The Monkey (2025) Review — Stephen King Adaptation with Wild Kills
Film: The Monkey (2025) • U.S. Release: February 21, 2025 • Genre: Horror, Dark Comedy, Supernatural • Director: Osgood "Oz" Perkins • Main Cast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery.
More seasonal reads: Trick ’r Treat (2007), Heart Eyes (2025) Review, Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) Review, M3GAN 2.0 (2025) Review, Weapons (2025) Review.
The Monkey (2025) Review — A Stephen King Tale of Cursed Toys and Absurd Deaths
Adapted from Stephen King’s short story and produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster, The Monkey arrives as an equal-parts dark comedy and gore showcase. Osgood "Oz" Perkins retools King’s cymbal-banging toy into a bleakly funny agent of chaos — a film that aims to make you laugh, flinch, and then grimace. If you like horror that tilts between tragic family drama and elaborate death choreography, this one’s worth your attention.
Spoiler-Free Plot Summary
Told through flashbacks and present-day scenes, The Monkey follows twin brothers whose childhood is upended after they find a cursed wind-up toy monkey. Each time the monkey is wound, bizarre and violent accidents ripple across their lives—forcing the family to confront grief, shame, and the idea of inherited trauma. Years later, the toy resurfaces, and the surviving family members must reckon with the pattern of deaths and whether anything can break the curse. The film balances moments of black humor with set pieces engineered to shock: the question is never if something will go wrong, but how grotesquely clever the mechanism will be.
Themes & Tone
This adaptation leans into themes of family trauma, fate, and repetition, using the monkey as a physical manifestation of generational pain. Tonally it’s a bleak, occasionally comic mood piece—equal parts morbid spectacle and elegy for loss. For seasonal programming, it’s a smart pick for audiences who like their horror layered with a satirical edge and inventive set-piece engineering.
Performances & Direction
Theo James anchors the story (playing adult versions of the brothers), while Tatiana Maslany and Elijah Wood add strong supporting turns that deepen the emotional stakes. Director Osgood "Oz" Perkins stages the death scenes with a precise eye for visual comedy and escalating dread—he knows when to let an inventive kill play for laughs and when to hold the camera on genuine sorrow.
Pros & Cons
The Good
- Inventive, imaginative death set pieces that often play like dark comedy.
- Strong production design and a memorable toy-as-icon concept.
- Solid supporting cast that brings nuance to the family drama.
- Accessible entry point for both King fans and horror newcomers.
The Not-So-Good
- Some critics note a lack of emotional depth beneath the spectacle.
- Repetitive structure can make the middle act drag for some viewers.
Who Should Watch?
Fans of Stephen King adaptations, viewers who enjoy blackly comic horror, and anyone who appreciates creative practical effects and Rube-Goldberg style kills. The Monkey opened in U.S. theaters February 21, 2025 — look for it on VOD/streaming windows after its theatrical run.
Rating & Final Verdict
My Score: 3.5/5 ⭐
The Monkey is an entertaining, often wildly imaginative adaptation: it nails the spectacle and dark humor but occasionally skims on emotional payoff. If you want a horror film that will get talked about at parties (and spawn a few memes), this one delivers.
Watch the Trailer
💬 Seen it? Share which death scene stuck with you, and whether the film’s dark humor landed. Comment below!
FAQs: The Monkey (2025)
When was The Monkey released in the U.S.?
The Monkey opened in U.S. theaters on February 21, 2025.
Who directed The Monkey?
It was written and directed by Osgood "Oz" Perkins.
Is this based on a Stephen King story?
Yes—the film adapts Stephen King’s short story "The Monkey" and reinterprets the toy’s menace for modern audiences.
For more Stephen King adaptations and modern horror picks, browse our Stephen King tag and Horror category.
