The Monkey Review: Horror, humor and the drumbeat of doom

As someone whose first genre choice is seldom horror, I thoroughly enjoyed Oz Perkins’ latest film “The Monkey”(2025). However, perhaps the reason I enjoyed this film so much was because it wasn’t scary. Yes, my heart rate spiked with the climbing death toll, but I can’t say I was ever petrified — in fact, each freak accident seemed sillier and less terrifying than the preceding one. “The Monkey” lands as a twisted horror-comedy, superbly blending gruesome deaths with genuine laughs while exploring the complexities of family relationships.

Adapted from Stephen King’s short story of the same name, Perkins, the director, crafts an experience that argues as much for the inevitability of death as it does for the unpredictability of life. “The Monkey” tells the story of twin brothers Hal and Bill (both played by Theo James), who form the emotional center of the film. Abandoned by their father, the boys long to understand him, which leads them to dig through his belongings and discover a monkey toy. 

Here’s the idea behind the Monkey: it plays a drum each time someone winds up the “toy,” and someone is killed in a horrific freak accident. The toy presents audiences with a stark reminder of both our mortality and our lack of control over our lives. As Lois, Bill and Hal’s mother, says, “Everybody dies. Some of us peacefully and in our sleep, and some of us…horribly. And that’s life.” 

Indeed, the movie succeeds in conveying a sense of powerlessness in the face of fate. As the cursed toy collects its victims, we’re reminded control is an illusion — a theme that reaches well beyond the horror genre. Perhaps the film’s greatest strength lies in its dark — and blunt — humor, which wonderfully complements its over-the-top violence. Perkins expertly cuts from horrific decapitations to clever one-liners, transforming even the greatest of gasps in the audience into the loudest of laughs. It is precisely this balance that sustains viewers’ engagement in an otherwise mediocre plot.

At its core, “The Monkey” is an exploration of complicated family dynamics and generational trauma. Rather than facing their pain, Bill resorts to bullying Hal, which only drives them farther apart when the toy (under Hal’s possession) makes its first kill. 

Time might heal much, but it certainly doesn’t heal Bill and Hal’s daddy issues. This is captured beautifully by James, whose character avoids his son, Petey Jr. (Colin O’Brien) until circumstance demands he steps up.

James is an excellent casting choice. He is talented and recognizable enough to draw viewers but not cosmically overexposed to the point that his presence is the story. Furthermore, his chemistry with O’Brien is particularly refreshing and organic, birthing some of the film’s best comedic moments. Playing the only character who is oblivious to the powers of the cursed toy ape, O’Brien delivers a relaxed qnd skilled performance that cements himself to the audience as a breath of fresh air.

Despite the smart pairings and excellently-executed combination of comedy and horror, “The Monkey” is not without its flaws. The third act feels extremely rushed, with the twins’ adult reunion introduced far too late to deliver the viewers and characters the resolution they deserve. While the final minutes are surprisingly poignant, a sudden reintroduction of the supernatural ultimately feels disconnected from the rest of the film. A deeper dive into the twins’ dynamic would have endowed the story with some much-needed emotional weight, while also opening the door to finally resolve their father’s frustratingly unclear fate.

At the end of the day, “The Monkey” still succeeds in its primary goal: to entertain. It does what it needs to do, despite occasionally shifting from horror to comedy and forgoing emotional depth. The film may not break any new ground in the horror genre, but it absolutely supplies a fun, gory picture seasoned with some food for thought. The blend of dark humor, creative deaths and family dynamics make for an enjoyable viewing experience. “The Monkey” may not have you sobbing in the theater or up all night — but it might have you re-thinking your next toy purchase. 

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