The Monkey (2025): One of the most awaited horror films of the year 2025, ‘The Monkey’ is going to release in theaters soon. The film is directed by Ozgood Perkins and comes after his 2024 superhit film ‘Longlegs’. If the news of the film’s release has already increased your excitement, then its Rotten Tomatoes score will thrill you even more.
The review embargo has been lifted and reviews have started coming in. At present, ‘The Monkey’ has got an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which points to its success. This rating of the film further increases the expectations of its great performance at the box office.
‘The Monkey’ is based on Stephen King’s story
The film is based on a 1980 short story by famous author Stephen King, which was included in the 1985 Skeleton Crew collection. The film revolves around twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburne (played by Theo James), who stumble across their father’s old toy monkey as children and then strange and horrifying deaths begin to occur around them. Years later, the toy comes back into their lives, forcing them to grapple with their old memories and try to destroy the cursed toy forever.
Critics’ Reaction – A Perfect Blend of Horror and Comedy!
According to film critics, ‘The Monkey’ succeeds brilliantly in both horror and comedy aspects. Christian Toto of HollywoodInToto.com writes,
“This horror-comedy from Ozgood Perkins delivers on both levels.”
Meanwhile, Robert Kozder of Flickering Myth says,
“‘The Monkey’ is a crazy black comedy with an equally dark heart. It’s more emotional than expected, but at the same time features spectacular deaths that reflect the harsh reality of life.”
Great star cast and strong acting
Theo James is playing the lead role in this film, who will be seen in the role of twin brothers Hal and Bill. Apart from this, the film has many great actors:
- Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk)
- Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings)
- Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends)
- Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek)
- Adam Scott (Severance)
Is ‘The Monkey’ the best adaptation of Stephen King?
George Edelman of MovieWeb praised the film, saying,
“The Monkey not only meets the definition of a horror-comedy, but it also has great acting, brilliant direction, and a sharp commentary on modern masculinity.”
Kimberly Elizabeth of Nightmare on Film Street called it the best adaptation of Stephen King in decades.
Not all critics are impressed, though. AV Offer of NYC Movie Guru believes that the film is “boring, inconsistent and not scary.” Brian Eggert of Deep Focus Reviews said that the film does not leave much of an impact on the audience after it ends.
Will ‘The Monkey’ be the biggest horror hit of the year?
Despite all the buzz and reviews, the real verdict is in the hands of the audience. ‘The Monkey’ is releasing in theaters on February 21 and it will be interesting to see how the film performs at the box office.
Apart from this, two more Stephen King films are set to release in the year 2025:
- ‘The Life of Chuck’ (June 6, Director: Mike Flanagan)
- ‘The Running Man’ (November 7, Director: Edgar Wright)
So, are you ready to watch this movie? Let us know your opinion in the comment section!
Surendra Bareth is a versatile actor and assistant director with a Bachelor’s degree from Guru Ghasidas University. He has made remarkable contributions to Hindi and Chhattisgarhi cinema, as well as television, excelling in both acting and direction.
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