Unraveling the Dark Symbolism of ‘The Monkey’

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⚠️ Spoiler Warning: The following text contains spoilers for Oz Perkins’ latest film, “The Monkey.”

In recent times, few directors have experienced such a meteoric rise as Oz Perkins. His films, including “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” and “Gretel and Hansel,” received favorable reviews and gained cult status. However, it wasn’t until last year that Perkins truly made his mark in the mainstream with the chilling “Longlegs,” a surprise hit of 2024. As a result, he quickly became a familiar name among horror enthusiasts. Now, barely a year later, he’s back with another cinematic offering, “The Monkey.”

Spoiler Warning: This text contains spoilers for Oz Perkins’ new film, “The Monkey.”

In recent times, Oz Perkins has seen an incredible surge in his directorial career. His films, such as “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” and “Gretel and Hansel,” received great reviews and became cult favorites. But it wasn’t until last year that Perkins really made a splash in the mainstream with the terrifying “Longlegs.” As a result, he quickly became well-known among horror fans. Now, only a short time later, he’s back on the big screen with his latest creation, “The Monkey.

In the footsteps of Stephen King’s short story titled “The Monkey“, director Perkins takes a striking detour from the chilling ambiance of his previous work, “Longlegs“. His latest film showcases an offbeat humor and a flair for dark trickery, pushing boundaries without veering into overly playful satire. Remarkably, he manages to extract substantial intrigue from a seemingly preposterous concept, leaving us on the edge of our seats until the very end. However, the enigmatic final moments of “The Monkey” leave us pondering – what hidden messages lie within?

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How Does ‘The Monkey’ End?

The movie’s plot is straightforward – twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn, portrayed by Christian Convery as kids and Theo James as grown-ups, stumble upon a wind-up monkey toy left by their father. Unbeknownst to them, winding up the key on the back of the toy results in the grisly demise of an unspecified person. This fact is revealed when Hal activates the toy, leading to the death of their mother (played by Tatiana Maslany).

25 years on, the brothers find themselves at odds, each grappling with their own trauma independently. Notably, Hal has kept his distance from his son Petey (Colin O’Brien), fearful of passing a life marred by misfortune onto him. Meanwhile, it gradually becomes apparent that a series of strange deaths in the area are connected to an unearthed monkey, and that its owner is none other than Bill.

After accusing Hal for their mother’s demise, Bill has been manipulating the toy with the intention of avenging himself against his brother. Aware that whoever triggers the key will survive unscathed, Bill tricks Petey into a dangerous situation, pressuring him to engage the monkey in the belief it would finally eliminate Hal. However, it results in the death of henchman Ricky instead, causing Bill to become enraged and attempt to compel the toy into action. Consequently, the monkey viciously lashes out against Bill.

In a scene reminiscent of Final Destination, it releases a catastrophic wave of destruction upon the town, indiscriminately taking lives in large numbers until Bill meets his tragic demise. The climactic sequence depicts Hal and Petey returning to town with the intention of safeguarding the monkey from harm. In the heart of an intersection, they unexpectedly face a spectral figure on horseback, hinted to be none other than Death, who nods cryptically before vanishing, signaling his presence.

‘The Monkey’ Illustrates Death’s Random Nature

Regarding Perkins’ adaptation and Stephen King’s original short story, “The Monkey,” they both serve primarily as allegories. The central wind-up monkey operates solely on chaos, selecting victims indiscriminately each time it is wound up, leaving no control for the user over who meets their end. Consequently, the monkey serves as a potent symbol of death, personifying its random, unpredictable nature and the fact that those who die have no influence over the matter.

Bill’s accusation towards Hal for their mother’s death is fueled by a human need to assign responsibility and meaning to an event that, in reality, seems senseless. This is because Hal couldn’t have foreseen the consequences of activating the monkey, and the circumstances surrounding their mother’s passing were mysterious and unpredictable. Bill’s persistent attempts to punish his brother might be driven by a desire to regain control over his life and administer what he perceives as justice.

Yet, in his presumption of playing the role of a divine power, he unwittingly brings about devastation for countless innocent lives and eventually an entire town. His true target remains untouched throughout this ordeal. Furthermore, Hal never explicitly seeks to dictate the destinies of others, but his attempts to shield his son from the monkey also slip beyond his grasp, as Petey exits the movie with guilt on his conscience. Nevertheless, both Petey and his father demonstrate a degree of wisdom by understanding that they should only manage what is truly within their power, particularly ensuring the monkey doesn’t fall into harmful hands.

The film’s theme about the unpredictable nature of death is most evident in its concluding scene. The figure of Death on a horse, a biblical reference from the Book of Revelation (“And I saw, and behold a pale horse: and he that sat on him was called Death, and Hell followed with him”), implies that Bill inadvertently triggered a disaster of near-apocalyptic proportions within the community. However, the rider’s choice to let Hal and his son pass through the intersection signifies that while death will eventually claim them, they have been granted a reprieve for today.

In my own words, here’s how I would rephrase it:

Hal’s response to the rider clearly demonstrates his understanding and acceptance of death’s unpredictable nature, just as a child has no control over activating a wind-up toy monkey. And now, that toy monkey is playing in the spotlight.

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2025-02-21 22:02