There is probably no author in modern history whose work has been adapted into film more than Stephen King. His horrifying short stories, novellas, and books have been made into countless movies. It seemed like only a matter of time before new wave horror maestro Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) got his shot at a King story. That time is now, and that story is The Monkey.
The Monkey is about a man named Hal (Theo James from The White Lotus) who, as a child (played in the movie by Cocaine Bear’s Christian Convery), had a toy organ grinder monkey. But this was a special organ grinder monkey. When its key was wound, it would play its drums, and someone would die. Hal learned this early on and did his best to get rid of the monkey. However, with Hal now an adult, the monkey has found its way back to him. And it’s up to its old tricks.
As a Stephen King adaptation, The Monkey is as loose as they come without being The Lawnmower Man. Perkins’ script basically grabs onto the supernatural killer monkey aspect of the original story and takes it to completely unexpected places. Those unexpected places allow The Monkey to be more of a madcap comedy than a bone-chilling horror movie. And while that may disappoint some die-hard King fright fans, it will make horror comedy fans squeal with delight.
Because, as a whole, The Monkey is more funny than it is scary. Even the deaths that are caused by the monkey are comical in how over-the-top they are. These aren’t just run-of-the-mill killings; these are the kind of absurd, ultra-violent fatalities that shouldn’t be funny but are, each going through a Rube Goldberg, Final Destination-type of process that ultimately pays off in the bloodiest and most brutal of fashions. It’s the kind of thing that has audiences laughing and cheering.
The absurdity doesn’t stop with the carnage, though. That’s just the beginning. The situations in the movie get more and more ridiculous as it goes on, to the point where as the bodies in town pile up, a group of cheerleaders (with pom poms and all) show up at the scenes to root on the police (“They’re bringing out the body! They’re bringing out the body!”). This humor is not only appreciated, but it actually drives the movie as other parts start to falter. And falter they do, especially in the later sections of the movie where it seems as if Perkins writes himself into a few corners.
The Monkey plays a bit fast and loose with its tone. It’s never sure of how serious a movie it wants to be. Sometimes that works in its favor – the actors being completely serious while slapstick death happens all around them is, admittedly, pretty hysterical. But other times, it just seems a bit off. It never feels completely like a suspenseful horror flick, but sometimes it doesn’t really feel like a comedy either. It just exists in this middle ground that gives off an awkward vibe. It sometimes feels like an unintentional low-budget rip-off, even though that B-movie tone is completely intentional on Perkins’ part.
Overall, The Monkey does what it sets out to do. It’s a fresh and unique horror comedy when it works, and even when it doesn’t, it’s entertaining enough. Mostly, it just feels like Osgood Perkins having fun with his story. Does The Monkey rank up there with the great Stephen King movies like Carrie, Christine, or The Shining? No. It doesn’t. But it’s better than The Lawnmower Man.
GRADE: B-
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, gore, some sexual references, and strong violent content
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Running Time: 1 hour 38 minutes
Studio: Neon
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