“The monkey that likes killing our family is back.”
Anyone familiar with Stephen King’s massive body of work knows that no character is safe and anyone can die. In fact, the Master of Horror specializes in deaths that run the gamut from subtle and poignant to outlandish and cruel. Though Constant Readers are often devastated by the legendary author’s tendency for killing their darlings, we know there’s always a method to the madness. And sometimes it’s in reading about these horrific fatalities that we find the courage to enjoy the unpredictability of our own fragile lives.
Osgood Perkins takes this nihilistic sentiment and turns it up to 11 in his blood-soaked horror comedy The Monkey. Following twin brothers plagued by a maniacal toy, Perkins dares to laugh in the face of death while celebrating moments of beauty between cradle and grave. Delightful cameos and grisly decapitations abound as the Monkey sparks death with the strike of its drum. This explosive film takes the bones of King’s 1980 short story and infuses a smorgasbord of carnage and gore. But in the midst of the gleefully deranged madness lies a touching family drama about connection and pain.
In the latest episode of The Losers’ Club Podcast, co-hosts Jenn Adams, Justin Gerber, and Dan Caffrey explore the newest addition to King’s onscreen library. Which elements of the original story survive this new adaptation? How does the film comment on Perkins’ earlier work? Which is their favorite freakish death and has their most anticipated King film of the year managed to live up to the hype? They’ll tackle the history, themes, and Room 237 connections while sharing their thoughts on this shockingly violent film.
Stream the episode below and return later this week when the Losers dive into The Timekeepers of Eternity. For further adventures, join the Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. You can also unlock hundreds of hours of content in The Barrens (Patreon).
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