Monkey See, Monkey Doom: “The Monkey”

Photo Cred: “The Monkey” Movie Poster

Preben Svitzer, Review Desk Lead

“The Monkey” is a horror-comedy film released on February 21, 2025 which received positive reviews from critics and audiences, grossing $68.3 million off a budget of $10 million. The film was written and directed by Osgood Perkins and is based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story of the same name.

“The Monkey” introduces the audience to the twins Bill and Hal, who find their diseased father’s drum-playing toy monkey and wind its key, discovering its deadly abilities when people start dying in morbid accidents. The movie nails the grit and gore of a dark comedy-horror film and illustrates creatively grotesque deaths. While filled with themes common in horror movies, “The Monkey” intentionally avoids any subtlety and makes use of gore to joke about the absurdity and randomness of the movie’s deaths.

Comedy can be difficult to incorporate into a horror film as the two themes clash more often than not, but when they merge successfully, it creates a memorable movie that takes both the horror and comedy seriously. “The Monkey” succeeds in this aspect by utilizing dark comedy, a type of comedy with a macabre nature, that blends seamlessly with the movie’s horror. This mixture creates a unique harmony that allows the movie to retain its dignity and sense of horror, but allows humor to lighten the darkness.

A large majority of “The Monkey’s” success stems from its cinematic aesthetics and color palette. It adopts a distinct visual palette that blends dark, moody tones with bursts of vivid color, creating a sense of unease and surrealism. The stark contrast underscores the horror elements and gives some scenes a cartoonish feel, contributing to the film’s satirical approach to the horror genre. “The Monkey” also openly displays influence from classic horror movies from the 80s, paying homage to their exaggerated gore and absurd humor. The visuals ride the line between over-the-top spectacle and genuinely unsettling horror, creating a dynamic experience that both critics and the general public enjoyed.

Overall, “The Monkey” was a successful recreation of the short story by Stephen King, with both critics and audiences rating the movie favorably. The movie’s success is apparent, with viewers citing its visuals and execution of horror-comedy as reasons for its popularity. “The Monkey” incorporates the two opposite genres of comedy and horror in a unique way that both underscores and promotes the film's horror. Combined with its aesthetics reminiscent of the 80s, the film creates an unforgettable experience filled with ridiculous deaths and a darkly comedic atmosphere, balancing grotesque humor with genuine horror.