This February, if you're looking for splattery mayhem as opposed to Valentine's Day romance, book a date with The Monkey. This blackly comic and inventively gruesome horror yarn spins carnage from the simple sight of a mechanical toy monkey, one that spells unexpected death and destruction.
Scroll down to discover the story, director, cast, age rating, certificate and release date for this month's must-see horror movie.
What is The Monkey about?
The Monkey is the story of twin brothers, Hal and Bill Sherburn, who are haunted by the presence of a mechanical toy monkey they recall from their youth. When they were younger, they removed the monkey from its box and, upon winding it, activated a rhythmic tattoo that it rapped out on its accompanying drum.
The final drum strike portended a spectacularly gory demise for at least one person in the vicinity. Following the death of their mother, the brothers vowed to hide the monkey where no one would find it, and move on with their lives. Years later, however, the monkey is back, and its power over life and death seems stronger than ever...
Who is directing The Monkey?
The Monkey is directed by Osgood Perkins who scored a big hit with 2024's Longlegs. The sinister occult thriller starred Maika Monroe as an FBI agent who is locked in a cat-and-mouse game with Nicolas Cage's titular, nefarious serial killer, and the film was acclaimed for its oppressive, menacing atmosphere. Longlegs was acclaimed as one of the finest horror movies of 2024.
Perkins switches things up in The Monkey: whereas the previous film was stark and sombre, this one is decidedly more irreverent, leaning into outrageous black humour while also mining the strange inevitability of death waiting around the corner.
Perkins collaborates with producer James Wan, something of a horror legend in his own right off the back of the blockbusting Saw, Insidious and Conjuring franchises.
Is The Monkey based on a Stephen King story?
The Monkey is based on the short story of the same name by Stephen King. It hails from the author's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew, a short story compilation that also included the likes of The Raft, which was adapted into George A. Romero's 1982 anthology horror movie Creepshow.
The same collection also showcased The Mist, a horrifying story of townsfolk besieged in their local supermarket by all manner of flesh-eating creatures. It was adapted into a 2007 movie directed by Frank Darabont, who also adapted King's story Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption (from the collection Different Seasons) into the classic film The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Darabont also adapted King's novel The Green Mile in 1999.
Who stars in The Monkey?
The Monkey stars British actor Theo James (Divergent) in a dual role as the grown-up Hal and Bill. Tatiana Maslany co-stars as Hal and Bill's mother and Elijah Wood makes a brief, scene-chewing cameo as the self-help guru who steals the older Hal's wife.
That said, the show is stolen by the impressive newcomer Christian Convery who portrays the younger iteration of Hal and Bill. The rising young actor does a superb job at differentiating between the two siblings, one passive, the other aggressive and bullying, in a manner that brilliantly sets the scene for the conflict with the monkey.
Has The Monkey received good reviews?
The Monkey has been well-received for its gore (yes, there's a lot of that) and its morbid sense of humour. Critics have also pinpointed Perkins' skill in adapting King's text, the director mining the writer's nuances in observing American suburbia and adolescent development. Plus, that toy monkey is creepy as sin.
Mashable writer Kristy Puchko lauds the movie as 'a hell of a good time', adding: 'The result is a movie that feels refreshingly new for Perkins, yet is knowingly familiar with this gleefully ghoulish and grubby brand of horror.
'Reveling in kills that are senseless, aggressive, and increasingly imaginative and nightmarish, The Monkey is not just a stomach-churning treat for horror fans. It also feels like a challenge, as if the monkey — be it his unblinking gaze or the truly outrageous gore he unfurls — dares you to look away. '
What age rating is The Monkey?
The Monkey hasn't yet been rated by the BBFC – return to this post for further updates.
When is The Monkey released at Cineworld?
The Monkey is released at Cineworld on February 21st.
Where can we book Cineworld tickets for The Monkey?
Book your Cineworld tickets for The Monkey via the following link.
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