THE MONKEY has the honor of being my first 1-star film of 2025. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it was not this. Not even the over the top and campy gore could over shadow the embarrassing script, and idiotic characters. If anyone tells you this movie is good your first question should be, “why are there 12-year olds watching this film??”
SYNOPSIS: When twin brothers Bill and Hal find their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths start. The siblings decide to throw the toy away and move on with their lives, growing apart over the years.
I am a huge fan of Stephen King’s short story which makes me believe he is rolling over in his grave right now. cause trust me, he died watching this terrible movie, then rolled over. Always count me in for those midnight film fest flicks where exploding gore wrapped in wry humor is the norm. This was not even worthy of those time slots.
Maybe I was expecting a true horror film instead of an attempt at comedy. To label yourself a horror film without even one scary, edge of your seat moment is unfair at best. A wind up Monkey Toy could and should be on a scare level with Annabelle. But this poor guy beat his drum for an unappreciative crew.
The premise of this film is wafer thin. Two twin brothers (older/Theo James | younger/Christian Convery) find this wind up toy that their dad left. Whenever it plays people start dying in the worst and most crazy ways. Flash forward to when they are adult men with screwed up lives and the killings start all over. One brother attempts to put an end to it once and for all. The film culminates in one of the stupidest word exchange I have heard in a long time. Even after 90-minutes of this one.
I walked away form this one feeling cheated, and angry. Cheated out on whwat could have been a lot better use of King’s story, and angry that someone though this was a good idea.
THE MONEY is rated R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references. It Is not for the squeamish or those who want actual scares instead of just gross out moments.
About The Author
