The Monkey is a chilling psychological horror film that is based on the 1980 short story of the same name by Stephen King. The film is a masterful adaptation that taps into King's signature themes of childhood trauma, evil, and the insidious nature of everyday objects. The story centers on twin brothers, Hal and Bill, and the antique toy they discover in their grandfather's attic. The toy is a small, cymbal-clapping monkey, a seemingly harmless and nostalgic relic. However, the boys soon realize that the monkey is anything but harmless. They discover that whenever the monkey claps its cymbals, a person close to them dies a horrible, violent death. The boys, terrified and confused, hide the toy in a locked chest, hoping to bury the evil and escape its curse.
The film jumps forward twenty-five years. The twins, now adults, have been living separate lives, each trying to outrun the trauma of their childhood. Hal (played by Theo James), is a successful businessman, haunted by the memories of the monkey. Bill (also played by Theo James), is a reclusive artist, whose mental state is even more fragile. When a series of inexplicable and violent events begins to plague their lives once more, they are forced to confront the chilling possibility that the monkey has returned.
Tatiana Maslany, in a dual role, plays the twins’ mother and Bill’s ex-wife, adding another layer of psychological complexity to the story. She is a woman who, in the past, dismissed her sons’ stories as childish fantasies, and is now forced to confront a reality far more terrifying than she could have ever imagined. Christian Convery, who plays the younger versions of the twins, delivers a haunting performance that captures the innocence and terror of their discovery.
The Monkey is not a gore-filled slasher film. Instead, it is a slow-burn psychological thriller that relies on atmosphere, dread, and the power of suggestion. The horror comes from the feeling of helplessness and the inescapable nature of evil. The film's cinematography, with its use of shadows and unsettling close-ups, creates a constant sense of unease. The sound design is a crucial element of the film, with the clanging of the monkey's cymbals becoming a terrifying harbinger of death.
The film delves into the themes of trauma and guilt, exploring how a childhood trauma can haunt a person for a lifetime. Hal and Bill's journey is a desperate attempt to not only destroy the evil monkey but to also heal the emotional scars it has left on their lives. The Monkey is a powerful and unsettling horror film that is a worthy addition to the long list of Stephen King adaptations.
The Monkey is a 2025 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 62.
