The Monkey (2025) Review: A twisted toy box of terror and dark laughs

Have you ever had an old toy that didn't really make you smile? But actually, it sent shivers down your spine? Maybe it was its dead eye stare, or the frozen grin, or just the thought of what it might have seen over the years.

Disclaimer: This review is totally based on the writer's own perception of the movie. And most importantly, viewers discretion is advisable.

Stephen King's The Monkey, directed by Osgood "OZ" Perkins, does just that by tapping into the unease and twisting it into a grotesque blend of horror and dark comedy. And what it delivers are laughs, right before it tightens its grip around your throat.

The Monkey that won't stay burried in the past

The Monkey follows twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn, portrayed by Theo James in a dual role, who've had a childhood overshadowed by a cursed wind-up monkey. Every time the monkey beats the drum, someone nearby meets a gruesome death in an absurdly ironic manner.

The twins try to get rid of the monkey, but unfortunately, like the darkest nightmares, evil never truly stays buried.

Years later, the monkey resurfaces—and the twins, now estranged, are forced to reunite as bodies keep piling up.

Right from the get-go, The Monkey sets its tone: a perfect blend of creeping dread and macabre humor. It doesn't just kill its victims; it orchestrates a very sadistic death for each of them. For example, one unfortunate soul slips on a kid's toy and lands face-first into a fireplace. Another dies due to a freak accident at a taxidermy shop.

It's ridiculous, but in a freaky Final Destination way that makes you squirm while suppressing a chuckle.

The Cast: A game of twisted family ties

Theo James pulls double shifts as Hal and Bill, giving both the characters totally different personalities—one that is bitterly detached and the other barely holding it together. His performance as the twins carries the film, balancing the unbelievable, the desperation of the situation, and a bit of brotherly banter that makes their relationship feel authentic.

Tatiana Maslany plays their mother, Lois, who has that exhausted look of someone who knows her family is cursed but has given up trying to convince anyone anymore.

Elijah Wood plays Ted, the present husband of Hal's ex-wife, bringing his signature awkward intensity to the mix.

Adam Scott makes a brief but memorable appearance as Petey Shelburn Sr., the boys' absent father, who left behind a legacy of doom.

Aesthetic and Atmosphere: Drenched in dread

Osgood "Oz" Perkins, known for The Blackcoat's Daughter and Gretel & Hansel, has a knack for crafting unsettling visuals. He leans into the eerie, giving us dimly lit hallways, flickering bulbs, and the constant, nerve-wracking presence of that scary and weird-looking monkey.

The sound design too deserves a special mention, with its every cymbal crash punching you in the gut, all the while building an almost Pavlovian fear response in the audience.

The film's cinematography is steeped in shadows and muted colors, making even the most mundane settings feel oppressive. But he makes sure that humor can bleed through it.

Some of the kills are shot with the comedic timing of a Looney Tunes skit that's gone horribly wrong, making the absurdity of the deaths hit harder.

Does it deliver the scares?

The Monkey absolutely delivers its scares, but not in the way The Conjuring does with its relentless jump scares. It makes use of dread that keeps creeping up on you and settles in your bones and lingers long after the credits roll.

Even though the deaths are brutal and grotesque, it's the inevitability of it all that gets under your skin. But still, the film does have its flaws.

Some scenes lean so far into dark comedy that it threatens to undermine the necessary horror element, making the absurdity outweigh the tension. Additionally, while the film is stylishly shot, some may find its slow-burn approach a little too methodical, which isn't always the best thing for a film about a killer monkey toy.

Final Verdict: Wind it up and let it play

I'd have to give it a 9/10 ⭐ just for its amazing shots and gruesome death sequences.

The Monkey isn't just a horror movie—it's a cruel joke told in the dark, a bedtime story that keeps you up at night. It is extremely fun, deeply unsettling, and amazingly shot, even though it occasionally wobbles on the tightrope between horror and comedy.