Script and Haiku: The Monkey

Video for this Script on YouTube: Disembodied Screams

I have to say, I really enjoyed this movie from the jump. The opening scene had me hooked, instantly, nasty kill with the guts stretching across the room, and after that kill and that scene, I sat back, smiled, and enjoyed the rest of this wild ride from Oz Perkins, who wrote and directed it. It’s filled with his quirkiness and humor and his direction. I am starting to know his style when I watch his movies and I like it a lot.
I went on a bit of an Oz binge recently, and I have to say, not a bad movie at all so far. Longlegs, revisit dropping Friday if you are watching this on Wednesday, put me onto his stuff and I am so happy for it. Of the movies recently watched by Oz, I am the pretty thing that lives in the house is the one that I keep coming back to the most.
Why? I think it was the vibe nature of the film and the fact that I love a good atmospheric ghost story. And it is both of those through and through. Naturally that one would speak to me. But you can’t go wrong with any of his stuff – so far. Keeper is on the horizon and we will see how that does. Fingers crossed.
Moving on, beyond Oz, and his amazing writing and direction, there are a lot of things to enjoy in this movie.
Gore. I had heard that the kills were nuts and over the top —- they exceeded my expectations. Three kills stood out to me ——
The scene where the girl dives into a freshly electrocuted swimming pool and proceeds to blow up in front of the lead character – who gets hit with a leg – and then says “Was that a leg?” before running off. Had me laughing and the lady showing off the Aunt’s house who got blasted by a shotgun that turned her into literal blood pudding – wow – and the scene with the hornet hive. When they showed that hive. I knew nothing good would come from it. My instincts were correct. I thought the hornets would invade the car, not the man’s mouth – glad I was wrong because it was gruesome stuff to watch when he started falling apart.
Another big highlight is the score. I really liked the way music was used throughout the movie. Played well in each scene and the story too. And an even bigger highlight, probably its biggest – the killer – the monkey who loves to set his death march to pounding drums and organ grinder music —— and when you hear that organ grinder music and those arms start pumping. Look out. Bad things are on the way. It’s a true harbinger of doom.
Oz also knows how to get the most out of his actors, all of them did a great job in their roles. This movie is more about uncomfortable humor and the Final Destination style kills so if you can read lines and make them sound good then that’s all you really need because nobody is tuning in for the acting.

Allright, now, the haiku.

Tiny toy monkey
Pounding on its rhythmic drum
Death is listening

Have you seen The Monkey or any of Oz Perkins movies? Let me know the movies you liked and didn’t like in the comments below. Take care and have a good one. Organ music playing.