20 Horror Movies Nobody Expected To Be Good
2. The Monkey (2025)
Whether it was a sentient car in Christine or a killer ironing press in The Mangler, Stephen King has a knack for making the most mundane objects terrifying. One of the strangest was a murderous wind-up monkey from his short story The Monkey.
When this strange tale was adapted by Longlegs filmmaker Osgood Perkins, audiences were unsure how well the source material would work on the big screen. Not only was King's story incredibly short, but this movie's off-the-wall tone was completely different from the more serious arthouse projects Perkins had previously directed. It's therefore a testament to Perkins' talents just how sensational his adaptation was.
The director fully embraces The Monkey's ludicrous nature as it follows twin brothers (both played by Theo James) who come face-to-face with the sinister toy that terrorised their childhood. The result is a delirious gonzo splatterfest.
As riotously bonkers as The Monkey is, Perkins also imbues his script with genuine heart as it explores themes of family, trauma, and the inevitability of death to profound effect. This was made even better by a wondrous performance from Tatiana Maslany as the boys' mother.
The Monkey is a wickedly wild ride that shouldn't be missed.