Perkins from "The Monkey's Paw" discusses Stephen King, levity, and persistent Destination comparisons
After a series of gory teasers, The Monkey is almost ready to splatter its way onto the big screen. You can read io9's review of the film here. I had the pleasure of chatting with writer-director Osgood Perkins, who found success last year with Longlegs, ahead of the film's release. The Monkey is, indeed, a horror movie, but it's quite different from its predecessor in tone, thanks to its Stephen King roots and Perkins' creative versatility.
Cheryl Eddy, io9: I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of humor in the film. What led you to embrace that almost comedic tone?
Osgood Perkins: I didn't want to approach an evil toy monkey movie with a straight face. Life's short, and when you're given the opportunity to delight people, I think it's more important than anything else. I also wanted to approach the death theme with a smile; I didn't want to bum anyone out.
io9: The Monkey makes a strong case that there's always a new way to approach a Stephen King adaptation. What do you think makes this film unique from the rest?
Perkins: I think it fits in with Creepshow and Misery as being the fancifully funny ones. I wanted to create a Stephen King movie that felt like a Stephen King movie and didn't try to mimic anything else. I always aimed to do it with reverence for Mr. King and all he's given us.
io9: Has he seen it yet? What does he think of it?
Perkins: He tweeted, "The monkey is unlike any movie you've ever seen. It's batshit crazy. And as someone who engages in batshittery from time to time, I say that with admiration."
Io9: In the story, the monkey uses cymbals, but the movie uses a spinning drumstick and drumbeat. Why did you change that detail?
Perkins: Disney owned the cymbals because they used the cymbal-playing monkey in one of the Toy Story sequels. But I actually think the drum roll and rim shot are better than the cymbals. They have more energy and rhythm.
io9: Why did you want to include the spinning drumstick, like a preamble?
Perkins: It's just a fun little extra gesture. The monkey can do the heavy metal drum spin, like Tommy Lee or Buddy Rich.
io9: The movie features some incredibly creative kill scenes. Did you literally make a list of "horrible ways to die," or how did the creative process work out?
Perkins: I sat down every day and wrote until it bled. Some days were good and some days were bad, but I made one rule for myself: None of these deaths could be real. I wanted it to feel like Itchy and Scratchy or Wile E. Coyote.
io9: Have you heard the comparisons to the Final Destination movies? What do you think about that?
Perkins: I don't mind the comparison. I get that there's a Rube Goldberg quality to the deaths.
io9: Elijah Wood's character is so detailed and specific. Was he based on anyone in particular?
Perkins: No, he just represents the blowhard dad, the dad who thinks he knows what he's doing and is waiting to take over if the main character fails.
io9: The theme of "good twin/bad twin" is prevalent in the film. Why did you want to explore that theme and how does it work in the context of The Monkey's story?
Perkins: I thought it was a horror trope. I wanted to use as many uncanny elements as I could. I also based the narrative on my own experiences with my brother.
The Monkey hits theaters on February 21st.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek reboots, what's next for the DC universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Enrichment Data:
The Monkey is a unique Stephen King adaptation that incorporates humor and creativity to stand out from its predecessors. Osgood Perkins, the director, embraced a darkly humorous tone to create a fresh perspective on a common horror trope. The film features outrageous gore and kill scenes with a satirical twist, which adds to its originality. Fans of King's work will appreciate the film's blend of familiar and unique elements while also appreciating Perkins' stylistic choices. The film's cast, including Elijah Wood, Theo James, and Tatiana Maslany, delivers outstanding performances, adding depth and complexity to the storyline. Overall, The Monkey is a must-watch for horror and comedy aficionados alike.
Osgood Perkins mentioned in his interview with io9 that he wanted to approach the horror genre with a smile and not bum anyone out, showcasing a comically light-hearted tone in the film. The movie's unique approach to Stephen King's work, as stated by director Perkins, has been favorably compared to the "fancifully funny" movies like Creepshow and Misery. Kubrick, who seems to be a topic of interest in the given text, is not referenced in these sentences. The words 'monkey' and 'kubrick' appear in the first and last sentences, while 'movies', 'future', 'technology', 'perkins', 'comically', and 'ready' appear in various contexts throughout the sentences.
