The new film by Ozgood Perkins has reached Russian screens. What has one of the best horror filmmakers of our time prepared for us this time? Read our review.

Twins Hal and Bill (both played by Christian Convery) barely knew their father. All they inherited from him were souvenirs gathering dust in the closet, brought from different countries. One day, among the junk, they find a wind-up monkey (almost like the one in 'Toy Story 3', but with a drum instead of cymbals—Disney banned their use), after which they witness a series of terrible deaths. Realizing that the toy contains an evil spirit that kills innocent people, the brothers decide to get rid of it.

Twenty-five years later, an adult Hal learns of the demon's return. Much has changed in their lives (both played by Theo James). The first has had a child (Colin O'Brien) and divorced, while Bill has completely disappeared off the radar. Now they must face this entity again.

Last year, 'Longlegs' by Ozgood Perkins caused a real sensation in the industry. The dark thriller with Nicolas Cage as a T-Rex fan (and part-time satanic maniac) finally cemented the director's status as a great master of the elevated horror era. But the creator himself, apparently tired of the reputation that had formed around him, decided to strike back. This battering ram against established opinion became 'The Monkey'.

Taking a short story as a basis, Perkins reworked it in the most radical way, filling it to the brim with black humor. The director replaced his characteristic pretentiousness and seriousness with alien kitsch and playfulness, and, unexpectedly, succeeded. However, despite the subgenre shift from psychological slow-burn to horror comedy, the key pillars of his signature style remained untouched. True, in some ways he still deviated from the usual formula. For example, there had never been male protagonists in his films. However, here it is dictated by the source material.

Nikita Margaev

About Monsters and More: Favorite Stephen King Book Adaptations According to the 'After Credits' Editorial Team

Pennywise, Annie Wilkes, the Moon Man, Church the cat, and all the rest... We recall the most worthy adaptations of the 'King of Horror's' works, in our opinion.

Open material

The main thing is that the author's reflection, conveyed between the lines or placed in the mouths of the characters, has not gone anywhere! Read about Oz's family, how his mother and father died, and you will understand that 'The Monkey' is a deeply personal work. At the same time, the film captivates and shocks with its casual attitude towards death. The director's message is unambiguous: death will come for everyone, but the time, place, and circumstances of the meeting will be different for everyone, and there is no point in panicking about the end.

It is no coincidence that the box with the wind-up toy has the inscription 'like life'. And in life, as we know, everyone gets it—both the righteous and sinners. Moreover, credit must be given to Perkins: he knows a thing or two about cinematic deaths! They are all staged no less inventively than in , but without the outright sadistic relish, as was the case with Damien Leone . And Osgood certainly does not lack wit! Particularly successful is the episode where an inexperienced priest at the funeral of a girl whose head is separated from the rest of her body cannot find the right words, unintentionally uttering one caustic phrase after another.

Nikita Margaev

Art the Clown and a Portal to Hell: Review of the Film 'Terrifier 3'

On October 10, simultaneously with the rest of the world, a new chapter of the slasher franchise 'Terrifier' will be released in domestic theaters. About what shocks, pleasantly surprises, and disappoints in the film...

Open material

It should be noted that this bloody farce is not capable of paralyzing anyone with horror. The order of committing the murder is always the same: first, an ominous tremolo on the drums, then, within seconds, a terrible (usually instantaneous and absurd) death befalls one of the characters. As the final credits approach, the intervals between killings become so small that the horror elements finally dissolve into an ocean of lighthearted buffoonery. But this is a rare case where the film can be forgiven for its genre imbalance because of the emotions it can give. Moreover, this monkey Moloch is crowned by an extremely funny duet of Theo James with himself, and Elijah Wood and AdamScott make cameo appearances.

With his new work, Ozgood Perkins proved that he does not have to put on the usual monkey suit1 of a serious director to confirm his status as a significant figure in the genre. So, sometimes you can allow yourself to go ape2! Whether this was a one-time event or a change in the director's creative direction, we will find out in the fall when his next film is released.

Trailer: