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)

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🎬 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.

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📌 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