The first reactions toThe Monkeyare finally here, and the response has been almost universal. Based on Stephen King’s short story, the movie revolves around a toy monkey with a thirst for blood. Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings), Theo James (Divergent), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), and more serve asThe Monkey’s cast.Directed by Osgood Perkins, it is currentlypreparing for its upcoming February 21 release.
Though the premise is somewhat absurd,The Monkey’s early reviews are near-unanimously glowing. Critics adore the movie’s sense of humor, shocking brutality, and performances. James (Hal) earned praise, but the majority of the acclaim is directed at Perkins, who appears to have developed a laugh-out-loud critical darling. Many reviewers compared the movie toFinal Destination, though it features a far more humorous look at those deaths. Check out some of the reactions below:
Screen Rant’sTessa Smithpraised the movie’s unique deaths while reflecting that it is “one of the best horror comedies” that she has seen in ages.
The Direct’sRuss Milheimbelieves that this movie will ensure that audiences are “glued to their seats” while chaos ensues on-screen.
TheWrap’sDrew Tayloradored the release, calling it “funny, scary, poignant” while comparing it toGremlins(1984).
Joey Magidsonbelieved that the movie balanced humor and gore perfectly, easily managing to bridge its fun premise with promises of horror.
Mark Pacisloved the “wicked” humor inThe Monkeyand believes that it is an absolute “must-watch”.
Courtney HowardadoredThe Monkey’s “bananas” story, but she has special praise for James' performance.
Reyna Cervantesadored the movie and had nothing but praise for James' portrayal as well. They believe that this movie is justFinal Destinationwith a fully comedic edge.
What The Early Reactions Mean For The Monkey
This Movie Should Have Legs
The early response has been incredible so far, which only means that word of mouth will add more interest in the movie for moviegoers. Even if audiences were not interested after seeingThe Monkey’s trailer,the critical response could ensure a strong opening weekend. This has previously worked out for a Perkins movie in the past, where strong reviews forLonglegsled to box office success. It seems the trajectory would be no different forThe Monkey, especially considering that it is an adaptation of a King short story, adding more weight to the interest.
If this had been portrayed with a straight face, it likely would have flopped quickly.
The Monkeyreportedly has a $10 million budget, soit would likely need $25 millionto achieve a profit after the marketing budget is accounted for and after theaters take their cut of the ticket sales. That doesn’t seem like a difficult feat, but it will be facing competition against other news releases likeThe Unbreakable Boy,Old Guy,andCleaner. In addition, it will also face off withCaptain America: Brave New World, which will be in its second week whenThe Monkeyreleases in theaters. Nevertheless, if the interest stands in the next month, the upcoming horror movie should see a strong box office performance.
Our Take On The Monkey’s Early Reactions
Stephen King’s Next Hit Is Here
King has several upcoming adaptations, butThe Monkeyappears to be the most interesting. The premise is bizarre, but Perkins is leaning into the comedic aspect, which should serve the movie well. It honestly doesn’t come as a surprise that the first reactions are very positive, as Perkins has quickly become one of the rising directors in recent years. Now, the final verdict rests on audiences and King himself when the film comes in February.
Source: Various (see above)
The Monkey
Cast
The Monkey is a horror film focused on twin brothers who encounter a mysterious wind-up monkey responsible for a series of tragic events within their family. Twenty-five years later, the estranged brothers are compelled to face the cursed toy once again as it resumes its deadly rampage.
