“The Monkey” Review: A Vicious and Twisted Horror-Comedy
Osgood Perkins’ latest film, “The Monkey”, is a vicious horror-comedy that will shock and delight audiences alike. Adapted from Stephen King’s 1980 short story of the same name, the film tells the story of identical twins Bill and Hal, whose lives are ruined by a toy monkey they found in their absentee father’s closet as children.
When the monkey is wound up, it plays a drum. When it finishes, someone near you dies – and dies horrifically. The film’s supernatural deaths are cruel jokes, often unleashed quickly and with minimal buildup. Watching “The Monkey” is like watching a comedian speed-run through their set and get all the laughs anyway.
Perkins’ loose adaptation begins with a prologue where Adam Scott tries to get rid of the musical simian from Hell and fails miserably, setting the twisted tone for the rest of the film. As Bill and Hal accidentally unleash death upon their family and friends, the film starts a conversation about how death is inescapable and, sadly, random.
The film’s tone shifts from serious to madcap horror-comedy, with Perkins seemingly relishing his opportunity to cut loose. The characters are mostly cartoons, with Theo James turning in double duty as Bill and Hal, and Tatiana Maslany making an impression as their suffering young mother.
“The Monkey” earns its place among the best of both subgenres – sick and twisted work of comic genius where the punchlines punch so hard you’ll explode. With its blend of humor, horror, and supernatural mayhem, “The Monkey” is a must-see for fans of diabolically dark comedy.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/monkey-review-osgood-perkins-vicious-165033759.html