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