“The Monkey” is the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s short story from his 1985 collection, Skeleton Crew. Directed by Osgood Perkins, the film deviates significantly from King’s narrative, particularly in its ending and relationship dynamics. The protagonist, Hal, has a strained relationship with his son, contrasting with the stable family depicted in the original. Perkins also alters the antagonist’s interactions and focuses more on themes of paternity and brotherhood. While King’s ending offers a chilling reflection on the vicious nature of death, Perkins provides an ambiguous, yet hopeful conclusion, opening the door for potential sequels. The film is currently in theaters.
The Monkey is the newest entry in the extensive catalog of Stephen King adaptations, and King is undoubtedly one of the most dependable authors in the horror genre. The original short story is taken from Skeleton Crew, King’s 1985 anthology that also features The Mist. While Osgood Perkins’ adaptation of The Monkey remains faithful to the short story’s premise, significant alterations were made to the original narrative, particularly concerning the conclusion. In addition to changing the monkey’s signature instrument due to Disney restrictions, Perkins modified several relationship elements within the story, emphasizing themes of fatherhood and sibling bonds which necessitated a new ending. Both interpretations portray the relentless nature of the inanimate foe, yet King’s original conclusion feels significantly more foreboding.
How Is ‘The Monkey’ Different From the Book?
The original short story of The Monkey starts quite differently than its film version, with an insight into Hal’s family. The protagonist enjoys a stable family life, with a wife and two children, Dennis and Petey. This is a sharp contrast to the film, where Hal’s character is defined by his decision to see his son Petey only once a year, with the film exploring their tumultuous relationship as Hal struggles to connect. The short story quickly presents the toy as Hal takes measures to stop his children from playing with it upon its discovery. In contrast to the movie’s straightforward narrative that unfolds Hal and Bill’s childhood, the short story alternates between past and present. Stephen King employs this technique of suspense, hinting that the monkey poses a threat without initially disclosing the full extent of its powers.
Related
‘The Monkey’ Climbs Towards Its First Global Box Office Milestone in Opening Weekend
The horror-comedy marks director Osgood Perkins’ second collaboration with Neon, after last year’s ‘Longlegs’.
In the original story, Bill plays a much lesser role. They are not twins in the narrative, with Bill being a few years older than Hal, leading to a generally friendly relationship in adulthood. Thus, his character arc significantly deviates, and his sinister villain transformation is an addition to the film. The flashbacks reveal that both Bill and Hal experienced the loss of friends due to the monkey, resulting in shared nightmares of the tragic events. However, these deaths are depicted with far less gore in the short story; the shock comes instead from their abruptness. The primary theme in King’s The Monkey explores the unpredictable cruelty of death, emphasizing its senselessness. While death is touched upon in Perkins’ adaptation, particularly through conversations involving Hal and Bill’s mother, it is presented with less emphasis and is overshadowed by other themes.
How does Stephen King’s ‘The Monkey’ End?
Since the original version of The Monkey does not cast Bill as the antagonist, it takes an entirely different trajectory. Notably, while the monkey is implicated in the death of Bill and Hal’s mother, her demise is due to a brain aneurysm, and only Hal knows the real cause, bearing the subsequent guilt. Concerned that the monkey may harm his family, Hal resolves to dispose of it permanently. He journeys to his uncle’s former home with his son Petey, taking a rowboat to reach the depths of Crystal Lake (a clever reference to Friday the 13th). As the monkey mocks Hal, its words italicized to suggest they might be imagined, the threats escalate, culminating in the monkey stating that Hal is next, prompting Hal to throw it into the water.
As the boat starts to break apart, Hal fights to swim back to shore while Petey watches. For a moment, it seems Hal may perish, but fortunately, he surfaces, and his family feels secure at last. Nonetheless, Stephen King presents a chilling conclusion with a newspaper article reporting the mysterious deaths of hundreds of fish in Crystal Lake, leaving specialists baffled. This ending illustrates the monkey’s brutality and suggests its powers extend beyond humans to other living beings, echoing earlier pet deaths in the narrative.
Osgood Perkins’ ending of The Monkey remains ambiguous, with Hal and Petey driving away, the monkey safely stored in the car. They resolve to monitor it to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands again, hinting at the potential for a sequel. While not an ideal ending, it carries a flicker of hope and is certainly less sinister than King’s finale.
The Monkey is currently in theaters.