Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
Another Stephen King adaptation is in the books. This time, director Osgood Perkins brings us “The Monkey”, where twins Hal and Bill encounter a creepy monkey toy. They quickly realize that the longer they interact with it, the more that people close to them die off. The brothers quickly discard the toy to rid themselves of the bad luck. Years later, after a long period of not speaking, the brothers realize that the monkey’s sinister work might not be done with them just yet.
Positives:
Osgood Perkins always brings a technical flair to his films. “The Monkey” utilizes some crafty camera angles and sharp sound design to help viewers feel the intense presence of this sinister toy. The camera ratio brings a unique perspective to the film. The texture of the screen feels grainy at times, but also sharp and slick when needed. There’s also an interesting color grading Perkins uses throughout the film. This enhanced the intensity of each scene, where flashing light or eerie shots highlighting the monkey’s creepy face add to the discomfort. I also enjoyed how the film was edited. Whether it be a gnarly kill or the build up of a tense sequence, “The Monkey” knows how to immerse the viewer with the creepy premise.
I’ll also credit “The Monkey” for being unique. It leans heavily into a horror-comedy tone, challenging the viewer to laugh at some incredibly disturbing events that happen throughout the film. The right audience will find this entertaining while others might find it repulsive. I personally would have preferred if the film leaned more into the horror elements but I can appreciate a unique approach. The story also has some thoughtful thematic exploration of traumatic childhoods and lingering guilt that adults feel with their own children. This is displayed in the relationship between Hal and his son Petey, where he is careful to interact with him due to the malignant nature of the monkey. Even though he has removed the toy from his life, he still has unresolved issues that his son doesn’t understand. Bill deals with the trauma in an entirely different way, compounding his anger and resentment from his childhood in a more disturbing way. “The Monkey” has some chilling sequences that intertwine with a comedic bend, managing to explore interesting observations about death and trauma. For that, I’d say it’s worth watching at least once.
Negatives:
“The Monkey” could have been a home run, but unfortunately the comedic tone didn’t always work for me. I’ll admit horror-comedy isn’t usually my preference, but there have been a handful of films that impress me with their ability to blend the two genres. Unfortunately, “The Monkey” has an identity crisis in its tone, poorly mixing laughs and gore with perplexing creative choices. The clashing tones grated against me like nails on a chalkboard at times, making me wish the film embraced the horrific side of the story. While I believe Perkins tried to add his own creative input to the story, it didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. I didn’t find the crazy death sequences funny as all, nor the wonky dialogue exchanges between characters. I wonder if the script was intentionally ridiculous…because I found it to be quite off putting. Never did I believe people would have exchanges so odd. I believe “The Monkey” will find a niche audience that “gets” its humor and sensational violence, but I am one that appreciates the creative choices more than I enjoy them.
Conclusion:
Osgood Perkins’ adaptation of Stephen King’s short story is unique to say the least. It has some intriguing technical elements that are admirable for any film fan. I always enjoy a bold approach to a story that has lots to say. I just wish the story took itself more seriously and embraced the horror roots from the novel. The humor didn’t work well for me but I’m sure the right audience will eat it up. Go in with caution and be ready for a bonkers experience because “The Monkey” diverges from Perkins’ previous film “Longlegs”.
