#the monkey movie

[docileroamer]

4 likes to make this.....

[fuckyeahelijahwoodfan]

Elijah wood Theo james on the set of The Monkey coming next year 🙌 👀

From theo james updated on X

[deathtown]

The Monkey (2025)

[ajthecinephile]

Neon sent me to an early screening of The Monkey last night! Full review to come. Follow my Letterboxd: ajthecinephile.

[hungry-skeleton]

I'm so excited to watch the fucking monkey next week

[creelkobblelaufeyson69]

Fine internet. Theo James is hot

[ga33y3]

Only went to see The Monkey today because of Theo James

[therealmrrobinson]

THE MONKEY (2025) Movie Review

We’ve come to the end of February and already this has been a great year for horror. Companion is a movie that’s so good and such an unexpected surprise that it has a good chance of making it on my best of the year list. Heart Eyes was a really entertaining, good old fashioned slasher movie that actually works better as a romantic comedy than a horror movie. So now we come to The Monkey directed by Osgood Perkins, (Longlegs) which for better and for worse, is the most outlandish of all the horror movies we’ve gotten so far in 2025.

THE GOOD

Right from the opening scene, the movie tells you that you aren’t supposed to take it seriously. The set up and the opening kill immediately sets the tone of the film, and a good majority of this movie feels like Final Destination meets Looney Tunes! The kills and amount of gore are some of the most over the top I’ve seen in this decade. Death is treated like a joke and there are many characters that deliver ridiculous remarks to some of these kills.

It helps that the actors are very much aware of what kind of movie they are in. Theo James is playing two characters, the twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn. When Theo James plays Hal, has this very dry delivery with all of his lines and seems to under react to everything that’s happening around him. He might come across as very wooden at first, but once you get a sense that this movie is a full blown comedy, his dry performance works. When playing Bill, James is unhinged and consumed with hatred for what happened to him and Hal during childhood. Christian Convery plays the younger version of these two characters and is very good as well. Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk) also understands the assignment. She plays Hal and Bill’s mom, and delivers a morbidly dark yet hilarious monologue about death. In a lesser movie, the cast would probably be trying to treat this as a straight forward horror film, but thankfully everyone is on the same page, especially when you have brief appearances from Adam Scott and Elijah Wood. Even Osgood Perkins himself has a small, yet hilarious role.

THE BAD

As entertaining as this movie gets, its silly tone is also a detriment to itself. The movie has themes of dealing with death and estranged siblings, that it asks you to be invested it. However these moments are instantly undercut by the shenanigans of people exploding, or a character pointing out how absurd a scenario is. In embracing the ridiculous nature of its kills and violence, the movie loses any earnestness it asks you to have for the story and its characters. That is ultimately the films biggest downfall and why something like 2018s Halloween or Companion work far better. Those movies find the right balance between gory kills and an engaging story with broader themes.

OVERALL

I didn’t end up loving this movie the way so many people have, but what The Monkey gets right, it gets oh so right! The kills are absolutely insane, it’s shot very well, and the actors are very much aware of what the tone of the movie is. This is definitely a treat for horror and Stephen King fans. However if you can’t buy into the films absurd tone, then this won’t do it for you. It’s currently my least favorite of the 2025 horror movies we’ve gotten, but a good time regardless.

RATING

GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT

[reviewvie]

The Monkey (2025) IMDb

Written and directed by Osgood Perkins, based on the short story by Stephen King

Is it true to the trailer? YouTube

Osgood Perkins’ follow-up to last year’s Longlegs seems like a promising blend of his aesthetic with Stephen King’s prowess. While Perkins definitely flexes his creative muscles, The Monkey fails to find itself.

Promise of the premise

When Bill and Hal discover an old toy monkey of their father’s, they wind it up. The only problem? When you wind the key, somebody dies. 25 years later, Hal - now a father himself - assumes the past is behind him…until the past comes back.

What are its strengths?

The movie immediately grabs your attention and establishes the world, including the rules of the monkey (although it tends to play by its own rules). The narration by Theo James (playing both twins) feels straight out of Stand by Me (1986). And the gory deaths are sickly satisfying, perfectly balanced between visceral and outlandish.

What are its weaknesses?

As fantastic as the movie starts, it loses steam with each scene after the first act. Even the monkey itself seems to lose its creepy qualities by the end.

The Monkey is often verging on a theme but never really lands on one. Hal sort of learns to be a less absent father than his own. That's good, right?

As an adult, his brother Bill is a weirdly original character - he just doesn’t fit with the rest of the film. Similarly, there's some seriously funny dialogue that's undercut by the seriousness.

Does it deliver?

Longlegs was far from perfect, but it was an original, cohesive vision. Perkins’ follow-up gives the writer/director a chance to play with a lot of different ideas. Many of them good, but even the best ideas only work if they work together.

Who should see it?

Those who became Perkins fans based on Longlegs will still enjoy this one, if not as much. There’s also plenty of entertainment in the high death count.

Stephen King-inspired movies are hit or miss. The Monkey does a lot well, it’s just unlikely to be remembered like The Shining (1980) or the more recent IT (2017).

[nijigasakilove]

The Monkey ✅3.5/5 actually didn’t end up being scary at all, more of an absurdist comedy than anything with a pinch of Final Destination. Probably the weakest Stephen King story of the ones I’ve seen, but had a lot of funny moments. Theo James was really good.

[fearsmagazine]

THE MONKEY - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: NEON

SYNOPSIS: Twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn find a mysterious, sinister looking wind-up monkey among their estranged father’s belongings. After a series of outrageous deaths destroy their family the brothers get rid of the monkey and pursue separate paths. Twenty-five years later, the monkey remerges and begins a new killing spree. With his son Petey in tow, Hal must confront Bill and embark on a mission to permanently eliminate the cursed toy.

REVIEW: Originally published in Gallery magazine in 1980, Stephen King's tale was revamped and included in his 1985 "Skeleton Crew" collection. Now, Osgood Perkins, son of actor Anthony Perkins, adapts the story for the screen, reimagining King's chilling story with his own unique vision.

King purists should take a chance on Perkins' deranged adaptation, which distills the essence of King's short story while adding captivating and terrifying twists. For example, I found the revelation that he sets the story in a Maine city is particularly effective, with the final scenes of chaos in the small hamlet reminiscent of Castle Rock at the end of "Needful Things." There are a few other King Easter eggs for his fans. Perkins transforms the narrative into a family tale, but Hal and Bill also seem to represent the conscious and subconscious as they grapple with past and present trauma. The film includes intriguing moments that don't offer explanations but evoke classic literary themes. For example, Hal turning the key on the toy feels reminiscent to Pandora opening the box or the events of the classic tale "The Monkey's Paw." Perkins' reimagining of the toy's appearance and its rules makes it even more terrifying, and the drumming sound evokes images of a condemned man being led to the gallows. The film features a variety of shocking and multifaceted deaths, each one more disturbing and jaw dropping than the last.

Perkins continues to grow as a visionary filmmaker, creating a visually arresting film with striking special and visual effects. The death scenes are intense, eliciting many OMG and WTF moments. Interestingly, the film's 1990s setting has a 1950s or 1960s aesthetic. The costumes and locations capture the essence of King's tale, and the cinematography creates a visual blend of nightmare and corrupted fairy tale, a persistent feeling of wrongness. From graphic moments to subtle performances, all is enveloped in Edo Van Breemen's multifaceted score. Playful moments shift into rich, dark movements, breathing life into the film's darkness and the unseen force surrounding the nightmarish toy. The score is integral in setting the tone for Perkins' film. Perkins masterfully orchestrates all the technical elements at his disposal to deliver a cinematic nightmare.

THE MONKEY boasts a talented and stellar cast, with Theo James carrying the film as the older Hal and Bill, and Christian Convery equally impressive as their younger selves. James expertly portrays a descent into madness, eliciting sympathy as he navigates a troubled relationship with his son, played convincingly by Colin O'Brien. Tatiana Maslany shines as a jaded yet sharp-witted mother, radiating love for her sons. Adam Scott, Elijah Wood, and Osgood Perkins also make memorable cameos.

Osgood Perkins' best film yet, THE MONKEY, is a gut-wrenching horror film that pays tribute to Stephen King's tale while offering a fresh take. Perkins distills the story to its cinematic essence, intensifying the horror and raising the bar for the genre. Similar to John Carpenter's adaptation of "Who Goes There?," Perkins expands on King's work, creating a film that feels like it lives and breathes in the King universe while adding his own unique elements. It’s a hell of a ride!

After some reflection on the movie, I had a couple of minor observations. I felt the actor playing the "Rookie Priest" seemed a bit too young for the role. Additionally, I started to wonder if the monkey might be possessed or cursed by the same dark entity from the "Final Destination" films. These thoughts didn't diminish my overall enjoyment of the film.

CAST: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery, Colin O'Brien, Rohan Cambell, and Sarah Levy. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Osgood Perkins; Based on the short story by Stephen King; Producers - James Wan, Dave Caplan, Brian Kavanaugh Jones & Chris Ferguson; Cinematographer - Nico Aguilar; Score - Edo Van Breemen; Editors - Greg Ng & Graham Fortin; Production Designer - Danny Vermette; Costume Designer - Mica Kayde; Visual Effects Supervisor - Edward J. Douglas; Makeup Effects Designer - Werner Pretorius; Makeup Effects Company - Amazing Ape Makeup FX; Visual Effects Company - UFX Studios, Niche VFX, Cosa VFX, & Wild FX. OFFICIAL: neonrated.com/films/the-monkey FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/neonrated TWITTER: x.com/neonrated TRAILER: https://youtu.be/9SjfAAhvjUo RELEASE DATE: In theaters nationwide Feb. 21st, 2025

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[fuckyeahelijahwoodfan]

Repost because the picture quality isn't great on the 1st one

[deathtown]

The Monkey (2025)

[theomenmedia]

The Monkey Movie Gets Its First Poster

"The Monkey" is here to haunt your dreams! The first poster for this Stephen King adaptation directed by Osgood Perkins is out, and it's as chilling as it gets. Featuring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, and Elijah Wood. Trailer drops next week!

Link to the full story: https://www.theomenmedia.com/post/the-monkey-unleashes-horror-with-chilling-new-poster

[soaked-doors]

pirates and their unconventional weddings (marines crashed it seven times)