Brief Summary
Jeremy Jahns reviews "The Monkey," a new film based on a Stephen King short story. He discusses the plot, acting, and tone, ultimately finding the movie suffers from a conflicting mix of horror and comedy.
- Theo James delivers a strong performance in a dual role.
- The film's camera work and creepy tone create effective tension.
- The movie struggles with an identity crisis, unsure whether to be a dark comedy, horror, or slapstick.
- The comedic elements undermine the horror aspects, and vice versa.
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The Monkey: Overview and Initial Thoughts
"The Monkey" is a new film based on a Stephen King short story. The story follows Hal, who discovers a toy monkey that triggers deadly events when its drum is wound up. The reviewer initially compares the film to "Final Destination" meets "Death Note." The movie is written and directed by OSgood Perkins, known for the movie "Long Legs."
Positives: Acting and Kills
Theo James delivers a strong performance in a dual role. The kills in the movie, when they are allowed to be appreciated, are fun in a bloody way. However, the film doesn't always build tension effectively before the deaths occur.
Conflicting Tone: Comedy vs. Horror
The movie struggles with a conflicting tone, oscillating between horror and comedy. The camera work and creepy tone create effective tension, but this is undermined by comedic elements. The reviewer admits he should have watched the trailer to prepare for the comedic tone. The film's identity crisis makes it unclear whether it's a dark comedy, horror movie, or slapstick.
Examples of Tone Issues and Identity Crisis
The movie's conflicting tone undermines both the horror and comedic aspects. Scenes that could have been intense in a horror context are weakened by comedy, and vice versa. The film feels like it's trying to exist in two different worlds. Serious subject matter, such as absentee fathers and sibling rivalry, is undercut by attempts at humor.
Overall Assessment and Comparison to Long Legs
The reviewer concludes that "The Monkey" tries to be a horror comedy but fails to be funny. It would have been better if the movie had leaned more into the horror or fully committed to one genre. The reviewer also reconsiders his opinion of "Long Legs," acknowledging that its tonal inconsistencies may have been more problematic than he initially thought.
