Monkey Shines

Law student and athlete Allan Mann's life takes a dramatic turn when he suffers a truck accident that leaves him quadriplegic. This unexpected event forces him to confront a new reality, radically changing his daily existence.

As Allan adapts to life in a wheelchair, he faces significant challenges. His well-meaning mother becomes overly protective, while an indifferent nurse adds to his frustration, making his adjustment even more difficult.

Allan's friend Geoffrey Fisher introduces an unconventional idea to help boost Allan's spirits: bringing a Capuchin monkey into his life as a service animal. This decision marks the beginning of an extraordinary and tumultuous journey.

Geoffrey recruits monkey trainer Melanie Parker to help introduce Ella, the Capuchin monkey, into Allan's world. Initially, Ella provides much-needed companionship and support, significantly easing Allan's transition into his new life.

As time passes, Allan and Melanie form a deep bond, united by their shared experiences with Ella. Their connection becomes a bright spot in Allan's challenging life, highlighting the emotional support they provide each other.

Underlying frustrations manifest as Allan finds himself growing resentful towards those around him, particularly his ex-girlfriend, who is now dating his original surgeon. This bitterness begins to affect his relationship with Ella.

As Allan struggles with his emotions, Ella starts to display aggressive behavior, seemingly reacting to his inner turmoil. This troubling development raises questions about their bond and the extent of their connection.

In a moment of unrestrained frustration, Allan wishes harm upon a pet bird belonging to his nurse. That night, Ella takes drastic action by killing the bird, leading to the nurse's resignation and deepening Allan's sense of guilt.

Allan seeks a second opinion regarding his condition, and the news brings a glimmer of hope, suggesting his paralysis may not be permanent. However, it ignites an intense rage against his prior surgeon and adds to his feelings of revenge.

In a horrific twist, Ella executes Allan's darkest impulses by killing the surgeon and his girlfriend after Allan envisions punishing them. This shocking realization brings Allan to understand the dangerous bond he shares with Ella.

Overcome with fear following the violent events, Allan demands that Geoffrey remove Ella from his life. After Ella's departure, he finds a moment of solace with Melanie, and they finally embrace their feelings for each other.

Returning home, Allan tries to reconnect with his mother, but their relationship strains as she dismisses Melanie. Ella unexpectedly returns and kills Allan's mother during a moment of relaxation, leaving Allan devastated.

After receiving shocking revelations about Ella from Geoffrey, tensions escalate. In a tragic confrontation, Ella retaliates against Geoffrey, resulting in his death with a lethal dose of sedative. This event plunges Allan further into despair.

In a final act of desperation, Allan confronts Ella, recognizing her true nature as a possessive entity entwined with his own desires. In a climactic moment, he embraces her and delivers a fatal blow.

In the aftermath, Allan undergoes successful spinal surgery, marking a pivotal point in his recovery. As he leaves the hospital wheelchair-free, he reunites with Melanie, ready to face a hopeful future together.