When there is a feature of horrific scares from Osgood Perkins, it is an extravagantly adventurous treat. Perkins knows how to create elements full of surprises as a writer and a director. The Monkey contains a lot of them, even including backstories that come before the unexpected. The Monkey is a gem for its stories and the interconnected moments in which karma meets its maker. “The Monkey” is a toy that brings out the evilest of wishes and creates much peril along the way.

Perkins brings us into the story of twins: Hal and Bill (both played by Theo James). They have had a messed-up childhood due to many catastrophic events. Both accidents and bizarre deaths and accidents messed up their lives. Perkins’ focus is revealed in the title. With the presence “The Monkey” many events go awry. From childhood dangers to twisted moments, the brothers find themselves at odds and go their own separate ways. The Monkey is filled with many epic and crazy moments. The tagline on the box that reads, “Like life,” is a quote that describes the hidden can of worms waiting to be opened. Perkins knows how to entertain his audience by adding to the creative treasures The Monkey has to offer.

I was sold was on the concept from Perkins that if one faces tragedy by a stove exploding in their face, then karma is not to be dismissed. As the film continues with Hal and Bill living different lives, escaping “The Monkey” is critical. How well do they know their fate if they have had different outcomes from the many dramas they have encountered? The characterizations of their personalities and perceptions do a tango that is akin to fire from torpedoes flying gloriously and shockingly.

It is an odyssey that feels unreal because of the spectacular heights it reaches. Perkins escalates the fears of the characters and the past to a level where personification meets a new maker. The Monkey left me begging for an outcome, and I got one along with plenty of spooks. While feeling mortified. I also kept thinking about Perkins’ innovative mind. Fans will not be let down; they will be sucked in!

Perkins has a vivid imagination and knows how to place characters in the most unexpected places. With Elijah Wood playing someone who runs a church, I thought to myself that Frodo found Christ. However, it left me with a question. Does faith conflict with the outcomes in The Monkey? It may be problematic for some, but blindsiding as a tactic is essential when creating a scary flick for newer audiences. Perkins establishes a structure where hatred lies, and deadly wishes are likely. The Monkey is a film with many interactions galore that take place in a new breathtaking world.

Deep down the characters’ choices and the film’s pacing made me anxious. Once one fools around with “The Monkey” bad outcomes happen. It is like the Perkins’ version of Final Destination, but Perkins tops that by throwing in evidence and important factors which cause evil to linger in The Monkey. The treacherous feelings were awe-inspiring especially when Hal and Bill must come forth with “The Monkey” again in their lives. The words that rang in my ears were, “Whatever you do…don’t turn the keys in “The Monkey’s” back!”  Not only do the keys represent more to be fearful of, they also brought out one of the most unexpected frights I’ve ever experienced. When a director knows what it takes to shock with many unique qualities, then they also know how to bring in risks that take the cake at a surreal and award-winning level.

The Monkey is by far one of the best films I have seen since the start of this year, particularly especially in the scary movie genre. It creatively divulges and loops into the past to bring in the present. What was once dismissed always comes back with a vengeance in The Monkey. The question is, how badly will the audience want the doors to be opened? They will have to find out for themselves. This is a Perkins’ sensation filled with vivid fascination. A mesmerizing odyssey of a film that shocks its audience well. Four out of four stars for The Monkey.