The Monkey (2025) spoiler free review
Everybody dies. And that’s fucked up. The Monkey is a 2025 American dark comedy horror film written and directed by Osgood Perkins based on the 1980 short story by Stephen King. The film was released in theaters on February 21, 2025 in the United States by Neon.
When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree, forcing the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy.
Film synopsis
The cast includes Theo James as Hal and Bill Shelburn, Christian Convery as young Hal and Bill, Tatiana Maslany as Lois Shelburn, Hal and Bill’s mother, Colin O’Brien as Petey, Hal’s son, Rohan Campbell as Ricky, Sarah Levy as Ida, Hal and Bill’s aunt, Adam Scott as Capt. Petey Shelburn, Hal and Bill’s absent father, Elijah Wood as Ted Hammerman, the new husband of Hal’s ex-wife, Osgood Perkins as Chip, Hal and Bill’s uncle, Danica Dreyer as Annie Wilkes, Hal and Bill’s babysitter, Laura Mennell as Hal’s ex-wife and Petey’s mother, and Nicco Del Rio as Rookie Priest.
An entertaining adaptation with well-done dark humor. After a childhood filled with strange accidents, Hal keeps his family connections close at hand. But when strange events occur again, Hal must confront his past. Which includes his evil twin brother Bill and a toy monkey who is to blame for it all.
The Monkey is an entertaining and well-crafted dark comedy horror experience that feel like Final Destination on drugs. One of the highlights of the film is its pacing. The story unfolds in a fluid manner, keeping the viewer hooked from beginning to end. The film doesn’t stop at slow or boring moments, but instead constantly moves forward, presenting new challenges and surprises for the characters. Theo James’ performance is another strong point of the film. James plays twins Hal and Bill convincingly, conveying the complexity of both.
The deaths are not only bloody but absurd, accentuating the comic tone of the film. It does not take itself seriously and allows the ridiculous to flow. One small detail that can be criticized is the visual and cinematographic aspect, which can feel basic. Part of the story takes place during the 90s, but if it weren’t for the obvious age difference of the characters between the past and the present, it would be a bit difficult to distinguish what moment in the story we are in. This comes as a surprise after Perkins’ last project ‘Longlegs (2024)’ perfectly hit the mark in the characterization of the era in which it takes place. Apart from that, The Monkey offers a worth watching fun experience for those who enjoy the absurd and horror.