Hi all! 

Today I am reviewing new-release, horror: The Monkey. It hit cinemas this month, allowing me the opportunity of seeing it on the big screen. When twin brothers, Bill and Hal, find their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of deaths begin to follow. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

WHAT WORKED:

This film felt like it was made for me. A cursed toy meets Final Destination, meets Stephen King, meets Longlegs? A LETHAL combination! The opening scene had me hooked! The Monkey graces us with a coming-of-age horror – spending significant time in the past, before moving to the present day. Theo James plays the role of both brothers; stealing the show. It has been a long time since Theo was the star of a cinema-release movie. He was worth the wait! The gore, violence and creative deaths were shocking and at times, downright nauseating. This is Osgood Perkins’ first splatter film. It’s safe to say, he nailed the sub-genre perfectly. He maintains his signature atmospheric vibe, whilst injecting fun, bloody carnage into the story. 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

The Monkey was very close to snagging a full five stars from me, but sadly, the tone was off. It went down a very dry, sarcastic route and I don’t think it worked. When every single thing is made into a joke, it’s hard to a.) take the movie seriously and b.) genuinely feel scared. I found myself laughing out of shock, rather than humour. Despite it being a horror comedy, not a single joke was landing. The lack of reaction from my fellow cinema patrons, took away from my enjoyment. It really solidified that tone can make or break a film. Had it been more serious in nature, I am confident the scares would’ve been more effective and engaging. 

OVERALL STAR RATING:

I gave it 4/5 stars. It is worth a watch! 

Have you seen The Monkey? What did you think of it?  

Peace & Love xoxo