The Monkey (15) |Close-Up Film Review
Dir: Osgood Perkins, US/UK, 2025, 98min
Cast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery.
Review by Matthew Morlai Kamara
Blending supernatural horror with darkly absurd humour, this adaptation takes King’s eerie short story and transforms it into a gruesome, unpredictable thrill ride. Produced by horror maestro James Wan, the film balances tension, carnage, and comedy with remarkable precision.
The story follows twin brothers (Christian Convery and Colin O’Brien) who, as children, encounter a sinister wind-up monkey. Every time its cymbals crash together, a horrifying death follows, leaving their family in ruins. Decades later, the monkey resurfaces, forcing the now-adult, estranged siblings (Theo James and Rohan Campbell) to reunite and put an end to its deadly spree. With the help of an investigator (Tatiana Maslany) and a mysterious collector (Elijah Wood), they embark on a chaotic mission to stop the curse before more lives are lost.
The Monkey is absolutely bananas in the best way possible. It delivers Final Destination-level death sequences, each more elaborate and unexpected than the last, while injecting a wickedly sharp sense of humour akin to Shaun of the Dead. Perkins brings his signature eerie atmosphere but embraces a much more playful, fast-paced approach, proving he can master both psychological horror and horror-comedy with ease.
Theo James gives one of his best performances yet, bringing just the right amount of charm and exasperation to his role. Tatiana Maslany delivers a strong, no-nonsense performance, while Elijah Wood is delightfully weird as the eccentric collector obsessed with the cursed toy. The practical effects and slick direction make the film visually compelling, while its balance of tension and humour ensures it never loses momentum.
With its outrageous kills, relentless energy, and perfect mix of horror and comedy, The Monkey is one of the freshest genre films in years. Fans of supernatural horror and dark humour will have an absolute blast.
