Jamie and I left this movie with only three words on our lips...the short version: WTF
That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. In fact quite the opposite, this has become my new favourite horror film.
The Monkey is based on a Stephen King short story because of course it is. We follow Hal, one half of a set of identical twins (played by Theo James) who cant stand one another, as he is dragged back into the world of a possessed toy monkey that kills randomly when its key is turned.
We start out with their childhood. After their dad goes missing once he's tried to dispose of the toxic money toy and causes the gruesome death of the shopkeeper, the monkey returns to the house where the twins find it. Here we get some background. Bill, the dominant twin, bullies Hal relentlessly but is ultimately a mummy's boy. They twist the key on the monkeys back but nothing happens but take it out to the restaurant with their babysitter. The monkey beats its drum alone in the car and the babysitter is decapitated in a freak accident while the sushi master is showing off.
The boys soon figure out that the monkey is behind the deaths and once Hal is sick of being tortured by his brother he turns the key hoping the monkey will kill Bill. Instead, their mother dies.
Hiding this fact from Bill, the boys go on to live with their aunt and uncle and once the key is turned again their uncle Chip dies leaving them with their aunt. The boys throw the toy down a well and wash their hands of it, Bill never getting over the loss of his mother and remaining in his mourning suit.
The twins go their separate ways, Hal going on to get married and have a son but leaves both of them for fear of the monkey returning. He only sees his son once a year but decides to spend a final week with him once his ex wife and new husband tells him they are adopting him so Hal will never see him again. It is during this week that he gets a call from Bill telling him their aunt has died weirdly and to go and see if the monkey is to blame.
The majority of the town is dying through ridiculous means, two of which happening right in front of Hal. These deaths are comical due to the sheer gore produced which is what makes this movie such a good black comedy, that and the sheer absurdity of what is unfolding. Its so dark but equally so lighthearted that it balances out.
It soon transpires that Bill has the monkey and is winding the key in order to kill Hal as revenge for accidentally killing their mum. He soon realises that the monkey is protecting those who wound the key, so he offers immunity to Hal's son Petey by saying he can wind the key in hopes that it kills Hal. When this fails and another townie dies, Bill loses his temper and angers the monkey by trying to force it to play its drum. By doing this the monkey's wrath kills the entire town aside from Bill, Hal, and Petey. The twins reconcile before the monkey bangs its drum one final time killing Bill.
Petey and Hal decide to become guardians of the monkey so that no one is ever hurt again.
The movie is absolutely a WTF film but one so enjoyable I'd watch it again and again. This is laughable horror which you dont see much of anymore, it was executed perfectly. Pardon the pun.
Hats off to Theo James who played both twins brilliantly and this was a very different role for him but must have been so much fun to do. The movie doesn't stop surprising you in its creative death scenes, from poolside electrocution to harpoon guns in the centre of an antique store, this film has it all. The blood, the gore, the failed familial relationships. Maddening.
What I loved most about this film was that nothing was spared in the aim for complete creative chaos. Every death was unique, every death was random, but it was foreseeable. We got a hint of what was going to happen, you just never expect it to quite play out how it does. Bodies exploding instead of frying, heads exploding from shotguns, woodchippers, enough said. I loved it, the sadist in me adored this film because it was so unbelievable it took away all of the horror. The deadpan acting against the insanity of the plot was a perfect combination and uh *chefs kiss*.
I'm giving The Monkey an 8/10. This is a must watch for any horror fan and the perfect gory movie for spooky season. Oz Perkins outdid himself with this one and I cant wait to see what's next.
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