Oz Perkins is quickly becoming one of my favourite filmmakers, after the success of Longlegs (2024) I had high expectations for The Monkey (2025). Considering the film is based off a Stephen King short story, this film had all the potential to be a perfect embodiment of a horror filled nightmare.
The Monkey (2025) is a magical unexplained entity that picks at random its next victim, this feature is filled with whimsy and packs a punch in the gore department. I wasn’t expecting this film to be as campy as it was, it was filled with absurdly exaggerated comedy and the cinema was filled with laughter around every corner. The gore was cartoonish and completely unnecessarily grotesque, in the best possible way!
The Monkey (2025) defies all logic, the film exists in its own world. Sometimes the character arcs would be cut short, like Ricky for instance but those unexplored stories didn’t distract from the primary narrative of Hal and Bill.
I enjoyed the bizarreness of the narrative, the unpredictability of the deaths and the endless amount of jokes slotted into the story. To some, this film may have overdone it with crude deaths and gnarly gore but to me these moments only added to the overall impact and memorability of the film. The Monkey (2025) was a perfect balance of horror and absurdity, comedy was found in every moment - through the editing and the dialogue. Using harsh and dramatic cuts to show the deaths, accompanied by absurd music choices all lent into the caricature and satire.
For horror lovers, this is not a disturbing piece of cinema. The Monkey (2025) will not have you watching through your hands or trembling with fear. Instead, this film will have you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next demise and waiting for the next punch line. This is a perfect pairing, Oz Perkins and Stephen King is a horror lovers dream duo and I couldn’t be happier with the end result.
Theo James gave us two strong performances in this film, he is a charming actor on screen and delivered a comedic and memorable portrayal of the twins. He gave distinct performances for each character and his portrayal was entertaining, memorable and hilarious.
The Monkey was the star of the show, utterly terrifying and stoic. The Monkey was the core of the story, lurking in every dark corner and unexpected spots to strike its next victim. I was engrossed by the Monkey and loved watching it bang that little drum and smile with that bone chilling set of teeth. As you hear that music bounding into your ear drums it’s only a matter of time before something unexpectedly disgusting happens.
Overall, The Monkey (2025) surprised me. This film left me feeling fulfilled, I was surprised by the amount of times I laughed out loud I was taken back by the twisted, monstrous and farcical deaths. This film excited me and gave me a deeper appreciation for King and Perkin’s as creatives. I highly recommend this film for anyone wanting a good, gross laugh at a silly, freaky and wacky story.
Probe Points
★★★★☆
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