Oz Perkins is back with another horror film, and this time, he’s diving headfirst into carnage and dark humor. The Monkey, based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story, follows twin brothers who discover a cursed toy monkey—one that triggers a series of brutal deaths every time it clangs its tiny cymbals. The early reviews are in, and critics are loving The Monkey. They’re calling it one of the goriest Stephen King adaptations to date, packed with twisted humor, inventive kills, and a gripping dual performance from Theo James. While Perkins is known for his moody, atmospheric horror films (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Gretel & Hansel), this movie marks a new direction for him—one that’s bloodier, funnier, and far more chaotic.
First Reviews Reactions to ‘The Monkey’:
A New Side of Oz Perkins
Many critics in their reviews note that The Monkey feels like a departure from Perkins’ previous work. While his earlier films were slow-burning and eerie, this one is pure splatterpunk fun. Total Film’s Amy West writes, “After the director’s more somber works, it’s fun to see him step into splatterpunk territory. There’s an argument to be made that he should’ve been here the whole time.”
Collider’s Emma Kiely adds, The Monkey feels like Longlegs mixed with James Wan’s sensibilities. “It’s definitely more glossy and crowd-pleasing than Perkins’s last movie,” she says.
Stephen King Fans, Rejoice
If you’re a fan of Stephen King, this one’s for you. Critics agree that The Monkey stays true to King’s blend of horror and dark comedy, delivering a film that feels uniquely his. “Perkins honors King’s work by keeping the humor and the carnage shoulder to shoulder for the entirety of The Monkey’s ripping 98 minutes,” writes IGN’s Tom Jorgensen.
Eric Eisenberg of CinemaBlend goes even further, stating, “Stephen King adaptations have existed in a wide variety of forms and genres, and I have personally seen them all. That being said, never before have we seen something like The Monkey.”
One thing is clear: The Monkey is not for the squeamish. Reviewers are raving about the film’s over-the-top, Looney Tunes-style violence. Matt Donato of Daily Dead asks, “Did Oz Perkins direct the most brutal, unflinching, and spectacularly gory horror movie of 2025? It’s possible.”
Meanwhile, ScreenAnarchy’s J Hurtado praises the film’s creative kills, highlighting an “unforgettable death involving an electrified swimming pool” and another “where a woman’s head lights on fire in an almost cartoonish degree of carnage.”
Is It Scary? Not Exactly—But It’s Hilarious
Critics agree that The Monkey is less about scares and more about shock, gore, and laughs. “The gore is explicit, but the film is never scary. And it’s not trying to be,” says AV Club’s Katie Rife.
Mashable’s Kristy Puchko adds, “Where plenty of horror filmmakers can unleash gore or deliver kills that are radically ruthless, few can do it with the panache and wit that Perkins shows here.”
Theo James Shines in a Dual Role
One of the biggest standouts in The Monkey is Theo James, who plays both twin brothers at the heart of the story. Reviewers are particularly impressed by how well he differentiates the two characters. “James is fantastic in the dual role… It’s quite astonishing how effectively he sets [the twins] apart,” writes Total Film’s Amy West.
Tatiana Maslany also gets praise for her role as the twins’ no-nonsense mother, with Bill Bria of Discussing Film calling her a highlight.
Beyond the gore and laughs, The Monkey also explores deeper themes, particularly around mortality and family trauma. Cheryl Eddy of io9 notes, “Amid all its carnage, The Monkey also leaves the viewer with deeper themes to ponder… To have a movie with so much outrageous death also be about accepting death as something both mundane and inevitable feels like The Monkey’s most clever achievement.”
However, some critics feel the film gets too heavy-handed at times. AV Club’s Katie Rife points out that the narration and thematic explanations “can be especially detrimental,” while Next Best Picture’s Dan Bayer says the film’s monologue-heavy ending “bluntly states the thematic intent in a heavy-handed way.”
Is ‘The Monkey’ worth a watch?
If you love Stephen King, splatter horror, and pitch-black humor, The Monkey is a must-watch. It’s a blood-drenched, wickedly funny thrill ride that shows Oz Perkins at his most unhinged. While it might not be for those who prefer traditional scares, it’s an absolute feast for horror fans looking for something bold, brash, and wildly entertaining.
Are you excited for The Monkey? Let us know in the comments!
