Rising director Osgood Perkins had previously made waves in the world of horror cinema with the serial-killer mystery film "Longlegs". This movie established Perkins as a significant talent in the genre, but his sophomore effort, an adaptation of a 1980 Stephen King short story titled "The Monkey", seems to abandon the eerie subtlety of his debut.

"The Monkey" is a sharp contrast to the sophisticated creepiness of "Longlegs", both in its narrative technique and its execution. Known for its deliberate pace and mystery, "Longlegs" captivated audiences, drawing them in with its subtle horror and a standout performance by Nicolas Cage. "The Monkey", however, spends less time strengthening the narrative with suspense and more time on grand, often predictable, displays of horror, with many scenes set around brutal homicides.

The protagonist, an airline pilot played by Adam Scott, attempts to sell a sinister-looking monkey toy in a pawn shop. The toy, when wound up, causes flamboyant, theatrical deaths. This plot device ends up being more cartoonish than terrifying, and the movie often slows its narrative momentum to savor these sequences.

The film also attempts to tell a story of hatred between twin brothers Hal and Bill. Regardless, the narrative and the complex dynamics among the characters feel overshadowed by the endless series of gruesome incidents. The tale gets even less compelling as a moribund relationship between the brothers comes to the forefront, failing to add depth to the plot.

Some audiences may enjoy the over-the-top horror of "The Monkey", but it lacks the careful suspense and atmospheric tension of "Longlegs". There's always a market for broad-stroke horror films. Yet, considering Perkin’s previous work's nuanced flavor, "The Monkey" might find it hard to replicate the success of "Longlegs".