“The Monkey” is a horror-comedy film based on the 1980s short story by Stephen King. Directed by Oz Perkins, the movie was released in theaters on Feb. 21, 2025, almost forty-five years after the story’s initial publication.

The film is a creative approach to King’s story, expanding on the original version by introducing many new characters. The main characters are twin brothers, Hal and Bill, both played by Theo James. As children, Hal and Bill stumble upon a toy monkey, unleashing its deadly curse. One by one, people around them begin to die in gruesome ways, and they soon realize the deadly truth: every time the monkey hits his drum, someone nearby dies.

Going into the theater I was prepared for a film that would make me shake in fear. Instead, I found myself shaking my head in disappointment. The movie hinges on the idea that everyone dies around the monkey, which leaves little room for character development. As a result, the film feels repetitive and emotionally shallow, offering a limited and ultimately unsatisfying experience.

The characters in “The Monkey” are lifeless and shallow. The characters all play into classic stereotypes like that of the grumpy old man, the overprotective parent, and the reckless teenager, none of whom feel like real people. Hal and Bill, the main characters, don’t progress much throughout the story, as they’re always fighting or bickering among each other even to the end.

I will say, the one thing going for this film was its graphics. I was impressed with how the visuals carried a grim and disturbing tone throughout the film while still offering a colorful atmosphere and background. The stunning Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) combined well with the direction to depict the monkey as a force of unstoppable evil. The death scenes were all very well choreographed and were the highlight of the movie. 

However, the impressive visuals do not make up for the movie’s lack of soul. The horror quickly becomes predictable, and the few attempts at humor often fall flat or feel out of place. Everything in this film has been done before – there is nothing new, and it felt a lot like a cash grab. 

In the end, “The Monkey” fails to live up to Stephen King’s reputation. Instead of building suspense or exploring the psychological horror of the story, the film relies on overused tropes and grotesque deaths. Though the film had the potential to be something special, it turned out as just another forgettable adaptation.