10 Weird Sci-Fi Horror Movies Of The 80s
5. Monkey Shines
Based on the novel of the same name, Monkey Shines centres around a law student called Allan who's left quadriplegic after being hit by a truck. As such, he's forced to hire a Capuchin called Ella to assist him in his daily routines.
Ella proves invaluable at first, giving Allan a new lease of life. But when Allan discovers his furry helper has devious tendencies, he realises he's in more danger than he could've ever imagined.
Considering how cute Capuchins are, it's peculiar to see a monkey depicted as a blood-thirsty and calculating villain.
But that's not the weirdest part. Over time, Allan discovers he has a telepathic connection to his pet, meaning Ella is driven by her host's subconscious desires. When Allan fantasises about burning his doctor's house down, Ella finds herself consumed by this impulse and acts on it.
Even though Monkey Shines is horror, it's amusing to watch an adorable Capuchin slaying her victims with syringes or electrocuting them to death with hairdryers.
But the strangest factor is how serious the movie takes itself. Even though you'd expect Monkey Shines to play up its fantastical premise, the sci-fi drama is consistently sombre (even when the monkey begins urinating on her enemies).