Mindframes – Episode 88: The Monkey (2025) 🎙️ A sometimes half-assed but always wholehearted film conversation.

🔹 Hosts: Michael Cockerill & Dave Canfield 🔹 Episode Runtime: Approx. 56 minutes 🔹 Film Discussed: The Monkey (2025) 🔹 Directed by: Osgood Perkins 🔹 Based on: The Monkey (1980), a short story by Stephen King (Skeleton Crew)

🎬 General Information – The Monkey (2025) 🔻 Director: Osgood "Oz" Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Longlegs, Gretel & Hansel) 🔻 Screenplay: Osgood Perkins 🔻 Based on: The Monkey by Stephen King 🔻 Cinematography: Nico Aguilar (Longlegs) 🔻 Special Effects Coordinator: Greg Pine (Final Destination-style death scenes!)

⭐ Cast Highlights * Theo James (Divergent) – Hal & Bill (Twin Brothers, Dual Role) * Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth) – Young Hal & Bill * Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) – Hammerman, a self-help parenting guru * Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk) – Aunt Lois * Adam Scott (Severance, Parks & Rec) – Cameo as the Monkey’s former owner * Colin O’Brien (Wonka) – Petey * Rowan Campbell (The Hardy Boys) – Ricky

🛠️ Special Trivia * The toy monkey plays a drum, not cymbals, due to a legal conflict with Disney (Toy Story 3 featured a cymbal-playing monkey). * Limited edition popcorn bucket featuring the monkey was a sought-after collectible. * You can buy an official Monkey figurine for $125 at Neon’s store.

📌 Episode Breakdown & Timestamps [00:00] – Introduction * Michael and Dave introduce the episode and film under discussion.

[00:35] – What is The Monkey? * Background on the film’s origin from Stephen King’s short story. * Overview of Osgood Perkins’ horror film career.

[01:39] – Osgood Perkins as a Director * Dave shares his past interview with Perkins and how his films explore grief & trauma. * Perkins' stylistic shift from atmospheric horror to dark comedy.

[02:52] – How Different is This from Stephen King's Story? * King’s original story = pure dread. * This adaptation = comedic, absurd, yet still horror-infused.

[04:10] – Trivia: Why Doesn’t the Monkey Have Cymbals? * The monkey was originally designed with cymbals. * Disney’s legal team intervened (due to a character in Toy Story 3). * A drum was used instead—and now it's iconic.

[05:58] – Cast & Performances * Breakdown of the cast’s performances. * Theo James’ dual role as Hal & Bill—a highlight of the film. * Elijah Wood's role as a self-help guru satirizing modern parenting culture. * Tatiana Maslany’s role & why she stands out.

[09:47] – The Monkey's Death Scenes & Cinematography * The over-the-top death scenes add to the Final Destination-style fun. * Cinematography by Nico Aguilar (Longlegs) helps create aesthetic horror-comedy.

[15:48] – Special Effects & The Role of Blood * Mix of practical effects and CGI. * Hosts critique CGI blood overuse but praise the practical effects.

[18:46] – What is The Monkey Really About? * The film explores generational trauma. * Horror trend: Fathers passing down hidden burdens (Hereditary, The Wolfman). * The monkey symbolizes trauma that can’t be ignored.

[20:28] – How the Movie Handles Generational Trauma * Hal tries to escape it—but the monkey keeps coming back. * Final message: You can’t erase trauma, only learn to live with it.

[27:31] – The Film’s Ending (Spoilers) * The monkey is not destroyed—Hal and Petey drive away with it. * The Horseman of Death cameo—what does it mean? * School bus cheerleader decapitation scene: Meta-commentary on horror audiences?

[39:55] – The Mystery of Ricky (Fan Theory) * Could Ricky be Bill’s secret son? * Shared trauma & absentee fathers play a major role. * Closet uniform mystery—not everything adds up.

[42:44] – Final Thoughts & Reviews * Michael: Fun film, but not scary. * Dave: Perkins proves his range beyond horror. * Both agree: Worth watching, especially for horror-comedy fans.

[48:08] – What Would You Do If You Had The Monkey? * The monkey does NOT take requests—it kills on its own terms.

[55:01] – Closing & Next Episode * Next episode: Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 starring Robert Pattinson. * Listener engagement: + Is The Monkey horror or comedy? + What do you think of its take on generational trauma? + Could there be a Monkey 2?

📲 Join the discussion: facebook.com/mindframesmovies 💬 Email Michael & Dave: mindframefilms.com