Oz Perkins is back with another horror film, and this time, he’s diving headfirst into carnage and dark humor. The Monkey, based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story, follows twin brothers who discover a cursed toy monkey—one that triggers a series of brutal deaths every time it clangs its tiny cymbals. The early reviews are in, and critics are loving The Monkey. They’re calling it one of the goriest Stephen King adaptations to date, packed with twisted humor, inventive kills, and a gripping dual performance from Theo James. While Perkins is known for his moody, atmospheric horror films, this movie marks a new direction for him—one that’s bloodier, funnier, and far more chaotic.

First Reviews Reactions to ‘The Monkey’: A New Side of Oz Perkins

Many critics in their reviews note that The Monkey feels like a departure from Perkins’ previous work. While his...