Neon’s trying to making Osgood Perkins’ “The Monkey” go viral in very much the same way they managed to brilliantly market Perkins’ “Longlegs” last year. I personally don’t think lightning will strike twice again for them.
We’ve already seen a teaser for “The Monkey,” but in a press release, released today, Neon confirmed that a full trailer will be dropping this Wednesday –- and ahead of that, they’ve decided to share the MPA ratings board’s report on the trailer (below).
The notes given by the MPA aren’t surprising, they had already stamped “The Monkey” with an R rating for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references. Apparently, in the upcoming trailer, we see a woman’s “face set on fire,” “bowling ball smashing child’s face,” and “excessive blood.” This gimmick from Neon is supposed to excite horror fans in anticipation of the film’s February 21 release.
Last year, while Neon was relentlessly promoting Perkins’ “Longlegs,” which earned $75M domestically, the filmmaker quietly finished shooting “The Monkey” which is based on a short story by Stephen King. It stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campell, and Sarah Levy.
Last August, “The Monkey” test screened and I was told that, tonally, it’s completely different that “Longlegs.” It’s a “dark horror comedy” in the same vein as '“Fright Night” and “American Werewolf in London.” Perkins is said to still maintain the sense of dread from his more serious films, enough so to “make a toy monkey seem deeply unnerving and evil.”
This won’t be the last we hear of Perkins as he’s actually shot yet another film, titled “Keeper,” also distributed by Neon, which might get released later this year. “Keeper” stars Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) and Rossif Sutherland (“Possessor”) and follows a couple as they escape for a romantic anniversary weekend at a secluded cabin only to be “haunted by the presence of an unspeakable evil that unveils the cabin’s horrifying secrets.”
Perkins, the eldest son of Psycho himself, Anthony Perkins, was best known for his 2015 indie debut “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” and 2020’s “Gretel & Hansel.” Neon is trying to make us believe he’s the next big thing in horror. That remains to be seen.
