The Monkey

The Monkey” is a 2025 black comedy horror film that follows twin brothers Hal and Bill, whose lives unravel after discovering a cursed wind-up monkey toy in their father’s attic. Directed by Osgood Perkins and adapted from Stephen King’s 1980 short story, the movie blends outrageous gore with dark humor. Released on February 21, 2025, by Neon in the U.S., it stars Theo James as the twins, delivering a standout dual performance. When the monkey’s key is wound, gruesome deaths plague their family, and 25 years later, the estranged brothers must face the toy’s renewed killing spree.

What Is “The Monkey” About?

Set across two timelines, The Monkey begins in 1999 when young twins Hal and Bill find their father Petey’s eerie drum-playing monkey toy. Winding its key triggers bizarre, deadly accidents—like their mother Lois dying of an aneurysm and their uncle Chip trampled by horses. After sealing the monkey in a well, the brothers drift apart. Fast-forward to 2025: Hal (a guilt-ridden loner) and Bill (a vengeful schemer) reunite when the monkey resurfaces, sparking another wave of chaos. From wasp swarms to bowling-ball decapitations, the toy’s curse forces them to confront their past and its bloody legacy.

Key Details of “The Monkey”

Plot Highlights

• 1999: The twins’ discovery leads to family tragedy, with Hal’s guilt and Bill’s rage shaping their rift.
• 2025: Bill retrieves the monkey, hoping to kill Hal, but its random murders spiral out of control—culminating in a town-wide massacre and Bill’s ironic death.
• Resolution: Hal and his son Petey accept their fate as the monkey’s keepers, vowing to stop its key from being wound again.

Cast and Production

• Director: Osgood Perkins (Longlegs), celebrated for his chaotic, stylish horror.
• Cast: Theo James (Hal/Bill), Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery (young Petey), Elijah Wood, and more.
• Budget and Box Office: Made for $10-11 million, it grossed $57.4 million worldwide.

Reception

Debuting with a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics call it a “vicious horror-comedy” with “creative kills” (web ID: 0). X posts echo this, praising its “bonkers” gore and humor (post ID: 7).