‘The Monkey’ Scores Big on Rotten Tomatoes: What Critics Are Saying!

by

We’re almost at the point where you can catch “The Monkey” in theaters, the latest work by Osgood Perkins following his successful 2024 release “Longlegs”. If that doesn’t excite you, perhaps its Rotten Tomatoes rating will. Critics have spoken and reviews are available now. As of this moment, the new Stephen King adaptation is enjoying a solid 86% score on the site, which suggests it could do well at the box office this weekend.

According to King’s short story initially published in 1980 and later compiled in the 1985 collection Skeleton Crew, the movie titled The Monkey features Theo James as twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn. As children, they accidentally discover their father’s old toy monkey in the attic, which seems to be a harbinger of terrifying deaths happening around them. Later on, this cursed toy reappears, compelling the siblings to reunite and attempt to destroy it once and for all. The horror-comedy fusion film, according to Christian Toto from HollywoodInToto.com, delivers well on both spooky and humorous aspects, while Robert Kojder from Flickering Myth concurs with this assessment.

In my opinion, “The Monkey” is an outrageous, dark comedy that hides its tender emotions beneath a layer of madness. It manages to evoke deep feelings when it seemingly shouldn’t, all while maintaining a sharp and poignant tone. The death scenes, though refreshingly unique, paint a bleak picture of a world that’s elusive and unattainable.

Apart from James, “The Monkey” boasts a strong ensemble of co-stars. These include the talented Tatiana Maslany known for her roles in “Orphan Black” and “She-Hulk”, Elijah Wood famous for “The Lord of the Rings”, Rohan Campbell who starred in “Halloween Ends”, Sarah Levy, best recognized from “Schitt’s Creek”, and the exceptional Adam Scott from “Severance”. This film is the first of three Stephen King adaptations set to release this year. Following it is Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck” on June 6, and Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” on Nov. 7.

‘The Monkey’ Is a Perfect Horror-Comedy Hybrid

In his review, George Edelman from MovieWeb commended the movie, stating that it not only met but exceeded the expectations set by the horror-comedy genre. He appreciated the outstanding acting, superior direction, and a remarkably insightful portrayal of contemporary masculinity. Additionally, he highly praised the performance of its lead actor.

James delivers an exceptional performance in the comedy scenes, whether as Hal or Bill. He also portrays a poignant sadness and difficulty in dealing with fatherhood, particularly in his interactions with his distant son Petey (Colin O’Brien). His versatility is evident, making it challenging not to anticipate him excelling in future roles based on the wide range he exhibits here.

I wholeheartedly concur with Kimberley Elizabeth’s statement from Nightmare on Film Street: Osgood Perkins has truly outdone himself, crafting what appears to be the finest Stephen King adaptation in recent memory with “The Monkey.” Given that adaptations like “It” and “Doctor Sleep” have garnered widespread acclaim, Kimberley’s assertion that “The Monkey” surpasses them in terms of quality leaves me eagerly anticipating its release.

Certainly, it’s important to note that despite receiving an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film titled “The Monkey” hasn’t escaped criticism. Avi Offer from NYC Movie Guru has labeled it as “tedious, with a inconsistent tone and lacking in scares.” This sentiment is echoed by Brian Eggert from Deep Focus Review, who adds that the film fails to leave a lasting impact on viewers, offering neither amusement nor contemplation about life’s complexities.

Read More

2025-02-18 19:04