Horror and comedy are two of the most beloved genres in film. Many films have tried to merge the two, but few have done it as well as “The Monkey.”

Based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name, “The Monkey” tells the story of two brothers, Hal and Bill Shelburn, discovering a toy monkey when digging through their estranged father’s belongings. While it appears to be an innocent children’s toy, it proves that appearances can be deceiving. When wound up, this murderous Monkey bangs its drum and chooses its prey, leading to their deaths in what appear to be freak accidents. Even years later, these brothers cannot escape the clutches of this demented doll.

The plot is more than just haunted monkeys and extravagant kills, “The Monkey” is a story about life, death, and family. The relationships among these deeply disturbed brothers, mothers, and fathers find ways to make this story of a murderous monkey feel so personal and relatable even within this absurd tale.

The Shelburn brothers spend the majority of the film together or with their family, yet they are still so alone; their father has abandoned them, the Monkey continues to take away those who care for them, and the brothers’ relationship is toxic at best and destructive at worst. Large portions of the film follow adult Hal spending time with his estranged son with whom he struggles to bond. However, like in most horror movies, the disturbing journey is what brings them together, allowing Hal to become the parent his mother was and he wishes his father was to him and Bill.

In both the flashbacks and the present-day sections of the film, the brothers are played by the same actors; Theo James portrays the adult versions of Hal and Bill, while Christian Convery plays their child counterparts. While these boys look and sound alike, they could not be more different. These two actors deliver amazing performances by being able to turn themselves into completely separate people who share the screen in a way that shows these boys as demented mirrors of each other. If these actors hadn’t been able to deliver this performance as well as they did, the film would have fallen apart, but luckily, they brought everything they had to portray the Shelburn brothers.

The story is full of unique characters who supply the viewer with tears and laughs throughout the film. Tatiana Maslany delivers one of the greatest performances of her career in the minimal screen time she is given as the boys’ mother, Lois Shelburn. Lois’s story is tragic yet full of love and whimsy. Like her son Hal, everything in life has put her down, yet she is still there for her sons even when they do not know they need her to be.

The horror and humor of the film are truly the selling points. The film takes on a morbid brand of humor that won’t work for all, but there will never be a dull moment in the theater for those who enjoy it. At certain moments, the humor feels unnecessary and takes away from the heart of the scene, but this is a rare occurrence for the film and is not pertinent enough to cheapen the experience.

Regarding horror, “The Monkey” stands out in the genre. Mixing practical and special effects allowed each kill to feel more horrific and realistic, yet the unique and whimsical nature of many of these horrific scenes makes it impossible for the viewer to look away from the screen.

The most visually enticing element of the film is the Monkey itself. At first glance, it seems like a typical toy you would find in any child’s home, but when looking closer, the Monkey seems so alive. The film often lingers on the Monkey for unsettling lengths, giving viewers a good look at the horrific creature. Its large black eyes deeply disturb the viewer by how empty they are yet also how alive and dead they feel simultaneously.

Even when the scene’s focus isn’t to frighten the viewer, the film’s visuals keep it enticing. Director Osgood Perkins is no stranger to horror, but “The Monkey” is unlike anything else he has directed. Most horror films rely on jump scares to glue the viewer’s eyes to the screen. Perkins manages to keep the viewer enticed with the most mundane of visuals. The film is full of color and details that make this world feel so relatable and lived in. The set decoration and decor of the characters’ homes alone can keep the viewer staring at the screen even before horror elements are brought in. Perkins and director of photography Nico Aguilar know the perfect amount of time to linger on one frame to make the shot disturbing and when to cut away to add some humor.

No matter how brilliant they are, the visuals alone would not be able to achieve all of these feats. Edo Van Breeman and the rest of the extensive sound and music department that worked on the film utilize quick audio cuts to fill a scene with humor and loud crescendos of sound to intimidate and horrify the audience.

While horror stories about children’s toys may seem overdone, no film does it like “The Monkey.” Whether it be a tragedy or comedy, a film about love or hate, “The Monkey” is first and foremost a film about family. While the gore may not make it appropriate for the entire family, the comedy ensures it is fun for the whole family and may bring brothers and mothers, fathers and daughters, just a little bit closer as they leave the theater.

This story was originally published on Lakewood Times on February 25, 2025.