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Review: Trauma haunts ‘The Monkey,’ but the film is more interested in going bananas

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Is it possible that the horror film “The Monkey” is experiencing fear itself? This might explain why there’s a dearth of suspense, excitement, or fear-inducing moments in the movie. With its excessive use of slapstick humor instead of substance, the movie appears to be timid about exploring deeper themes and focuses mainly on the pranks committed by its toy monkey character.

Perhaps Perkins is experiencing a sense of exhaustion from too many demonic-doll stories, given his recent triumph with “Longlegs,” the highest-grossing independent film of last year, and its exploration of the psychological and physical damage that terrifying toys can inflict. The inspiration for this tale comes from a chilling 1980 Stephen King story, later published in his collection “Skeleton Crew” (1985). It centers around a peculiar monkey toy with the power to manipulate the mind of a boy surrounded by death, and later an adult haunted by a strange guilt. Is it the toy’s influence? Or are childhood fears simply noises we try to silence throughout our lives?

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Following ‘The White Lotus’ and ‘The Gentlemen,’ the British actor embarks on his most daring endeavor to date, portraying two characters simultaneously, which amplifies elements of fear and humor.

In other words, there’s plenty in the material for an excellent horror director to develop a sense of eerie unease and hidden abnormality, as well as suggesting a timeless evil lurking. However, it seems strange that Perkins chooses not to delve into the human aspect in “The Monkey” but instead opts for a more detached approach with exaggerated characters and violence reminiscent of cartoons like Looney Tunes. Why does he do this?

The opening scene, which takes place in a pawn shop and shows Adam Scott, covered in blood, trying to persuade the owner not to sell the mysterious toy, comes across as a skit from Saturday Night Live with a shocking joke. Unfortunately, by beginning with a sarcastic tone, the film makes it hard for us to take the toy seriously, turning it into nothing more than a joke or novelty item. The scene where the toy drops its drumstick hand is like a treat for gore fans. (Yes, it’s been given a drum-related update from the short story.) Making the toy look scary with sharp teeth and filming it from different ominous angles seems more like last-minute efforts when they could have simply given it a spooky voice like Nicolas Cage and let it be truly menacing.

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Despite being the son of Anthony Perkins, who became famous for playing Norman Bates in “Psycho,” the director of the brooding serial killer film “Longlegs” possesses a unique, distinct artistic sensibility.

In a revised version by Perkins, the narrative presents a peculiar toy monkey, labeled “Like life,” as the object discovered by identical twins Hal and Bill (both portrayed by Christian Convery). They reside with their solitary mom, played by Tatiana Maslany. Following a series of grim fatalities that disrupt their lives, Hal dismembers the cursed plaything and the siblings drift apart. Fast forward to Theo James as an older Hal: a man who is apprehensive about forming attachments – even with his own son, Petey (Colin O’Brien) – yet finds himself compelled to revisit the belief that the monkey, mysteriously resurfaced intact, is responsible for more murders in the small Maine town he abandoned. What truly concerns Hal, however, is that his brother Bill might be implicated in these events.

If “The Monkey” gives off a heavy and unsettling impression concerning family ties and past wounds, I’m sorry to say that it doesn’t deviate much: This film is a contrived, tacky attempt at humor, suggesting that we all deserve our fate, with little to distinguish us as we pass except for brain tissue and mess. The character of James, who provides the narrative during the childhood sections, appears bewildered on screen, as if questioning the kind of movie he’s part of. Regrettably, it fails to evoke empathy or laughter from the audience. Similar to the underutilized Maslany and in a painfully unamusing scene featuring Elijah Wood (portraying Petey’s future stepfather), James lacks the authenticity of a genuine human being, much like the vibrantly colored, mechanical symbol of death that looms over his life.

Typically speaking, this frequently revised author is due for more recognition. A genuinely chilling horror movie could have effectively integrated dark humor as a subtle relief to the unsettling aspects of our persistent powerlessness. However, films such as “The Monkey” often opt for lighthearted shenanigans instead.

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2025-02-21 23:31

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