Stephen King adaptations can be hit or miss, and The Monkey lands somewhere in the middle. Based on his short story of the same name, the film takes a simple yet eerie premise—a cursed toy monkey that brings death whenever its key is turned—and spins it into a blend of horror, absurd comedy, and over-the-top gore. While it doesn’t fully commit to being scary or outright hilarious, it delivers just enough blood-soaked mayhem to entertain fans of bizarre horror comedies.
The film follows twin brothers from childhood to adulthood and their relationship with this cursed toy. Theo James plays the twin brothers who had a falling out, but whose lives intersect again because of mysterious deaths in their hometown. As adults, they are both played by Theo James, who have two very different futures planned with the toy monkey, and their feud fuels the majority of the movie, with a number of innocent people meeting their gruesome end in between. The deaths are brutal, often creative, and reminiscent of Final Destination in how random and elaborate they feel. However, the movie leans into cheesy humor and nothing particularly horrifying or thriller like to build true suspense, making it more of a fun ride than a terrifying one.
Unfortunately, the story itself doesn’t offer much beyond the monkey’s curse. It tends to repeat the same tension-building formula without adding much depth, making it feel predictable at times. You could say it “beats the same drum” over and over (pun intended). While the kills stay fresh, the narrative feels like it had more promise than it actually delivers on.
One of the film’s highlights is Theo James, who does a solid job portraying the twin brothers with distinct personalities. Considering the movie never takes itself too seriously, he balances the material well, bringing just enough personality to keep things engaging. The supporting cast and direction also embrace the film’s absurdity, making it clear that The Monkey is meant to be more of a darkly fun popcorn movie rather than a serious horror entry.
At the end of the day, The Monkey is a dark and fun horror comedy, but it’s not scary enough for hardcore horror fans and not quite funny enough for those expecting a laugh-out-loud experience. What it does deliver is a steady stream of gory, over-the-top deaths and a lighthearted approach to a bizarre premise. If you’re in the mood for an easy, blood-soaked watch that doesn’t demand much investment, this one is worth a look. Just don’t expect it to break new ground.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Review by: James Larmour