The Monkey centers on twins Hal and Bill (portrayed by Christian Convery as children and Theo James as adults), who discover a mechanical monkey toy within their father’s possessions. Upon winding the toy for the first time, their babysitter suffers a fatal accident. Hal attempts to harness the monkey’s power, leading to unforeseen consequences and a rift between the brothers. Reunited as adults, they find the monkey’s malevolent influence unleashed upon a small town, resulting in a series of deaths.
Osgood Perkins, son of the iconic Anthony Perkins (renowned for his role as Norman Bates in Psycho), follows in his father’s footsteps as both an actor and director. Perkins previously directed the unconventional yet intriguing film Longlegs, featuring Nicholas Cage in a transformative villainous role. With Osgood Perkins at the helm of The Monkey, adapted from a story by Stephen King, expectations were high for this newly released UHD edition.
Regrettably, the film proves to be a significant disappointment. The narrative establishes a premise involving a toy monkey seemingly possessed by a malevolent entity. The origins and motivations of this entity are never fully explored within the film. The initial scene in the pawn shop stands out as the highlight, after which the film’s quality diminishes.
The audience is introduced to the film’s protagonists, Hal and Bill, both depicted by the same actors in their childhood and adult forms. Christian Convery delivers a commendable performance as the younger Hal, convincingly portraying the character to such an extent that he appears as a distinct individual.
The Monkey is marketed as a horror-comedy, but the attempts at humor often feel forced. Divergences in comedic sensibilities between the director and the audience become apparent. The film’s execution falters, particularly with Theo James’ portrayal of the adult Hal. In contrast to the younger actor’s success, James’ performance lacks nuance, conveying a sense of detachment. The appearance of Elijah Wood in a brief cameo further contributes to the film’s disjointed nature.
The film escalates into a series of rapid deaths; however, the protagonist’s reactions to the carnage are remarkably subdued. The excessive and bizarre nature of the events fails to resonate, culminating in a final act where the protagonist’s son experiences the family curse with similar indifference. The film maintains its erratic trajectory, concluding with a predictable and anticlimactic sequence. Furthermore, the film deviates from its own established rule of one death per winding of the monkey’s key.
The Monkey is based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story, later featured in the collection Skeleton Crew. The film deviates significantly from the source material, primarily due to the brevity of the original story. While character names and the presence of the toy monkey are retained, the film diverges into a blend of absurd humor and splatter, contrasting with the short story’s more subtle horror elements.
The UHD edition presents a visually appealing image via Native 4K (2160p) and HDR10, aspect ratio 2.00:1, delivering sharpness, deep blacks, and vibrant colors that complement the film’s aesthetic. The audio, however, is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, rather than Dolby Atmos. Despite this, the soundscape remains dynamic, with clear separation between dialogue, music, and sound effects.
The Blu-ray disc purportedly includes deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes documentaries; however, these features are absent from the Swedish edition, resulting in a complete lack of supplementary material. This omission is highly disappointing.
In conclusion, The Monkey is a significant disappointment overall. The UHD edition’s shortcomings further contribute to a negative assessment, resulting in a grade bordering on failure.
SF Studios provided review copies for this evaluation. Provision of materials does not influence our editorial independence, ensuring that our reviews remain unbiased and focused on the interests of our readership.
