The Monkey

2025 - 2 - 21

Why 'The Monkey' Has Critics Swinging from Joy to Horror!

Horror Movies - Osgood Perkins - Stephen King - Tatiana Maslany - The Monkey

Dive into the terrifying world of 'The Monkey', where horror meets hilarity and Stephen King fans go bananas!

If you thought the only scary thing about a toy monkey was your childhood nightmares, think again! Stephen King's much-anticipated adaptation, "The Monkey", directed by the talented Osgood Perkins, is flipping the horror genre on its head. This quirky film introduces twin pre-teen brothers Hal and Bill, both played by the talented Christian Convery, who are raised by their single mom, Lois, portrayed by the brilliant Tatiana Maslany. When they stumble upon a seemingly innocent wind-up toy monkey, things quickly spiral into a nightmare that’ll keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Critics have had mixed feelings about the film, with some declaring it a fresh take on King’s classic short story, while others argue it’s more of a sick joke. Known for his previous works like "Longlegs", Perkins combines gore and humor, resulting in a film that’s both cartoonish and chilling. As the brothers navigate their way through this mess, viewers are left pondering if they’re watching a horror flick or a comedic splatter film—perhaps a little bit of both!

In the creative behind-the-scenes, Osgood Perkins shared that Tatiana Maslany's energetic performance brings an extra layer of joy amidst the chaos. Her portrayal of the caring yet battle-worn mother connects with the viewers as the twins seek answers to their unfolding terror. Oozing with potential for both entertainment and spine-chilling thrills, the film has already begun to create a buzz in theaters, turning heads and building expectations among die-hard Stephen King fans.

As they say, good horror is all about timing, and "The Monkey" seems poised for a successful box office opening of $12M-$14M this weekend. But wait, did you know that this could be the second-best debut ever for a horror movie? If you're a fan of horror adaptations, make sure to check out this gory ride when it swings into theaters on February 21, 2025! And let's not forget that Stephen King has had his fair share of adaptations before, but few have combined humor and horror quite like this one. Spoiler alert: keep an eye on that monkey!

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Image courtesy of "KCCI Des Moines"

Movie Review: 'The Monkey' (KCCI Des Moines)

Twin pre-teen brothers Hal and Bill (both played by Christian Convery) are being raised by a single mom, Lois (Tatiana Maslany). Their father abandoned the ...

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Image courtesy of "CBC.ca"

Stephen King adaptation The Monkey is a sick joke | CBC News (CBC.ca)

The Monkey turns out to be is something more like a personification of its demon than an examination of it — perhaps because Stephen King and Osgood Perkins ...

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

'The Monkey' Reviews: Are Critics Going Ape For New Horror ... (Forbes)

The Monkey”—“Longlegs” director Osgood Perkins' latest horror film—is new in theaters. How are critics reacting to it?

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Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

'The Monkey' review: 'Longlegs' director goes gory, cartoonish (Los Angeles Times)

Directed by Osgood Perkins, who broke out with the ominous 'Longlegs,' his follow-up is jokier and less effective, piercing the jugular with splatter gags.

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo News Canada"

'The Monkey': Osgood Perkins says Canadian Tatiana Maslany is ... (Yahoo News Canada)

The new Osgood Perkins film The Monkey, an adaptation of Stephen King's short story, stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Colin O'Brien and ...

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Image courtesy of "Plugged In"

The Monkey (Plugged In)

In Theaters. February 21, 2025 · Cast. Theo James as Hal/Bill; Tatiana Maslany as Lois; Christian Convery as Young Hal/Young Bill; Colin O'Brien as Petey; Elijah ...

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Image courtesy of "Variety"

Osgood Perkins on Making 'The Monkey' with Blood and 'Guts ... (Variety)

"Longlegs" filmmaker Osgood Perkins adapted Stephen King's story "The Monkey," starring Theo James as twin brothers haunted by a cursed wind-up toy.

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Image courtesy of "IndieWire"

'The Monkey' Explained: Oz Perkins on Meaning of Toy Monkey Horror (IndieWire)

The 'Longlegs' writer/director talks to IndieWire about his career, Stephen King, and the origins of his toy monkey with no backstory in 'The Monkey.'

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Image courtesy of "Deadline"

'The Monkey' Seeing & Doing $12M-$14M, 2nd Best Debut Ever For ... (Deadline)

Neon's The Monkey is on its way to posting the best opening for a horror movie YTD with $12M-$14M this weekend after $1.9M previews.

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