The Monkey
Plot
As young teens, twin brothers Hal and Bill find themselves ‘gifted’ a toy (but don’t call it that) Drummer Monkey – which kills people in mysterious and tragic accidents…
After a series of horrifying deaths, they disperse of it and go their separate ways for 25 years.
But the monkey finds its way back to them – and goes on a killing spree again. Can they rid themselves of it once and for all??
Direction/Cinematography
Directed by Osgood Perkins, (son of Anthony) from the short story by Stephen King. Cinematography is by Nico Aguilar.
This is only the second film of Perkins’ I’ve watched, but I’ve noticed a trademark of ‘evil dolls’ in both his films (Longlegs was significantly better).
The use of colours here leans more towards the greens and yellows to give a ‘less rooted in realism’ effect, and it works for the context of the film.
Cast/Characters
Christian Convery plays the younger version of both Hal and Bill, and what a great performance. He really sells the notion these are two completely different people.
Tatiana Maslany plays their mum Lois in the 1999 segment.
Adam Scott has a hilarious moment in the cold open as their dad who is desperate to rid himself of The Monkey too.
Theo James plays adult Hal/Bill, and narrates throughout the film as well (especially during the opening 1999 segment). I wasn’t sold on his performance, and not sure if this is James’ talents in front of the camera, or a directors choice.
Colin O’Brien plays Petey, Hal’s son, who he has for ‘one week a year’.
Director Perkins has a small role as Uncle Chet, and Sarah Levy plays his wife Ida (who never changed glasses in 25 years?)
Elijah Wood has a very small role near the beginning as Petey’s step father who wants to adopt him.
Breakdown
Starting with a series of events that occur in 1999, where we meet the boys dad (played by Adam Scott) who is desperate to rid himself of a toy monkey (but don’t call it a toy) in a pawn shop, and The Monkey decides that the poor pawn shop worker is the first victim of this movie.
From there, we meet the twin boys Hal, a seemingly empath who is bullied constantly by his older (by 3m) brother Bill. They are played by Christian Convery – who is simply brilliant as both boys. They really do feel like two completely different people, and I was actually genuinely shocked when I found out it was the same actor. You can really feel their hatred for one another, and while Bill’s is deserved, Hal’s is not.
The 1999 sequence goes on for about half an hour, where Hal discovers that it is The Monkey that is causing all the death and mayhem around them (rather early into proceedings). Some are shocking (like the poor babysitter getting decapitated by a sushi chef), and some are simply laugh out loud hilarious (Uncle Chip, played by director Perkins – who is killed by a stampede of horses).
The boys rid themselves of the Monkey by throwing down a deep well, and they go their separate ways in adulthood. 25 years (now played by Theo James, more on his performance in a minute) have passed, Hal is an absent father to Petey.
Petey’s mum and new husband Ted – a parenting expert (played by Elijah Wood who only appears in one scene and is severely underused) want to adopt the boy – but Hal is reluctant to give up his one week of parenting per year. This whole concept is barely touched on, and really should have had more to it than just one scene and a couple of throwaway lines.
The graphic violence has an almost grindhouse feel to it, and when they do occur, they are over the top sensualised, absurd, and darkly comical. Ida’s at the start of the 2024 part of the film is right out of the final destination type of kills that death gives to his victims.
Throughout the film as Hal begins to realise what is going on (the monkey is back), and the deaths that keep occurring (right in front of him from time to time). I found James somewhat underwhelming. Hal was nonchalant about the deaths that occur in front of him, his relationship with his son etc. I wasn’t sure if this was a directors notes choice, or just lack of talent from James himself. (Or this could be completely purposeful to the nature of the film, as the film never “really” takes itself too serious).
The film is very funny at times, but you need a very a twisted sense of humour to get through it (luckily I have just that). There is a nonchalant almost ‘stoner’ Priest who oversees the many funerals that take place within the film too.
The third act in which we discover that Bill has had The Monkey all along, and has been turning the key (causing all sorts of death and destruction in town), brings him back together with little brother (and son). The ‘origins’ of The Monkey are never explicitly explained, and even the mythos of it (whoever turns the key cannot die) is shown to be untrue near the end of the film. I didn’t really care for the ‘end’ of the film, as some of the plot points are either abandoned or forgotten all together (Ted’s adoption of Petey).
I loved the score by Edo Van Breemen, who gives a particular eerie choice for moments when The Monkey is on screen (or enacting his kills).
there is also some great song choices in the soundtrack)
The use of practical effects at times is great, and the makeup for some of the deaths is great. There didn’t seem to be an egregious use of CGI either, and works well for what the film was trying to pull off.
Overall
While it is funny at times, this feels as a Final Destination type horror/slasher trope.
The characters aren’t particularly likable, and the lack of any real knowledge about where The Monkey comes from is slightly frustrating. The abandoning of plot points is another part I wished was fixed.
A recommend, but it pales in comparison to Perkins earlier work.
3.5/5
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