Rated R

LONGLEGS director Osgood Perkins turns the key on THE MONKEY, which follows a pair of twins who discover a clockwork monkey in their absent father’s closet. Soon they discover it has the ability to kill people at random.

For those familiar with the original short story, you’ll recognize the set-up as the first half of the film, which covers that pretty closely. However, Perkins winds the tension tight enough to send the story off the rails in the best of ways for the second half.

Pondering the absurdity and senselessness of death, THE MONKEY delivers some of the most graphic and honestly hysterical kills outside of a FINAL DESTINATION film. It’s a huge diversion from the director’s previous slow-burn thrillers, which shows some range for him.

Even as someone like me who has read the original story several times, I was mesmerized by the audacious and graphic nature of the movie, which delivers a shock-filled bloody good time.

THE MONKEY gets four Organ Grinder vests out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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