Written by: Osgood Perkins
Starring: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell
Rating: [3/5]
Generational curses and black clouds hover over some families where, no matter how much they try, it feels like they cannot avoid what feels like a permanent omen. While usually that hangs over a superstitious feeling, in The Monkey, it appears this transpires because of a literal toy that continually wreaks havoc despite everyone’s best attempts. Ridiculous and over the top, this bloody little mess brings a nice punch of fun.
After finding a wind-up monkey that plays the drum and suddenly people start dying, twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn (Theo James) vow to ensure this little thing can no longer cause damage to society. To their surprise, years later it reappears, and it’s up to them to try and stop its actions once again.
Silliness aptly describes everything The Monkey seeks to evoke through its story. Adapted from a Stephen King short story, Osgood Perkins moves from crafting the very eerie Longlegs to something operating with a drastically different tone. Hauntingly dark moves to mostly comedic as Hal attempts to get rid of a monkey that can magically cause deadly accidents to transpire whenever someone winds it up and it begins playing its little drum. A tale such as this one can easily be twisted to play out like standard horror fare, but Perkins opts to go almost Looney Tunes in the way the deaths in this film transpire. Whether or not someone enjoys this film will completely hinge on its tone, but I found myself engaged with the experience.
This monkey, for all of its evils, can sure find creative ways for people to die, including someone jumping into an electricity-laced pool or a closet door dropping a shotgun that fires and kills the person who opens it. For as much as the toy maintains the same facial expression, I can imagine it laughing at its work in the way it murders people. However, everything remains a relative mystery throughout. Major questions linger in the film, such as why the monkey seemingly sticks around these two brothers, how exactly does it work, and is there a way to finally be rid of the thing once and for all? We get some answers as the film progresses, but we have plenty of fun in the process.
As much as this film has its fun with the deaths, the cornerstone of it lies in the relationship between the twin brothers. In their youth we see the complicated relationship they have with the monkey and how the ill will they have for each other at times gets utilized by the monkey in surprising ways. Their inability to escape its influence in their lives continues to drive them apart to the point where we fast forward 25 years and they have not spoken since. The reappearance of the monkey reconnects them, but for the majority of the time, we experience this period through Hal and only hear Bill through phone calls. Bill’s presence remains one filled with mystery until a certain point where mayhem completely breaks loose. Now 25 years later, we also have the inclusion of Hal’s estranged son Petey (Colin O’Brien). It makes it a complete family affair and ups the stakes for Hal, as this monkey’s nuisance can continue into his life as well.
Leading the way for the majority of the film, Theo James stepped in as the adult version of both Hal and Bill. He spends a healthy chunk of the time in this role distressed and shocked by the horrors he witnessed thanks to the work of this monkey. He does a splendid job in delivering exactly what Perkins needed with all of the madness happening around him, and that’s just like Hal. When he steps in as Bill as well, it all gets even better. Theo James continues to grow into his own as an actor, and he’s becoming a welcome sight in any new projects he signs onto.
Completely unserious but a very good time at the movies, The Monkey runs as a nice little exercise. It does not have much staying power, but it delivers some nice entertainment within a tight runtime. A worthy film for anyone who would like to experience all of the silliness it brings and all of the comical violence that transpires to everyone involved whenever the monkey begins its drumming.
Films with Josh 
