“Osgood Perkins has brought a riot to the screen. With a great performance from Theo James, The Monkey is a must-see horror/comedy.”
“Everybody dies. And that’s f****d up.” That is the tagline on the poster for Osgood Perkins’ latest movie, The Monkey. Based on the 1980 short story by horror maestro Stephen King, the movie stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, and Sarah Levy. Written and directed by Perkins, the trailers for the film have left very little to the imagination. Audiences will know what they are in for before the film even starts. What they don’t know is that the film is a riot from start to finish.
PREMISE
After stumbling upon their father’s vintage toy monkey in the attic, twin brothers Hal and Bill witness a string of horrifying deaths unfolding around them. In an attempt to leave the haunting behind, the brothers discard the monkey and pursue separate paths over time. However, when the inexplicable deaths resurface, the brothers are compelled to reconcile and embark on a mission to permanently eliminate the cursed toy.
THOUGHTS
The film is bats**t crazy from the very start. When you have an opening that not only features a gory death but also makes you roar with laughter, you’ll know what you’re in for. There is so much blood, guts and gore to fill a swimming pool (one does actually feature.) But this is tempered by the comedy, which makes the whole thing seem absurdly nuts. Which, of course, it is. When you have a film that sees people die in various nasty ways, but you find yourself crying with laughter, you can never take it seriously. I won’t spoil any of the deaths here, but some may wince, some may smile, while the majority will enjoy the ride.
There are some deaths that may disturb the audience, but who cares? Anyone looking for high art here needs to go and see something else. This isn’t that kind of movie. Instead, it is a rollercoaster through death while also telling a story about the feeling of family desertion. One that actually resonates. Almost the first quarter of the film is seen through a child’s eyes, allowing us to see things how they see them. While being entertaining, it also strikes a chord within us. Add some sibling rivalry to things, and you feel for one of them.
THEO JAMES
Theo James plays the dual role of Hal and Bill Shelburn. While Bill, being a few minutes older than his twin brother, thinks he is the better of the pair, tormenting his sibling since childhood, Hal is gentle. After the events of his childhood, he has become an absentee father, one who sees his son once a year. The reasons behind this are the terrors he faced, thanks to his brother and the monkey itself. He has kept himself away from his ex-wife and son, thinking he and his family are cursed. Despite efforts to destroy the toy twenty-five years previously, it keeps coming back until it’s thrown down a well and left there. Now, the monkey is back. And so the deaths begin again.
James plays Bill as the nasty guy he truly is. Still tormenting his brother after all these years, Bill calls Hal and drags him back to his late aunt’s home, just in case the monkey has escaped its fate. But is he on the level, or is he out for revenge? Theo James plays both roles superbly, showing that while the faces match, the temperament doesn’t. With his son, Petey (Colin O’Brien), along for the ride in what is termed ‘the final goodbye week (watch the film to find out why), James makes us sad and afraid for Hal. While the actor also makes us rage at his portrayal of Bill. It’s a tough ask, but the actor pulls it off with great aplomb.
SUPPORTING CAST
To be truthful, with the exception of Colin O’Brien and Rohan Campbell as Ricky, the rest of the cast hardly gets a look-in. Tatiana Maslany appears in what can only be described as an extended cameo as Lois Shelburn, Hal and Bill’s mother. The actress appears in the opening quarter before leaving the film until a brief appearance later on. With what little screen time she has, Tatiana Maslany makes the most of her role, giving the audience some great bouts of laughter with what she says to her two boys.
Elijah Wood as Ted Hammerman, the new husband of Hal’s ex-wife, gets a one-scene cameo that doesn’t quite fit within the film, save for being the plot point for the father-son road trip. Adam Scott, as Capt. Petey Shelburn, Hal and Bill’s absent father gets a five-minute scene at the opening, which lays the groundwork for the film. While writer/ director Oz Perkins as Chip, Hal and Bill’s uncle gets a welcome few moments on screen.
WRITING AND DIRECTING
Oz Perkins follows up his brilliant Longlegs with something totally different but equally as enjoyable. Perkins just seems to be able to pore out everything onto the written page, film it and let it go. And it just seems to work. Tonally different to his previous movie, he allows his playful and comedic side to come out to play, with some brilliant results. Some of it doesn’t work, like the self-referential things that inhabit the film, which become grating near the end. But for the majority of the running time, he hits the ball out of the park. Some deaths and events, we can see coming a mile away. But that doesn’t distract from the fun.
His direction is also extremely worthy. The blood looks colourfully superb, the deaths are filmed well, the actors all hit their marks, and the film looks like every dollar of the budget is up there on the screen. With his tongue pushed so firmly in his cheek that it could be poking through the skin of his mouth, Perkins has again directed a movie to a high standard. There may be some movies hitting screens later this year that look more colourful, but they won’t look so colourful so gleefully as they are here.
VERDICT
Osgood Perkins has brought a riot to the screen. With a great performance from Theo James, The Monkey is a must-see horror/comedy. Sure, it won’t win any major awards or get nominated for an Oscar come this time next year. But that doesn’t distract from everything on offer here. It doesn’t go through the motions. It feels like an original idea despite being adapted from a short story. Mind you, when you have a character named Annie Wilkes appear in the film, you know to listen out and keep an eye out for more In-jokes and references to classic Stephen King Works.
By the time the end credits roll, you’ll either be ready to leave the cinema after such a gory assault on the senses, or you’ll remain seated, still laughing or at least giggling at what you’ve just witnessed on the screen. UK audiences will know the theme that accompanies the monkey when he plays his drum. I guarantee that they will NEVER listen to the tune in the same way ever again after seeing the film. It had the screening I was in rolling in the aisles at times. The amount of laughter tells you all you need to know. My advice? Grab yourself a large soda and popcorn, sit down in the screen, hold tight and allow The Monkey to do his thing. One word of advice: DON’T turn that key!
The Monkey is in cinemas worldwide on February 21st.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
