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‘The Monkey’ review: Stephen King’s killer toy becomes ‘Longlegs’ creator Osgood Perkins’ plaything

The Monkey is a film that presents a humorous take on the meaninglessness of life, contrasting with its predecessor, Longlegs, which dealt more seriously with death.
In The Monkey, character Hal, played by Theo James, struggles with his parenting and traumatic past, influenced by his late father.
The film features significant elements of trauma, particularly relating to the deaths of Hal's parents, which shape the characters' experiences.
The Monkey, directed by Osgood Perkins, is a dark comedy that humorously explores themes of life's meaninglessness.

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Los Angeles Times

Review: Trauma haunts 'The Monkey,' but the film is more interested in going bananas

Directed by Osgood Perkins, who broke out with the ominous 'Longlegs,' his follow-up is jokier and less effective, piercing the jugular with splatter gags.

1 day ago·Los Angeles, United States

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Vulture

Osgood Perkins Gets Into the Family Business

Osgood Perkins might be better known as Dorky Dave from ‘Legally Blonde.’ He’s also Norman Bates’s son and the director behind ‘Longlegs’ and ‘The Monkey.’

1 day ago·United States

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Le Devoir

"The Monkey" Critique: Bloody Monkeys

Osgood Perkins adapts Stephen King in a burlesque horror tone, far from the macabre "Longlegs" languagers.

2 days ago·Montreal, Canada

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npr

In 'The Monkey' the goring is never boring : Pop Culture Happy Hour

In the new horror-comedy The Monkey, Theo James plays a pair of identical twin brothers who get saddled with a cursed wind-up toy monkey that causes people around them to die freakish, gory deaths. It's based on a Stephen King short story, and directed by Osgood Perkins, who made last year's Longlegs. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Copyright 2025 NPR

2 days ago·Washington, United States

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Portland Mercury

The Monkey, A New Film From Longlegs Director Osgood Perkins, Allows Us To Laugh at the Meaninglessness of Life

The new work from Longlegs director Osgood Perkins helps us laugh at the meaninglessness of life. by Dom Sinacola Depending on how one wants to categorize ground chuck, at least two people in The Monkey are ground into it. The first is the victim of a horse stampede, and the other becomes a meaty mess via lawnmower. We learn about the former when a sleeping bag is casually overturned, slopping out smushed man-oatmeal. The lawn care incident unf…

2 days ago

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