Beware the Monkey

by Maria Quiroga

Millennials and Gen Z, who lived through the terrors of the Final Destination franchise and the infamous 1000 Ways to Die show, now have a new horror film that brings the same feelings of dread.

That movie is The Monkey, directed by Osgood Perkins. The film is based on a story by Stephen King, and the skin-crawling feeling it gives its audience is undeniable.

The titular monkey toy is bone-chilling, with its lifeless eyes and emotionless grin. But the feeling this film gives is strikingly similar to the titles mentioned previously, as it makes you look over your shoulder and think twice before stepping out the door, with its crazy kills that come out of nowhere.

The graphics are surely not for the weak of stomach or faint of heart, and this is the kind of movie where no character is safe from the wrath of the monkey, so try not to get attached to any.

Despite the movie’s guts and horror, it is also a sort of dark comedy. The humor has a dry and grim tinge to it, but it made the audience at the theater roar with laughter time and time again during my viewing. The performances of the leads, Theo James and Christian Convery, who play the older and younger versions of the twin brother protagonist and antagonist duo, truly make the movie. Their delivery during the most stressful and dark moments absolutely sells the black comedy that is the movie. They were able to portray both genuine emotion and satire back to back in the film.

Additionally, their ability to play both the hero and the villain as twin brothers is impressive. Elijah Wood, the Lord of the Rings star, made a small appearance in the film as well, and his role is ridiculously absurd in the best way.

However, there are a few snags. The movie has a bit of weird pacing, with juxtaposition that can be hard for an audience to truly get behind. There is also a memorable scene toward the end that is jarringly out of place.

Despite this, the movie is a huge success as a new horror film. It’s fun and original while giving a sense of nostalgia for the graphic franchises of the early 2000s. The jokes are consistently funny, the kills shock you every time, and overall, the actors and director did an amazing job.

See the movie if you want to have a scary good time!