The Monkey movie review, the burden of secrets with Theo James

The Monkey (2025), a remake of Stephen King’s chilling short story, reimagining horror with a master blend of tension and wry humor. Directed with a strong grasp on King’s signature style, Osgood Perkin’s adaptation deeply delves into family trauma, the burden of secrets, and the malevolent forces lurking in seemingly innocent objects.

We are first introduced to Hal and Bill (both portrayed by Theo James), twin brothers who unveil a toy monkey when searching through their father’s closet. All seemed normal when Bill turned the key in the monkey - but the beat of its drum was only the start of impending doom.

Quickly stirring catastrophe, the monkey kills those close to Bill and Hal - each freak accident showing Perkin’s creativity and dark humor. Hal tries to escape the curse by moving, but the monkey’s evil follows him by manifesting at key moments in his life.

Hal’s fear of the monkey deepens - its presence is a constant reminder of a shattered family. In an attempt to shield his wife and son from the curse, Hal decides to distance himself from their presence, leading to losing custody of his son Petey (Colin O’Brien).

Confrontation with the past in the plot of the movie The Monkey

The film takes another turn when Hal, now an adult, is forced to confront his past after the monkey reappears at an estate sale, setting off another chain of tragic events during his last weekend with Petey.

Finally revealing the truth, Hal brings Petey along, attempting to end the curse for good. The hunt leads to a tense reunion with Bill, who continued turning the key. Hal is left both heartbroken and horrified when he finds Bill. In Hal’s brother’s final attempt to make peace, the monkey struck a final blow, killing Bill.

Leaning heavily on horror, unexpected laughs, and nostalgic feel, The Monkey is a tale of how the past shapes us, for better or for worse, and how some things can’t be outrun, no matter how far you go.

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