Episode 88 – The Monkey

March 12, 2025 michael Movies 56:42101.26M Comments Off on Episode 88 – The Monkey

Mindframes – Episode 88: The Monkey (2025)

🎙️ A sometimes half-assed but always wholehearted film conversation.

🔹 Hosts: Michael Cockerill & Dave Canfield 🔹 Episode Runtime: Approx. 56 minutes 🔹 Film Discussed: The Monkey (2025) 🔹 Directed by: Osgood Perkins 🔹 Based on: The Monkey (1980), a short story by Stephen King (Skeleton Crew)

🎬 General Information – The Monkey (2025)

🔻 Director: Osgood “Oz” Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Longlegs, Gretel & Hansel) 🔻 Screenplay: Osgood Perkins 🔻 Based on: The Monkey by Stephen King 🔻 Cinematography: Nico Aguilar (Longlegs) 🔻 Special Effects Coordinator: Greg Pine (Final Destination-style death scenes!)

⭐ Cast Highlights

  • Theo James (Divergent) – Hal & Bill (Twin Brothers, Dual Role)
  • Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth) – Young Hal & Bill
  • Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) – Hammerman, a self-help parenting guru
  • Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk) – Aunt Lois
  • Adam Scott (Severance, Parks & Rec) – Cameo as the Monkey’s former owner
  • Colin O’Brien (Wonka) – Petey
  • Rowan Campbell (The Hardy Boys) – Ricky

🛠️ Special Trivia

  • The toy monkey plays a drum, not cymbals, due to a legal conflict with Disney (Toy Story 3 featured a cymbal-playing monkey).
  • Limited edition popcorn bucket featuring the monkey was a sought-after collectible.
  • You can buy an official Monkey figurine for $125 at Neon’s store.

📌 Episode Breakdown & Timestamps [00:00] – Introduction

  • Michael and Dave introduce the episode and film under discussion.

[00:35] – What is The Monkey?

  • Background on the film’s origin from Stephen King’s short story.
  • Overview of Osgood Perkins’ horror film career.

[01:39] – Osgood Perkins as a Director

  • Dave shares his past interview with Perkins and how his films explore grief & trauma.
  • Perkins’ stylistic shift from atmospheric horror to dark comedy.

[02:52] – How Different is This from Stephen King’s Story?

  • King’s original story = pure dread.
  • This adaptation = comedic, absurd, yet still horror-infused.

[04:10] – Trivia: Why Doesn’t the Monkey Have Cymbals?

  • The monkey was originally designed with cymbals.
  • Disney’s legal team intervened (due to a character in Toy Story 3).
  • A drum was used instead—and now it’s iconic.

[05:58] – Cast & Performances

  • Breakdown of the cast’s performances.
  • Theo James’ dual role as Hal & Bill—a highlight of the film.
  • Elijah Wood’s role as a self-help guru satirizing modern parenting culture.
  • Tatiana Maslany’s role & why she stands out.

[09:47] – The Monkey’s Death Scenes & Cinematography

  • The over-the-top death scenes add to the Final Destination-style fun.
  • Cinematography by Nico Aguilar (Longlegs) helps create aesthetic horror-comedy.

[15:48] – Special Effects & The Role of Blood

  • Mix of practical effects and CGI.
  • Hosts critique CGI blood overuse but praise the practical effects.

[18:46] – What is The Monkey Really About?

  • The film explores generational trauma.
  • Horror trend: Fathers passing down hidden burdens (Hereditary, The Wolfman).
  • The monkey symbolizes trauma that can’t be ignored.

[20:28] – How the Movie Handles Generational Trauma

  • Hal tries to escape it—but the monkey keeps coming back.
  • Final message: You can’t erase trauma, only learn to live with it.

[27:31] – The Film’s Ending (Spoilers)

  • The monkey is not destroyed—Hal and Petey drive away with it.
  • The Horseman of Death cameo—what does it mean?
  • School bus cheerleader decapitation scene: Meta-commentary on horror audiences?

[39:55] – The Mystery of Ricky (Fan Theory)

  • Could Ricky be Bill’s secret son?
  • Shared trauma & absentee fathers play a major role.
  • Closet uniform mystery—not everything adds up.

[42:44] – Final Thoughts & Reviews

  • Michael: Fun film, but not scary.
  • Dave: Perkins proves his range beyond horror.
  • Both agree: Worth watching, especially for horror-comedy fans.

[48:08] – What Would You Do If You Had The Monkey?

  • The monkey does NOT take requests—it kills on its own terms.

[55:01] – Closing & Next Episode

  • Next episode: Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 starring Robert Pattinson.
  • Listener engagement:
    • Is The Monkey horror or comedy?
    • What do you think of its take on generational trauma?
    • Could there be a Monkey 2?

📲 Join the discussion: facebook.com/mindframesmovies 💬 Email Michael & Dave: mindframefilms.com