Is The Monkey the New Horror King or Just a Swing and a Miss?

A little over twelve months ago, Osgood Perkins made waves in the horror film industry by releasing his captivating, spooky movie titled Longlegs.

In my opinion, stepping into the theater for this movie, directed by him for the fourth time, I was initially skeptical about the hype that billed it as one of the most terrifying cinematic adventures of the 21st century. However, with Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage leading the cast, I found myself gripped by fear in a way I hadn’t anticipated. This film is indeed a chilling, heart-pounding experience that surpassed my expectations for a modern horror movie.

The movie, as we were informed, was so powerful and disturbing that it could transform countless viewers, leaving them altered for life just by exposing them to its dark influence.

It’s worth noting that, even though some initial reports were excessively dramatic, Longlegs largely met expectations.

Indeed, Perkins skillfully created something truly chilling, and his work eventually shattered several notable box office milestones.

Due to the blend of widespread praise and significant box office earnings, anything Perkins decided to undertake subsequently would attract considerable interest and examination. This leads us to his latest work: The Monkey movie.

Debuting in British movie theaters this weekend, the movie is a fresh take by its director on a chilling short story written by horror master Stephen King. The tale centers around an enchanted wind-up monkey toy that brings about an unusual series of tragic deaths just by being present.

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The narrative unfolds by tracing the journey of identical twins Hal and Bill (portrayed by Christian Convery during childhood scenes and Theo James in adulthood). They experience moments of bonding and separation due to the mysterious entity known as “The Monkey,” whose terrifying influence grows stronger over time. However, it’s intriguing to consider whether this enigmatic creature is more fearsome than its counterpart, Longlegs.

Well, unfortunately, the short answer is no. In fact, it doesn’t even come close.

In contrast to his previous horror projects, the movie places Anthony Perkins in an unusual role where he balances both comedy and fear elements. Unfortunately, this style does not showcase his directing abilities as effectively as before.

The remarkable achievement of Longlegs as a film was the masterful handling of mood and ambiance by Perkins. Even when the title character, the serial killer played by Cage, wasn’t on screen, there was an ever-present feeling of foreboding – a deep, lingering sense of discomfort that gradually built up throughout the movie.

Alongside its grim theme and its unique blend of surreal dream sequences and eerie elements, the movie managed to penetrate deeply, leaving viewers with a strange, almost indescribable sense of unease.

While The Monkey has some commendable aspects, the excitement it offers is predominantly superficial. Its primary appeal lies in the numerous creative, meticulously executed, and mind-boggling violent death scenes that initially impress but fail to resonate profoundly with the viewer’s emotions.

Frankly, there are moments when it seems a tad absurd, yet this can sometimes be beneficial – such as an amusing sequence with a real estate broker – but more frequently turns out to be problematic, particularly as the storyline grows progressively erratic during the latter part.

In this work, the mood seems somewhat disorganized, failing to strike a consistent balance between its humor, which can be inconsistent, and the intense, frightening parts.

The film’s core idea, that death is unpredictable and disorderly, aligns with the well-known untimely demises of Perkins’s parents. However, the message could have been more impactful if the movie had shown a bit more self-control in its narrative.

The Monkey isn’t necessarily a poor movie, but it might resonate more with mainstream horror enthusiasts who found the slower tempo and supposed scarcity of action in Longlegs less appealing.

Frankly, I found it disappointing following the exceptional work before – more like an enjoyable distraction rather than the chilling masterpiece we had before.

I was left feeling underwhelmed after such greatness – it was merely entertaining, not the terrifying classic it could have been.

Here’s some positive news: Prolific director Perkins is set to release another movie this year too, let’s hope it brings us back to his signature style of filmmaking.

2025-02-20 22:35

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