The Monkey is a bananas film that I would argue successfully threads horror and comedy together for an explosive, murderous ride, forcing viewers into a world where people can be killed at random through the choices of a devilish toy monkey.
Theo James plays two similar yet very different twins, Hal and Bill, one intent on destroying the monkey and the other determined to use the monkey’s power for evil. They are played with comedic effect, but also highlighted are the grief and struggles both brothers go through after the loss of their mother (played by Tatiana Maslany) and many other family members and friends.
Theo James plays two similar yet very different twins, Hal and Bill, one intent on destroying the monkey and the other determined to use the monkey’s power for evil.
The visuals of the film, despite the subject matter, remain colourful and bright, apart from Bill’s house which is swathed in moody blues and purples that mirror the character’s declined mental state. One of the main things that may discourage some viewers from going to watch this film is the brutality of the deaths. However, most of the gore is (in keeping with the comedic nature of the film) more cartoonish and unrealistic in style than a typical slasher horror film. These vivid deaths, complete with masses of entrails and blood, were weird and wonderfully done. Some were overtly foreshadowed, and some straight-up unpredictable, but all were equally hilariously gruesome, leaving the viewer wondering who would die next and how.
The visuals of the film, despite the subject matter, remain colourful and bright, apart from Bill’s house which is swathed in moody blues and purples that mirror the character’s declined mental state.
The Monkey was a highly unsettling antagonist with its bulbous orange eyes and stretched-back grin, a force of nature and death itself. Through its innocuous nature as a childhood toy, the Monkey manipulates the characters into turning its key, doing its bidding and causing the downfalls of not only themselves but also everyone around them.
Despite all the murders, survivors’ guilt, and themes of estrangement, The Monkey remained a fun film, with scenes of usual darkness, such as the funeral of the twin’s babysitter being a light-hearted moment where the underqualified priest ruins the ceremony.
Therefore, my advice is to “make like eggs and scramble” to see this horror-comedy if you are looking for fun, laughs, and to watch some inventive and gory murders.
