Take what you understand about Oz Perkins’ filmmaking and set these signatures ablaze. The Monkey is not like something Perkins has helmed to date (complimentary). It is morbidly hilarious, high-energy, and smothered in an avalanche of gore. Perkins’ adaptation of Stephen King’s quick story (included in Skeleton Crew) is a comically bleak confrontation of Demise that notches spectacular kill scenes at a brisk clip. Think about a Twilight Zone episode influenced by Closing Vacation spot and an 80s-sized mountain of cocaine — that is The Monkey. I’d by no means have guessed Perkins had this midnighter mentality in his arsenal, holstering his penchant for slow-burn thrills and lingering, whispering dread.
Central to the story are Hal and Invoice, twin brothers cursed by a drumming toy monkey they discover of their deadbeat dad’s closet (papa’s performed by Adam Scott). Hal and Invoice’s mom Lois (Tatiana Maslany) does her greatest to boost adolescent boys alone, till she drops lifeless resulting from a freak medical incident. Hal (Christian Convery) fears “The Monkey” is guilty, however dares not inform Invoice (additionally Christian Convery). They chuck their furry adversary down a effectively, hoping to flee additional bloodshed. A long time move, and the brothers cease speaking, however then it occurs once more — Hal (Theo James) witnesses a petrifying unintentional dying, and he is aware of what’s coming. The Monkey has returned, and he’ll want Invoice’s assist (additionally Theo James) to finish the carnage.
Perkins sheds his hallmarks from the very first scene: a speargun, a pawn store clerk, and strung intestines set a disgusting tone. It is an amuse-bouche earlier than the buffet of exaggerated violence that befalls anybody in Hal and Invoice’s orbit. The Monkey is a smorgasbord of restaurant beheadings, electrocution combustion, and different emphatically graphic “Rube Golderbergian” methods harmless individuals die. Each time Mr. Monkey’s drumstick twirls and his hand strikes the instrument, we giddily wait to see how Perkins will outdo whichever final act of kill sequence left our collective mouths agape. Particular FX groups led by VFX Supervisor Chris Van Dyck, Affiliate VFX Supervisor Fenner Rocklee, and CG Supervisor Dmitry Vinnik earn their rattling hold, turning fleshy our bodies into puddles of campfire chili, or packing a cannon with physique goop that is fired with seismic drive.
The Monkey is cruel, however it’s additionally hilarious. Perkins’ interpretation of King’s merciless relationship with Demise means horrific penalties of The Monkey’s rata-tat-tat will trigger many a shocked howl. Which may create a tonal blockage for some — as our bodies pile, there’s an unseriousness about graveyard overflow. Casco’s established like a Tim Burton-y bubble, the place realtors, shopkeeps, and different native simpletons barely blink on the obscure dying charge of their rural habitat. Perkins is having a blast, and there is dogged hopefulness within the movie’s totally arced themes about brotherly standoffs and bystander casualties, however The Monkey continues to be an ultra-vicious splatter flick that smirks all through.
Theo James performs into an uncanniness by portraying each single-father Hal and reclusive miser Invoice. Even their clothes evokes a surreal mania — Invoice refashions his childhood funeral go well with with a Man Fieri-esque flame shirt to accompany an atrocious bowl(ish) minimize. James performs two traumatized adults coping with The Monkey’s burden in drastically fascinating methods, however to not outshine Christian Convery as lil’ Hal and Invoice, tempting The Monkey’s unforgiving fates as kids with entry to an unearthly doomsday gadget. The forged is inspired to discover weirdness, with Tatiana Maslany’s mom sharing blunt “Everyone dies, children” knowledge to Perkins as a mutton-chopped swinger uncle. Different additions like Elijah Wooden are barely in The Monkey, however that does not cease him from hamming it up as a number one Father of the 12 months seminar guru.
To not convey the temper down, however Perkins doesn’t escape typical short-to-feature adaptation points. Rohan Campbell of Halloween Kills fame performs a grungy troublemaker who turns into Perkins’ repair to how The Monkey reemerges (with out saying extra) — a bit shoehorned. Neon’s The Monkey elaborates on King’s truncated story about Demise driving a pale horse in curt trend, turning the movie right into a wave of mutilation that thrives on extra. For many who aren’t searching for a 97-minute “dielight” reel, you may battle with The Monkey. It isn’t a one-trick pony, however the movie’s greatest trick is so dominant that much less appreciative viewers would possibly select that wording.
Did Oz Perkins direct essentially the most brutal, unflinching, and spectacularly gory horror film of 2025? It is attainable, no hyperbole. The Monkey will divide audiences by way of grinning deviance and Perkins’ sinister silliness, keying into King’s charbroiled-dark materials with an upbeat tempo. Are you prepared for Oz Perkins, the midnight film madman? I positive as hell wasn’t, however I hope he is again once more quickly.
Film Rating: 4/5
