Unmasking Masculinity: The Dark Comedy of ‘The Monkey’ Revealed!

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Among the numerous captivating aspects of the film titled “The Monkey“, one particularly intriguing point to highlight is its runtime. With a duration of 98 minutes, this movie not only fulfills expectations set by the horror-comedy genre but also offers outstanding performances, superior direction, and a remarkably insightful exploration of contemporary masculinity. Essentially, it demonstrates that a film can be brief, moderately budgeted, and based on a straightforward concept, yet excel exceptionally across all aspects. In an era dominated by excessive budgets and lengthy runtimes, this movie serves as a refreshing alternative, often delivering more substantial meaning than its counterparts. Put simply, “The Monkey” is the remedy to the bloated productions of today.

If you’re not a fan of intense, darkly atmospheric violence reminiscent of classic Looney Tunes, and if it is crafted by the promising director Osgood Perkins (known for ‘Longlegs’), then this might not be your cup of tea. However, if you decide to give it a pass, you’ll miss out on quite a lot.

Shock the Monkey

Title Character: The Enigmatic Wind-up Monkey – This film is inspired by a Stephen King tale about an antique, eerily unsettling, monkey figurine that plays cymbals. Once set in motion, it brings catastrophe to its surroundings. The source of the toy’s destructive abilities remains shrouded in enigma – “how,” “why,” and “when” it functions are questions left unanswered, much like the mysteries of life itself, as echoed in the movie and multiple characters.

In this straightforward narrative structure and with the enigmatic Monkey-MacGuffin, deeper, more profound ideas and interpretations gradually become apparent. Instead of being directly told, you’re encouraged to discern relationships and understandings from the unfolding events.

The monkey was passed down to two twin brothers, Hal and Bill (Christian Convery playing both roles), following the demise of their unreliable father who worked as an airline pilot (portrayed briefly by Adam Scott). The monkey was hidden in a cluttered closet filled with trinkets gathered during his global travels. The boys stumbled upon it, along with its ominous, lethal abilities, almost by chance. The early events are narrated by an older Hal (Theo James), whose deep voice conveys his charm before he makes his screen appearance.

Theo James Is a Revelation

In simpler terms, Bill consistently mistreats Hal harshly during their turbulent teenage years, with their mother Lois (Tatiana Maslany) trying to keep things under control. It’s quite significant that the appearance of the monkey occurs during this puberty phase in their lives. It quickly becomes evident that the monkey symbolizes a crucial aspect of their maturing masculinity. The initial target of all this chaos happens to be babysitter Annie (Danica Dreyer), an attractive young woman who seems to catch everyone’s attention, including the camera and the men around her. Could it be mere chance that the monkey picked this location to begin its mischief?

In this part of the film, we witness some bluntly sincere interactions between a priest who’s out of his depth and Lois. Lois provides the boys with a poignantly cynical soliloquy about life, death, and what lies beyond, which foreshadows much of the violent events to follow. The narrative hasn’t yet reached its boiling point at this stage, but it’s gripping, funny, gruesome, and thought-provoking all at once.

As bullying increases, so do challenging rites of passage and unexpected deaths, causing Hal and Bill to believe that the monkey is directly connected to the horrific events happening around them. This brings us to the current time, where the attractive character played by Theo James is introduced. After a specific number of years have passed, we find a mature Hal asking for time off from his laid-back supervisor. Hal only gets one day each year to see his son because he understands that the monkey’s dark curse follows him and chooses not to put anyone he loves in danger.

Throughout the remainder of the film, James assumes dual roles as both older Bill and Hal, portraying their challenging journey dealing with the monkey’s legacy, fatherhood, brotherhood, the past, and the haunting aftermath they continually evade. He skillfully blends humor from both characters while conveying authentic sadness, particularly in his scenes with his estranged son, Petey (Colin O’Brien). It’s evident that James’ impressive range could propel him into a wide variety of roles in the future.

The Emerging Vision of Osgood Perkins

Osgood Perkins’ professional journey started when he portrayed a younger version of his famous father’s character Norman Bates in “Psycho 2.” After that, he has been involved in numerous projects, and more recently, he has made a significant impact as a writer and director with several successful films. Last year’s release, “Longlegs,” was not just a passing trend. This serial killer thriller, according to Perkins himself, explores themes related to motherhood. In his latest work, “The Monkey,” Perkins takes on the topic of fatherhood.

In the film “The Monkey,” Perkins showcases his visual abilities through the use of exceptional lighting, detailed and impactful set design, and skillful camera work, which harmoniously contribute to crafting a distinct ‘world’ that seems familiar yet timelessly alien. Scattered hints of historical periods are present, but the color palette and art direction subtly guide us into an ambiguous ‘past,’ not confined to the precise dates depicted in the film’s narrative. Essentially, “The Monkey” portrays a setting that transcends specific timeframes and resonates universally.

In a brilliant stroke by Perkins, the seamless blend of special effects with edits and character responses, combined with the clever use of music that guides the audience towards the next fright (or punchline), demonstrates an extraordinary expansion of the horror-comedy genre. Critics may view it as narrow, but Perkins’ work shows no signs of limitation in this unique piece.

The Meaning of ‘The Monkey‘

The Monkey encourages viewers to scrutinize our current era in the world. In this day and age, concepts of manliness or fatherhood have grown intricate beyond belief, leading to strong resistance. The rise of figures such as Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate, and others like them, whose questionable impact stretches across various age groups, has left us in a peculiar predicament. Those resistant to change hold stubbornly onto the past, attempting to restore supposedly ‘great’ times. This regression seems appealing to them. They aim to legitimize harmful masculinity by relying on outdated biological and evolutionary arguments. They attempt to cast blame on the monkey.

The Monkey may not explicitly delve into these topics in an overt manner, but upon closer examination and considering its context, it certainly touches on them. Similar to Alfred Hitchcock’s renowned works such as the iconic Psycho, Perkins has skillfully addressed broader themes without dictating interpretation or imposing thought processes. Instead, he weaves an intriguing tale while subtly hinting at a profound legacy of patriarchal darkness. This legacy encompasses sexual violence, matricide, fratricide, homicide – in essence, all forms of violence. Navigating this darkness and maintaining control over it is the challenge that lies ahead. Strive to be a man, not just any monkey.

The final lines of “The Monkey” offer straightforward guidance if you seek advice. They suggest that the darkness inherent within us, along with the atrocities of life and human actions towards each other, are inevitable and cannot be prevented or overlooked. Instead, we must decide how to navigate this reality, how to interact with those in our presence, and what to make of the present moment. “The Monkey,” despite being a work of graphic cartoon violence, horror, and humor, also touches upon these deeper themes, which is why it stands out and belongs in broader discussions of our contemporary era.

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2025-02-07 01:35