The Monkey: A Hilarious Horror That Dares to Face Death Head-On!

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Director Osgood Perkins of the movie “The Monkey” has spoken about the unique perspectives on death portrayed in the film. Perkins’ newest release hit theaters this past Friday, but those who managed to catch an early screening know that it presents death as the conclusion of a journey amidst a backdrop of utter chaos and satire. If you find screen deaths uncomfortable, it might be best for you to avoid “The Monkey”. It does get quite graphic.

Perkins discussed “The Monkey” with Cinema Blend, and while not many horror movies provoke deep thought, the director urges viewers to pay closer attention to the unavoidable reality of death. He also suggests that his film is similar to any other horror production in terms of the challenges faced by its characters.

Essentially, every horror film shares a common theme: death in various forms. Whether it’s through a chainsaw attack, hauntings by ghosts, or possession, the genre is all about confronting mortality. To put it simply, it feels as if I’ve stumbled upon an obvious truth when creating a horror movie, like picking the easiest fruit from a tree.

Occasionally, it’s a thought that crosses our minds – perhaps it should linger there more often. The upcoming horror film, which seemed to mock the notion that everyone ultimately perishes, as if that’s an unbreakable rule, felt particularly fitting.

The story “The Monkey” is derived from a short tale by Stephen King titled “The Monkey” that appeared in his 1985 collection “Skeleton Crew.” Despite the iconic book cover featuring a wind-up toy monkey with cymbals, Perkins has made some adjustments to the narrative. In this rendition, the monkey is depicted as playing drums instead, and whenever someone winds it up and the monkey begins its rhythm, people meet their end in gruesome fashion.

I found myself utterly captivated by this dark, witty horror comedy, a stark contrast to the tone of Perkins’ previous films. Rather than building suspense with a gradual crescendo of dread, it delivers a rollercoaster ride of laughter and extreme gore that would make even a “Final Destination” fan raise an eyebrow. Yet, what truly sets this film apart is its profound exploration of death as a fundamental, unaccepted reality – something that resonated deeply with me, enough to accept the role in the Stephen King movie as Hal and Bill Shelburn.

Reading the script, for me, what made it most captivating was its exploration of mortality amidst the chaos of the deaths. Despite our species’ remarkable evolutionary progression, death is something we still struggle to accept and confront. We’re always striving to avoid death and aging, denying its inevitability, but it’s an experience that unites us all.

‘The Monkey’ Is a Different Kind of Stephen King Adaptation

In an unprecedented move, Perkins has taken on the challenge of adapting a Stephen King story unlike any other adaptation you’ve seen before – “The Monkey”. Known for his distinctive interpretations of serial killer narratives and children’s tales in films like “Longlegs” and “Gretel & Hansel”, this time Perkins dives into the sacred realm of a literary masterpiece. A short story that many believed was beyond reproach in terms of its tone, who dare make any alterations?

Despite the unexpected nature, he carries out actions reminiscent of what is necessary, but with an unsettling air: He employs humor and the absurd as an effective release mechanism, and it proves successful. This approach is not commonly found in King’s films and represents a surprising deviation from his signature horror style. If you manage to catch it in theaters, you will find that there are more laughs than you would anticipate from an adaptation of King by Osgood Perkins.

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2025-02-22 16:01