“The Monkey” Plot: When twin brothers Bill and Hal (both played by Theo James) find their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths starts. The siblings throw the toy away and move on, growing apart over the years.
The Monkey: Friend or Deadly Protector?
What I found hilarious about the film was its beginning. A man walks into a pawn shop with an object, setting a specific tone right from the outset. However, the film fails to reveal who this man is or how he acquired the monkey, leaving viewers with unanswered questions. I strongly oppose films that either start or end on a sour note, forcing audiences to speculate about a character’s identity without any clear resolution. This kind of ambiguity is extremely frustrating. If someone is going to write a script, it should be crafted with precision and clarity—100%.
This film reminded me of the 2017 movie “Wish Upon,” where the protagonist has a music box that can bring harm to anyone she wishes. This ultimately leads to tragedy for those she cares about. The film may present quick rewards, but it always comes with dire consequences, and that kind of storytelling needs to be executed properly.
The Twins, Hal & Bill Shelburn
Even though these brothers were identical twins, it was the same actor portraying them as adults, which was a missed opportunity. They should have had the same actor play them as teenagers to create a consistent foundation that established their twin status. This inconsistency stood out right from the beginning of the story. The brothers looked completely different as children, yet everyone referred to them as identical twins, which was confusing since they only resembled each other at one point. Actor Theo James did a commendable job portraying both characters—one as the good brother and the other as the “evil” brother. The narrative effectively laid the groundwork by explaining how the monkey came into their possession and why Bill and Hal turned out the way they did. While that aspect was solidly developed, the inconsistency in their appearances was a significant flaw that detracted from the overall experience.
Bloody Humor
I’m not entirely sure what kind of experience you’re expecting from this film, but if you’re looking for a thrilling, heart-pounding horror that keeps you on the edge of your seat, you might want to adjust your expectations. Unfortunately, you won’t be jumping out of your seat at any point. The promotional materials, including advertisements and trailers, give a misleading impression of what this movie truly offers. This will NOT be the blockbuster hit you might have envisioned.
Instead, what you’re getting is more of a comedy/horror film—but even calling it horror feels like a stretch. Perhaps “suspense” would be a more accurate description. The scenes that are meant to be frightening or intense fall flat due to the way they’re executed. The killings in this movie are so unreal, overly staged, and poorly crafted that I found myself questioning whether I was watching a genuine thriller or a parody.
…and in Closing Out The Monkey …
In fact, the absurdity of the scenes often led me to feel like I was witnessing a spoof rather than an authentic scare-fest. It’s almost laughable at times! As you watch the killings unfold before you, it’s hard not to react vocally; you might even find yourself exclaiming things like, “Damn, get out!” or “What the heck just happened?” or “Really? No way! Are you for real?” The entire experience elicits a mix of confusion and disbelief rather than fear or suspense.
About the Author
But, it’s hottie Theo which is worth seeing! 🙂
Haha! He didn’t show his hawt-ness in this movie! He played the role that he was given or earned – a father—no young protector in the Divergent Series.