the monkey

THE MONKEY Is Coming This February

We find this hard to believe, but Stephen King wrote a story in the 80s that WASN’T turned into a movie immediately afterward. In fact, it’s never been filmed at all. You might assume something about it made it unfilmable, like how Gerald’s Game had to wait until the invention of Netflix because no studio wanted to make a movie about a woman handcuffed to a bed for two hours. But we don’t see anything about THE MONKEY that would bring up the same concerns.

The Monkey is, indeed, about a monkey. Specifically those ancient toy monkeys with the wide grin and the cymbals — the type that look eerie already and you don’t have to be Stephen King to base a horror story around. But the man did once, and James Wan‘s production company is taking on the overdue task of giving this monkey his movie.

The monkey of The Monkey is picked up by two brothers who find it in an attic and don’t realize that it’s cursed. When people start dying around them, they start to think “maybe it’s the monkey” and try to think up ways to destroy the toy. But it’s not going to be as simple as that…

“For me, ideally it’s the movie that kids and their parents wanna go see together,” director Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) told the website Bloody Disgusting. “People blow up, people explode; it’s very extreme but it’s very funny. It’s very father-son redemption, it’s very touching, it’s very nostalgic, it’s very Stephen King.”

The Monkey will be distributed by NEON and is set to be released February 21, 2025.

Join the club!

Video interviews, reviews, game news, and pure fandom - be the first to know!

Loading new replies...

Avatar of Brad Jones
Brad Jones

Member

565 messages 20 likes

You kidding me? Stephen King coming up with a fresh story? Count me in! This "Monkey" thing sounds totally my jam. Creepy toys are a classic horror thing, but King always takes it up a notch. And with James Wan producing? I'm sold. I like how the director aims for a mix of scares, family stuff, and even some humor. Sounds like a wild ride, perfect for a February release to shake off those winter blues.

Reply Like

Avatar of LuminaryPixel22
LuminaryPixel22

Well-Known Member

549 messages 31 likes

Finally! A classic King story getting its due! I can't believe "The Monkey" has been sitting on the shelf for decades. Something about those creepy cymbal-banging monkeys always freaked me out, so a Stephen King horror take on them sounds like pure nightmare fuel. I don't mind the director aiming for a broader audience with humor and family themes. As long as the scares are there, I'm happy. February release? Perfect timing to get cozy with some popcorn and get spooked!

Reply Like

Avatar of RamenStar
RamenStar

New Member

576 messages 20 likes

Hold on, a Stephen King story with practical effects by James Wan's company? Now THAT'S something I'm interested in! Killer cymbal-banging monkeys? The possibilities for some truly creepy stop-motion or animatronic effects are endless. I'm less concerned with the story itself – it's all about the execution for me. Can they make this goofy-looking monkey genuinely terrifying? That's the challenge. Forget the family angle, just give me good old-fashioned chills and practical effects magic!

Reply Like

Avatar of Meanie
Meanie

Member

560 messages 18 likes

Cursed monkeys? Now that sparks my interest! There are tons of myths and legends from various cultures about mischievous or vengeful monkey spirits. I wonder if King drew inspiration from any of those for his story. The movie could be an interesting exploration of folklore and superstition. Even if the story itself is a bit predictable, I'm hoping for some cool cultural references in the film.

Reply Like