star who's given the impossible task of playing an insecure, jittery father. And let's be honest; this man is too effortlessly suave for that. No amount of nerdy costuming can fully strip away his natural charm, and while he gives it his best shot, it's hard to fully buy into his transformation. He does a decent job, but there's a lingering sense that he's slightly miscast.

As for the story, it's simple... maybe too simple. The Monkey doesn't aim for deep narratives or complex character arcs. It moves along swiftly, focusing more on its chaotic spectacle than its plot. But credit where it's due: the film isn't just a copy-paste horror template. Unlike Wish Upon, which follows a predictable formula, The Monkey throws in enough surprises to keep things fresh.

That is, until the third act. This is where the film goes off the rails, not necessarily in a bad way, but in a 'Did we just jump the shark?' kind of way. It tries to up the stakes but ends up pushing the absurdity a bit too far. The motivation behind certain character decisions feels weak, and it loses some of the controlled chaos that made the first two acts so enjoyable.

Still, despite its flaws, The Monkey is a damn good time. The suspense is solid, the kills are outrageous, and the execution of horror-comedy is commendable. Could it have been better? Sure. A slower, more tension-filled buildup to the deaths would've elevated it further. But as it stands, it's an undeniably fun horror flick that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Verdict: The Monkey is a wild, ridiculous, and gory thrill ride that embraces its absurdity in the best way possible. It's like eating a sour candy; sharp, intense, but with a strangely enjoyable sweetness underneath. While Theo James struggles to shed his natural charisma for his role, and the third act goes a little off the deep end, the film remains a thoroughly fun and entertaining horror experience. If you love blood, chaos, and dark humor, you'll have a blast with this one.

I went into The Monkey without high expectations. The trailer made it look like one of those generic horror movies that rely on jump scares and a ridiculous premise. And yeah, the premise is silly: A monkey bangs a drum-someone dies. But instead of a serious horror film, you get an over-the-top horror-comedy that tries so hard to be funny that it eventually gets in its own way.

The movie actually starts off well. The first deaths still have some shock value, the characters are entertaining, and there's a bit of that Final Destination appeal where you're curious about what's going to happen next. But very quickly, you realize: there's no real tension. Every death is just a setup for a joke. The first time it's funny, the second time too-but by the eighth time someone randomly explodes and the others just shrug it off with an "eww," it gets old.

And that's the problem. The film mocks horror clichés but doesn't offer anything thrilling itself. Scream proved that you can perfectly blend horror and comedy by keeping both elements grounded enough. Here, every serious moment is immediately undercut by a dumb joke. Even themes like the strained father-son relationship or the threat of the monkey carry zero weight because nothing in the movie has real consequences.

The second half starts to drag. The jokes repeat, and at some point, the film just feels like a series of TikTok skits where people die in the most absurd ways possible. The ending is the lowest point. I won't spoil it, but it feels like the writers had no idea how to wrap things up-so they went with the cheapest and dumbest option.

Is it a bad movie? No. It's entertaining if you just want to turn off your brain and enjoy some absurdity. But it could have been so much more if it had taken itself even a little bit seriously. As it is, it's a fun idea that eventually runs out of steam.

I read a lot of Stephen King books but this short story from him I must have skipped as I have no recollection of it so I can't really compare this movie with the book. There have been a lot of his books made into movies, some really good ones that became classics in the horror genre like The Shining, Misery, Carrie and so on, but also a lot of movies that honestly were an insult to the books. The Monkey was a bit of good gory fun with multiple innovative killing methods which resulted in a lot of blood spatters. My wife and I enjoyed this one. It's not a bad story, good acting and well shot horror scenes and the monkey is creepy. A fun watch!