Osgood Perkins has carved a niche for himself with modest budgeted horror films, but has yet to make a truly striking and original film. The Monkey, adapted faithlessly from a forty year old Stephen King story, is a mechanical comic horror flick. Twins encounter a wind-up toy that, when activated, brings doom to their loved ones. They ditch the toy in a well, but, years later, the monkey returns to claim new victims. The deaths are played for over the top laughs and they did produce a chuckle or three from me. However, the film is overloaded with traumatic baggage that bogs things down. The protagonist of the story did not have an evil twin and that addition adds little. The protagonist tries to bond with his estranged son, a promising Colin O'Brien, but the subplot is unconvincing and slows the film's momentum.
Part of the problem is Theo James in his dual role as the twins. He is not inept, merely serviceable and dull. He is out performed by Christian Convery who plays the twins in their younger iteration. The acting is variable. Adam Scott is fine in his cameo, but Elijah Wood chews the scenery in his. Perkins himself is amusing as the twins' swinging uncle. The best performances are by Tess Degenstein and Tatiana Maslany, the latter playing the twins' mother. This bodes well for Perkins' next feature, Keeper, which features both actresses.
However, The Monkey is ultimately mediocre and I am not convinced Perkins is suited to comedy. Even in his relatively successful set pieces (deaths as pratfalls), I have issues with his direction. For example, in the Aunt Ida death scene, Perkins' fixed camera foregrounds the flower vase that the terrified Aunt steps into. This tips the audience off too soon to the punchline. Perkins should have pulled the camera back and let the action unspool, seemingly naturally. Perkins' visual palette is too dour for comedy, anyway. Nevertheless, I admire his work ethic and have faint hopes for Keeper.
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