2025 is starting strong with some high-profile releases early in the year, and February is especially interesting for the comic book and horror movie genres. The Josh Ruben-directed horror filmHeart Eyesis set to hit the weekend before Valentine’s Day, which is whenCaptain America: Brave New Worldpremieres. However, another highly anticipated film comes at the end of February, withThe Monkeyhitting theaters on February 21st. The film has just had its first screenings for critics, and all the reactions mostly say the same two things: it’s incredibly gory but hilarious.
Directed byOsgood Perkins, who recently made waves for his terrifying slow-burn horrorLonglegslast year,The Monkeyis based on a short story by Stephen King and produced by James Wan. The film’s premise is simple but terrifying: a toy monkey discovered by twin brothers unleashes a series of inexplicable deaths seemingly tied to the toy’s presence. Social media reactions from critics have flooded online following the screening, with critic Joey Magidson taking toXto call the film"Savagely funny and savagely gory"andRuss Millheimfrom The Directcalling it an “absolutely wild, brutal dark comedy filled with aggressively creative deaths.”
Osgood Perkins has seemingly taken Stephen King’s short story to create his own bloody and unique take on the kinds of complicated deaths featured in theFinal Destinationfilm series while adding a comedic angle. The film seems like a far cry from Perkins' previous work onLonglegs, blending humor with horror that shows the director can expand and play with the genre he clearly loves.
‘The Monkey’ Is a Prime Example of Horror’s Close Relation to Comedy
Reactions like criticJeff Ewing’s onX, who callsThe Monkey"One of the funniest horror comedies [he’s] seen in a long time,“further prove how closely the horror genre is associated with comedy. Acclaimed horror director Jordan Peele said inan interview, “The difference between comedy and horror is the music,” which helps to reinforce why Perkins' film works so well as a blend of the two genres. Moreover,The Monkeyis shaping up to be another great example of how the horror genre can constantly evolve and change to create remarkable new films.
Why Oz Perkins Could End Up Being a Modern Horror Master
Among the best emerging horror directors and writers, Oz Perkins is absolutely one to watch.
Perkins' previous work in the genre, with films likeGretel & Hansel,I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, andThe Blackcoat’s Daughterreceived praise for their tense atmosphere and scares but rarely for any comedic moments, making his newest film even more exciting. The film’s morbid sense of humor is the key to its success, and it will be interesting to see if general audiences enjoy the movie as much as critics have.
Overall, the overwhelmingly positive first reactions toThe Monkeyindicate that theLonglegsdirector has another hit on his hands. The recentred-band trailershould be enough to keep fans over for the next few weeks until the film is released. The movie is also now part of the long list of impressiveStephen King adaptations, proving that the author’s work can still be relevant and entertaining today, even over 40 years after its publication.
The Monkey
Adapted from the story of the same name by Stephen King, The Monkey is a horror mystery film that follows twin brothers Hal and Bill, who discover a mysterious monkey toy in their father’s attic that seems tied to several grizzly deaths. After years apart, the twins learn that similar deaths have begun again and must reunite to destroy the monkey.
