Chilling Laughter: Unpacking the Dark Comedy of 'The Monkey'

In this thrilling episode of *Movies First*, host Alex First takes a deep dive into the audacious film *The Monkey*, a dark comedy that transforms Stephen King's chilling 1980 short story into a blood-soaked spectacle. Directed by Osgood Perkins, the film follows the Shelburne family as they grapple with a cursed mechanical monkey that brings death to anyone unfortunate enough to possess it. With an array of excessive violence including beheadings and disembowelments, the narrative is not just about horror but also a poignant exploration of family dysfunction and generational trauma.
The story oscillates between 1999 and the present, beginning with a blood-stained Adam Scott attempting to pawn the sinister toy. As the narrative unfolds, we delve into the lives of brothers Hal and Bill, whose childhood is irrevocably altered by their father’s mysterious disappearance. The film cleverly juxtaposes their traumatic upbringing with the ongoing chaos wrought by the monkey, which proves impossible to destroy. Perkins introduces a twin dynamic that adds emotional depth, brilliantly portrayed by Christian Convery and Theo James.
As Hal struggles with his own demons as a single father, the return of Bill forces a reckoning with their shared past and the malevolent monkey that haunts their lives. The film thrives on its dark humour, treating the absurdity of death with a comedic lens, while also embracing its chaotic nature. With a daring blend of horror and humour, *The Monkey* challenges viewers to suspend their disbelief and revel in its outrageousness.
**Key Points:**
- **Dark Comedy & Horror:** A unique blend that pushes the boundaries of both genres, delivering over-the-top violence and absurdity.
- **Emotional Core:** The relationship between the twin brothers serves as a compelling exploration of trauma and its effects on family dynamics.
- **Memorable Imagery:** The film’s elaborate death scenes and self-aware dialogue create a lasting impression, ensuring viewers won't soon forget the chaos.
With an MA rating and a score of 7 out of 10, *The Monkey* is sure to polarise audiences, appealing to those who appreciate its extreme approach while potentially alienating others. Join Alex for an engaging discussion that delves into this outrageous cinematic experience and its cultural implications.
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Monkey transforms Stephen King's nineteen eighty short story into
a gleefully violent, dark comedy that pushes the boundaries of
horror and humor five four three two one. This is
Movies First with Alex. First written and directed by Osgoode Perkins,

(00:24):
this blood soaked tale follows the Shelburne family as they
grapple with a cursed mechanical monkey that brings death to
anyone unfortunate enough to possess it. The film's excessive violence,
featuring beheadings, spearings, disembowelments, and explosions, serves as a backdrop

(00:45):
for a deeper story about family dysfunction and generational trauma.
The narrative alternates between nineteen ninety nine and the present day,
beginning with a bloodstained pilot named Shelburn Adams's Scott attempting
to pawn the sinister toy monkey. This opening scene sets

(01:06):
the tone for the mayhem that follows. The story primarily
focuses on Hal Shelbourne and his slightly older twin brother Bill,
whose childhood takes a dark turn after their father mysteriously
vanishes during what should have been a simple trip to
buy cigarettes. Their mother, Lois Tatiana Maslani raises them alone,

(01:28):
bringing a laid back charm to their upbringing, until she
too falls victim to the monkey's malevolent influence. The mechanical
primate operates with ruthless simplicity. When its key is wound
and it bangs its symbols, death invariably follows. The bug
eyed toy, discovered among their father's stored belongings, proves impossible

(01:51):
to destroy. Even when the brothers attempt to eliminate it
by dismemberment and disposal down a dry well, it always
finds its way back to continue its reign of terror.
After their mother's death, the boys move in with their
aunt and uncle, who predictably become the monkey's next victims.
The film maintains a dark humour about these deaths, treating

(02:15):
them as both horrific and darkly comedic. Perkins made significant
changes to King's source material, most notably by introducing the
twin brother dynamic, a choice inspired by his own upbringing.
This relationship between Hal and Bill forms the emotional core
of the story, with their complex and toxic bond played

(02:36):
brilliantly by Christian Convrey in their younger years, and theo
James as adults. The contrast between the twins serves as
a compelling examination of how shared trauma can lead people
down drastically different paths. In the present day timeline, Hal
struggles as a separated single father who maintains minimal contact

(02:57):
with his own son, believing distance will protect the boy
from emotional damage. The return of his estranged brother Bill
forces how to confront both their shared history and the
seemingly immortal Monkey, which continues its deadly spree even after
twenty five years. The brothers must finally face the truth

(03:18):
about their past and the supernatural force that has shaped
their lives. The film fully embraces its excessive nature, creating
elaborate death scenes that push the boundaries of both horror
and dark comedy. A particularly memorable sequence features a priest
delivering a matter of fact eulogy, while other scenes showcase

(03:40):
increasingly creative and unconventional methods of demise. The movie acknowledges
its own absurdity, with self aware dialogue about death's inevitability,
suggesting a full consciousness of its darkly humorous nature. The
Monkey works best when viewers don't attempt to analyze its
plot mechanics too deeply. Instead, it succeeds as an exercise

(04:04):
in horror comedy excess, where the journey matters more than
logical consistency. Perkins has crafted a unique viewing experience that
demands audiences suspend their disbelief and embrace the chaos. The
film's imagery and death scenes leave a lasting impression, creating
moments that viewers won't soon forget, for better or worse.

(04:27):
With an MA rating and earning a seven out of
ten score, The Monkey establishes itself as an unabashedly extreme
film that will likely polarize audiences. Those who appreciate its
blend of horror and pitch black humor will find plenty
to enjoy in its over the top approach, while others
might reject its gleeful embrace of the grotesque. Perkins has

(04:51):
created something memorably outrageous that stands apart from conventional horror films,
delivering a unique vision that fully commits to its bizarre
our premise and dark themes. You've been listening to movies
first available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite
podcast player. You can also stream on demand at bytes

(05:13):
dot com. This has been another quality podcast production from
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