"The Monkey" stalks its way to your screens, an upcoming horror masterpiece that will chill you to the bone. Crafted by the pen and vision of Osgood Perkins, produced by the maestro James Wan, and birthed from the twisted imagination of Stephen King's short story, this cinematic nightmare arrives in theaters on February 21, 2025. A fresh trailer unveils a gruesome, heart-stopping narrative where a seemingly innocent toy monkey descends into madness.
Embarking on a terror-filled journey, "The Monkey" twins Hal and Bill, masterfully portrayed by Theo James in a dual role, unearth a sinister wind-up monkey hidden in the attic's shadows. This macabre discovery unleashes a string of ghastly fatalities, as the brothers go their separate ways, each haunted by the monkey's relentless curse. Driven by a shared desperation, they reunite to finally confront and vanquish the demonic plaything once and for all.
Joining the fray are Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Colin O'Brien, Christian Convery, Rohan Campbell, and Sarah Levy, each delivering performances that will haunt your dreams.
When TheWrap delved into a conversation with Perkins, fresh off the success of "Longlegs" – a sleeper hit that surpassed all expectations, grossing over $100 million at the box office – the filmmaker exuded excitement at the polar opposites that his two projects embody. "The greatest thrill is that ['The Monkey'] couldn't be further from 'Longlegs' if it tried," Perkins enthused. Rather than an organic creation, this project found its way to him, offering a distinct flavor. "It screamed 'Creepshow' to me. It's a morbid comedy, a jocular examination of mortality – the fact that we all face death. I wanted to make a film about the inescapability of death. It's not the monkey that kills; death is life's inevitable companion. So, crafting a delirious, nostalgia-tinged comedy reminiscent of 'Gremlins' or 'American Werewolf in London' felt like the perfect vessel for this macabre tale."
The source short story, first published in Gallery magazine in 1980 and later anthologized in "Skeleton Crew" in 1985, now springs to life on the big screen as "The Monkey" terrorizes audiences on February 21, 2025. Get ready to be gripped by a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat, long after the credits roll.
