“The Monkey,” written and directed by Oz Perkins (“Longlegs,”) premiered Feb. 21. Based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story, the film follows twin brothers, both played by Theo James (“Divergent,”) tormented by an inherited toy monkey. By winding the key on its back, an unlucky victim succumbs to a brutal and gory “freak accident” as the monkey strikes its final drum. By turning up the comedic gore and minimizing the fear, Perkins brought his unique vision to this horror-comedy.

Set in 1999, brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn sort through their absent father’s junk and discover a haunted wind-up toy monkey with evil abilities. The two dispose of it, but 25 years later, the monkey’s chaos and destruction meet the brothers again.

To set the production apart from the others about possessed toys, Perkins focused on the comedic aspect of the subject. However, this decision ultimately swayed the narrative and prevented any real terror from being built since it relied solely on the ruthless bloodbaths of each creative killing.

Much of the film’s success comes from Theo James’ performance as the twins. His mature presence on screen elevated the movie and prevented it from falling into the realm of corny horror films. James’ portrayal of Hal provided a grounded contrast to his counterparts’ bizarre behaviors. His ability to seamlessly play Bill and Hal proved fantastic.

Humor-wise, the film felt genuinely funny at times but forced at other moments. Perkins’ dark humor comes to life in scenes such as a funeral scene, where a clueless, unprofessional officiant leads the ceremony and makes inappropriate comments about the deceased’s headless state. However, the audience’s constant roaring during goofy moments created difficulty in taking the other scenes, meant to induce sadness or fright, seriously.

For viewers expecting to feel terrified or kept up at night, “The Monkey” is not the film to choose. However, if seeking a comedic or nauseating experience film, this film is the right fit.

The first half of the film uses a steady blend of horror and comedy. After the time jump, the pace picks up as people drop like flies and new characters seemingly appear out of nowhere. Viewers may find themselves wondering about the names of new characters such as when the somewhat irrelevant Ricky (Rohan Campbell, “Halloween Ends,”) entered the plot. The time jump takes a lot of getting used to, and Perkins quickly throws in new ideas.

Regardless, an unsettling feeling cast over the entire movie cultivated constant suspense and visually-appealing aesthetics. Perkins has fantastic attention to detail, particularly eyewear, as multiple characters don distinguishable glasses which hint at their personalities and ages.

“The Monkey” serves as a solid pick for moviegoers who enjoy gory comedy with a side of jumpscares. While not the type of horror movie to leave audiences terrified, the film’s chaos paired with cringe-worthy and quirky moments keeps audiences on their toes.

3 severed heads out of 5