The trailer for the horror film The Monkey presents the first footage from the screen adaptation of Stephen King short story of the same name.
Directed by Osgood Perkins and produced under the Neon banner with involvement from Atomic Monster, the project adapts the 1980 tale about a cursed toy that brings lethal misfortune to those around it. The two-minute clip released in recent days shows lead actor Theo James as Hal Shelburn confronting the mechanical monkey in a series of escalating incidents set across different time periods.
Production wrapped earlier in 2024 after principal photography in Toronto and other Canadian locations. The film is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in February 2025, positioning it as an early-year horror entry ahead of larger franchise titles.
Project Background and Development
Stephen King first published The Monkey in the 1980 collection Skeleton Crew. The story centres on a wind-up monkey toy whose cymbals clash to signal impending deaths. Several attempts to adapt the piece for film or television occurred over the decades, yet none reached production until Perkins took the project forward.
Perkins, whose previous credits include The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Longlegs, worked with a screenplay by the late Adam Mason. The director has described the material as an opportunity to explore family trauma through supernatural horror rather than straightforward slasher conventions.
James Wan and his Atomic Monster team joined as producers alongside Neon. Their involvement brings experience from successful horror releases such as The Conjuring series and M3GAN, which may influence the marketing push for the February date.
Trailer Content and Visual Approach
The released trailer opens with a domestic scene in the 1990s before shifting to present-day sequences. It shows the monkey activating without human intervention and intercuts these moments with reactions from multiple characters played by James in different stages of life.
Sound design receives emphasis, with the toy’s cymbal clashes serving as recurring audio markers. Visual effects appear restrained, focusing on practical movement of the prop rather than extensive digital augmentation. Several quick cuts suggest sudden deaths without lingering on graphic detail.
Supporting cast members including Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery and Colin O’Brien receive brief screen time. The footage avoids revealing the full mechanics of the curse, leaving the central mystery intact for audiences.
Adaptation Choices and King Lore
King’s original narrative spans decades and follows two brothers dealing with the toy’s recurring appearances. The film appears to retain this structure while expanding certain supporting roles for cinematic pacing.
Perkins has noted in interviews that the adaptation updates some period details while preserving the core emotional conflict between the siblings. This approach aligns with recent King adaptations that balance fidelity to source material with contemporary production values.
Previous King projects such as Pet Sematary and It have demonstrated strong box-office performance for horror adaptations. The Monkey enters a market where audiences continue to show interest in the author’s back catalogue when presented with fresh directorial visions.
Industry Context and Release Strategy
Neon has built a reputation for elevated horror through titles including Parasite and The Menu. Their decision to acquire The Monkey continues a pattern of supporting mid-budget genre films with distinctive creative voices.
The February 2025 slot places the film between holiday releases and the spring blockbuster season. Marketing materials so far lean on King’s name recognition and Perkins’s growing profile following Longlegs.
International distribution plans remain under discussion, though early indications point to simultaneous wide releases in major territories. Streaming rights have not yet been announced, consistent with Neon’s preference for theatrical windows on horror titles.
Conclusion
The Monkey trailer establishes the basic premise and tone for the upcoming adaptation while withholding major plot developments. With Perkins at the helm and a cast led by James, the project represents a notable addition to the 2025 horror calendar. Further details on marketing and additional footage are expected in the coming months as the release date approaches.
Harvard Bibliography
King, S. (1985) Skeleton Crew. New York: Viking Press.
Neon (2024) The Monkey Official Trailer. Available at: https://www.youtube.com (Accessed: current date).
Variety (2024) ‘Osgood Perkins The Monkey Sets February 2025 Release’, Variety, 15 October.
Deadline (2024) ‘Theo James to Star in The Monkey for Neon’, Deadline Hollywood, 12 June.
Hollywood Reporter (2024) ‘Atomic Monster Joins The Monkey Adaptation’, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May.
Screen Daily (2024) ‘Perkins Discusses King Adaptation Challenges’, Screen Daily, 3 September.
IMDb (2024) The Monkey (2025). Available at: https://www.imdb.com (Accessed: current date).
Bloody Disgusting (2024) ‘First Look at The Monkey Practical Effects’, Bloody Disgusting, 28 October.
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