The Monkey

The Monkey

Year: 2025

Runtime: 1 h 35 m

Language: english

Director: Oz Perkins

Echo Score: 69

Budget: $10M

horror

After discovering a peculiar wind-up monkey, twin brothers experience a tragic series of events that devastate their family. Years later, the toy reappears and initiates a fresh wave of killings, forcing the now-estranged brothers to face the dark history and curse surrounding it. Based on the Stephen King short story.

The Monkey (2025) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Monkey (2025) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a sleepy New England town where old houses hide deeper histories, a modest antiques shop becomes the unlikely source of an unsettling curiosity: a wind‑up monkey that seems to drum to its own rhythm. The toy’s simple mechanism masks a lingering sense of menace, hinting that some objects are better left untouched. Its discovery sets the tone for a story that blends ordinary family life with a creeping, almost whisper‑quiet horror, a hallmark of Stephen King’s storytelling.

The narrative centers on twin brothers, Hal and Bill, who grow up under the watchful eye of their mother, Lois. Their childhood is marked by a close, competitive bond that is tested as the monkey’s influence slowly seeps into their home. As the years pass, the brothers drift apart, each carrying a weight of unspoken grief and lingering suspicion. Their estrangement is amplified by the arrival of a new generation, as Hal’s son, Petey, becomes the focal point of a father’s quiet dread that the past may yet repeat itself.

Now adults, both Hal and Bill find themselves drawn back to the town’s shadowed corners, forced to confront the lingering echo of that cursed toy. The setting—a small community where everyone knows each other’s histories—amplifies the tension between personal secrets and collective unease. Beneath the surface, the story explores themes of family legacy, the pull of unresolved trauma, and the temptation to ignore a darkness that quietly waits to be awakened.

With a tone that balances quiet domestic moments against an ever‑present undercurrent of dread, the film promises a slow‑burning suspense that feels both intimate and vast. The atmosphere is thick with the feeling that some curses are inherited, and that confronting them may be the only way to break the cycle—though the cost of that confrontation remains ominously uncertain.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 19:16

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Cursed Object Horror Movies Like The Monkey

Stories where an evil object brings relentless, inescapable tragedy to anyone who touches it.If you liked The Monkey and its cursed wind-up toy, you'll find more movies like it here. These films explore supernatural horror stories where a haunted or evil object brings a fatalistic curse, leading to a relentless series of tragedies and a dark, oppressive atmosphere.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows the discovery of an object that initiates a chain of tragic events, often spanning years or generations. Characters attempt to destroy or escape the object's influence, but their actions frequently delay the curse rather than break it, reinforcing a theme of fatalism and inescapable doom.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their shared premise of a malevolent artifact and the resulting atmosphere of hopeless dread. They feature a high intensity of horror, a dark tone, and a narrative driven by the object's relentless, cyclical nature, creating a cohesive experience of supernatural fatalism.

Family Trauma Horror Stories Similar to The Monkey

Horror stories where a family is shattered by a supernatural curse and decades of unresolved trauma.For viewers who liked The Monkey's focus on familial loss and grief, this section lists similar horror movies. These stories center on families torn apart by a curse or traumatic event, dealing with heavy themes of loss, fraternal conflict, and the long shadow of past horrors.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative often uses a dual timeline, showing the initial traumatic event and its long-term repercussions. Estranged family members are forced to reunite and confront the dark history that divided them, with the supernatural horror acting as a catalyst to explore deep-seated grief, guilt, and the fragility of familial bonds.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of family dynamics under supernatural duress. They share a heavy emotional weight, a somber and anxious mood, and a focus on themes like grief, loss, and inherited trauma, making the horror deeply personal and psychologically impactful.

Unlock the Full Story of The Monkey

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Monkey in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Monkey is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Monkey Summary

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The Monkey Summary

The Monkey Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Monkey with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Monkey Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Monkey

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Monkey. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Monkey

The Monkey Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of The Monkey? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

The Monkey Ending Explained

More About The Monkey

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Monkey: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Discover movies like The Monkey that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.