Horror fans say the film based on a classic short story is one of the goriest they’ve ever seen
Fans say it is one of the goriest horror films(Image: Neon)
Another gruesome adaptation is now available for free.
The ‘brutal’ horror film is leaving viewers unsure whether or not they should laugh or cry. Either way it is leaving many audience members in tears.
It comes as the movie The Monkey has been made available on BBC iPlayer in time for Halloween. The film was written and directed for the screen by Oz Perkins, who also helmed the 2024 horror release Longlegs, which coincidentally is also keeping BBC viewers gripped this spooky season.
The Monkey is actually based on a short story written by acclaimed author Stephen King, the same writer behind original stories that served as inspiration for hit adaptations such as Carrie, Salem’s Lot, The Long Walk, The Running Man and IT just to name a few.
Perkins actually features in the cast himself as Uncle Chip, alongside Downton Abbey and The Gentlemen star Theo James in a dual role as twins Bill and Hal. The stacked line-up also included Black Orphan’s Tatiana Maslany, Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood and Severance star Adam Scott.
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According to its synopsis, when twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tears their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree, forcing the estranged siblings to confront the cursed toy.
Upon its original cinema release back in 2025, it mostly impressed critics, earning a respectable 77% score on website Rotten Tomatoes. One critic underlined the film’s central performance and shock value as they said: “A riotous hoot that’s delightfully wicked, especially thanks to a gloriously unhinged Theo James.”
Many fans were also just as impressed and many called out the gruesomeness of the film. One person posted online: “I can’t fully articulate why this is the best movie I’ve seen in a decade, but it just is.
“The movie combines the seriousness and light-heartedness of life and death. It shows how life has so much meaning and is simultaneously so meaningless. The movie leaves me feeling comforted in knowing that I’m not alone in wondering whether or not I should laugh or cry at it all.”
Another admitted: “My mouth was agape, and even more so after looking at how little the estimated budget was. This movie was probably one of the goriest movies I’ve seen, and if I’m honest the gore was a little over the top however that played into the comedy elements perfectly.”
Someone else added: “It reminded me very much of the Final Destination movies and that just made me love this movie even more. I don’t think there was a single moment of this movie I didn’t enjoy in either the comedy or horror aspects. Was definitely worth my time and money to go see. 10/10.”
The Monkey is streaming on BBC iPlayer.