The Monkey Summary & Review - Os Perkins Winds Up The Gory Fun

The Monkey sets out its stall early with a memorable opening. Petey Shelburn is desperate to offload a strange clockwork monkey in a junk shop, realising too late that this isn’t the harmless toy he thought it was. His attempt to be rid of it ends badly, establishing both the power and intent of the monkey right from the outset.

A Turn of The Key

Fast forward a few years and Petey is now absent from the lives of his twin sons, Hal and Bill. Trying to gain some sense of the man he was, the boys rummage through their father’s belongings and stumble upon the sinister wind-up monkey. In spite of cryptic warnings on the box, natural curiosity gets the better of them, and with a single turn of the key they soon discover that outlandish death follows after the monkey plays its drum. Having unleashed a chain of calamitous events, the twins band together and attempt to prevent further destruction but find that the monkey won't be sidelined that easily.

The film is narrated by Hal, whose encounter with the monkey has shaped his entire existence. Wracked with guilt and fear, he keeps human contact to a minimum to protect others from the deadly curse of the monkey. Estranged from his bullying brother, Hal does have a son, also called Petey, whom he sees just once a year. Petey yearns for a stronger bond with his father, but their fragile connection is threatened by his stepfather’s desire to adopt him and sever all ties with Hal. A final road trip between father and son becomes the emotional spine of the story - and the ride of their lives.

Gleefully Cartoonish

The violence is gleefully cartoonish - bloody enough to entertain horror fans without descending into sickening gore. The monkey itself is a wonder of prop design - it's exaggerated features seemingly benign until it's activated, revealing its malevolent grin, and the audience knows that trouble is coming. That's half the fun of The Monkey - waiting to see what comes next and it's good to see director Os Perkins showing his lighter side with a production that hurtles along like a runaway train rather than his previous slow-burning and impeccably stylish, horror productions. 

That said, the film isn’t without missteps. the scripted comedy sits awkwardly within the dark narrative, and doesn't quite land the laughs it aims for. The inclusion of Ricky, a character obsessed with the monkey but with no meaningful connection to the family, feels superfluous and Hal’s role in the chaos is glossed over, letting him off the hook more easily than he perhaps deserves.

Theo James is Impressive

Theo James impressively takes on both Hal and Bill, portraying their contrasting personalities with conviction: Hal, anxious yet nobly distancing himself to prevent disaster; Bill, manic and consumed by bitterness and revenge. Themes of sibling rivalry, fractured families, and the randomness of death are threaded throughout, giving the film an underlying emotional weight than its lighter premise might imply.

Instead of reimagining the story beyond recognition, Perkins, weaves a sympathetic adaptation, broadly faithful to key plot points while using his creative licence to engage a modern, more thrill seeking audience. James Wan as the producer complements Perkins style balancing moody atmosphere with punchy, horror thrills.

I throughly enjoyed The Monkey and while the comedy was inconsistent it still delivers an energetic, gory, and even heartfelt ride. It may wobble here and there, but it still lands with a satisfying punch.

4/5

Hal Shelburn: Theo James
Bill Shelburn: Theo James
Petey Shelburn (son): Christian Convery
Petey Shelburn (father): Elijah Wood
Uncle Chip: Osgood Perkins
Ricky: Rohan Campbell
Director: Osgood Perkins
Writer: Osgood Perkins, based on the short story by Stephen King
Release: 2025