NEW YORK (OSV News) – “The Monkey” (Neon), writer-director Osgood Perkins’ serio-comic adaptation of a 1980 short story by horror maven Stephen King, begins with the graphic disemboweling of a minor character and climaxes with the equally explicit decapitation of a major one by a flying bowling ball. ‘Nuff said?
Besides the obvious relish with which Perkins orchestrates these bizarre, gruesomely bloody deaths, there’s a bitter undertone to his script which is only partially relieved by third-act reconciliations. Family life and Christianity are both singled out for ridicule and disdain, with nihilist, albeit incoherent, philosophical observations interspersed with the sickening slaughter.
Opening scenes carry us back to the 1990s as young twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn (both played by Christian Convery) cope with the unexplained desertion of their pilot father. Going through the belongings he left behind — mostly souvenirs picked up on his travels — they come across the mechanical simian of the title.
As the lads quickly discover, whenever activated, this wind-up automaton causes random fatality. Embittered by Bill’s relentless bullying, Hal tries to use the device to do away with him — but his attempt to control the gadget has entirely unintended consequences.
Though the siblings eventually succeed in neutralizing the murderous apparatus for a time, once grown (Theo James), they’re forced to cope with a fresh onslaught of killing. That’s especially bad news for Hal since his semi-estranged son, Petey (Colin O’Brien), is now a potential victim.
Along with homicidal fraternal rivalry and dysfunctional parenting, viewers are also subjected to brief appearances by a pathetically stupid clergyman (Nicco Del Rio) who embodies King’s all-too-evident anti-Christian animus. The priest’s distasteful presence only serves to make this invitation to revel in carnage even less appealing.
The film contains excessive gory violence, numerous grisly sights, irreverent humor, mature references, frequent profanities, pervasive rough language and considerable crude dialogue. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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