You know that feeling when you see a trailer and just know a movie is going to be a weird, wild ride? That’s the vibe with Osgood Perkins' latest project. Based on a classic short story by Stephen King, the film has people scrambling to figure out who exactly makes up the cast of The Monkey. It’s not just about a creepy toy. It’s about the people that toy destroys.
Honestly, the casting choices here are pretty brilliant. You’ve got a mix of seasoned character actors and some fresh faces that really lean into the uncanny, "New England Gothic" energy that King is famous for. If you’re expecting a standard jump-scare fest, you might be looking at the wrong project. This one feels deeper. It’s about brothers, trauma, and a cymbal-banging monkey that basically acts as a harbinger of doom.
Theo James Leads the Way
Theo James is everywhere right now. From The White Lotus to The Gentlemen, he’s proven he can play "charismatic but slightly falling apart" better than almost anyone in Hollywood. In this film, he’s taking on a dual role. He plays the twin brothers, Hal and Bill.
Playing twins is a massive undertaking for any actor. You have to differentiate them without making it feel like a caricature. James has to portray the divergent paths these two men took after discovering the monkey in their father’s attic as children. One brother is trying to move on; the other is haunted. It’s a performance that requires a lot of heavy lifting, especially when you’re acting against yourself in a scene.
What's cool about this choice is that James has this natural intensity. You believe him as someone who is genuinely terrified of a clockwork toy. It’s a far cry from his more "suave" roles, and seeing him unravel on screen is half the fun.
Supporting Players Who Actually Matter
A horror movie is only as good as the people who get caught in the crossfire. The cast of The Monkey is rounded out by some heavy hitters who bring a lot of legitimacy to the "genre film" label.
Tatiana Maslany is in this. Let that sink in. The woman won an Emmy for playing about a dozen different clones in Orphan Black, so we know she has range. While her specific role has been kept somewhat under wraps in the early promotional cycles, her involvement usually signals a script with some actual meat on its bones. She doesn't just do "scream queen" roles; she does characters with internal lives.
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Then you have Elijah Wood. At this point, Wood is basically the king of indie horror and "weird" cinema. Since his Lord of the Rings days, he’s spent a lot of time producing and starring in movies that push boundaries. His presence here feels like a nod to the fans who love the genre's quirkier side.
And don't overlook Christian Convery. You might recognize him from Sweet Tooth or Cocaine Bear. He plays the younger versions of the brothers. In a Stephen King adaptation, the "kid" performances are arguably the most important part. Think about IT or Stand By Me. If the kids don't sell the fear, the adult versions don't matter. Convery has that "old soul" quality that makes the childhood flashbacks feel grounded and appropriately spooky.
Why This Cast Works for Osgood Perkins
Osgood "Oz" Perkins has a very specific style. If you saw Longlegs or The Blackcoat’s Daughter, you know he’s into atmosphere. He likes long takes, unsettling silence, and actors who can do a lot with just a look.
The cast of The Monkey reflects that. You don't see a bunch of "flavor of the week" influencers here. You see actors like Rohan Campbell and Sarah Levy. These are people who can blend into a scene and make the world feel lived-in.
Perkins doesn't make "popcorn horror." He makes "get under your skin and stay there" horror. By casting actors who have a background in both prestige drama and genre-bending projects, he’s ensuring that the human drama is just as compelling as the supernatural threat.
The Mystery of the Monkey Itself
Okay, so the monkey isn't a human actor (obviously), but it’s the most important "member" of the production. In King’s original 1980 story, the monkey is a conduit for bad luck. Every time it claps its cymbals, someone dies.
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The production team used a mix of practical effects and subtle digital touches to bring the toy to life. It needed to look old. Not "Hollywood movie" old, but "I found this in a damp basement and it smells like rot" old. The way the cast interacts with the physical prop is vital. There’s a specific scene involving a well—no spoilers—where the physical weight of the object becomes a character in itself.
Addressing the Differences from the Source Material
A lot of fans were wondering how a short story from Skeleton Crew could be stretched into a full-length feature. The secret is in the expansion of the family history.
The movie dives much deeper into the relationship between Hal and Bill. While the short story is quite lean, the film explores the "why" behind their estrangement. It’s a choice that gives the cast of The Monkey more room to breathe. Instead of just running away from a toy, they’re dealing with decades of resentment and the psychological scars of a shared trauma.
Some purists might be annoyed by the tonal shifts. The trailer suggests a bit more of a "dark comedy" edge than the original story had. But honestly? That’s a good thing. A monkey with cymbals is inherently a little bit ridiculous. If you play it too straight, it risks becoming accidental comedy. By leaning into the "horror-comedy" vibe (think Evil Dead 2 or Drag Me to Hell), the cast can play with different emotional registers.
The Full Cast List
If you're looking for a quick rundown of who is who, here’s the roster of the main players:
- Theo James as Hal and Bill (the adult twins)
- Christian Convery as young Hal and Bill
- Tatiana Maslany
- Elijah Wood
- Rohan Campbell
- Sarah Levy
- Colin O'Brien
It's a tight ensemble. There aren't a hundred characters to keep track of, which allows the focus to stay on the central family dynamic.
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Where You’ve Seen Them Before
It’s always fun to play the "where do I know them from?" game while watching.
Rohan Campbell was the controversial Corey Cunningham in Halloween Ends. Love or hate that movie, he was the standout performer. Sarah Levy is, of course, a Schitt’s Creek alum. Seeing her move from the bright, quirky world of Rosebud Motel into a dark Stephen King adaptation is a huge pivot, and it’s one of the reasons the cast of The Monkey is so intriguing. It’s unexpected.
Final Thoughts on the Production
The film was produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster. That’s a name that carries weight in the industry. Wan knows how to market a movie, and he knows how to pick directors with a vision. Combining Wan’s commercial sensibilities with Perkins’ artistic, brooding style is a fascinating experiment.
The cinematography is being handled by some of the same folks who worked on Perkins' previous hits, so expect a lot of symmetrical framing and muted colors. It’s meant to look like a photograph from the 70s that’s been left out in the sun too long.
What to Do Next
If you’re hyped for this release, there are a few things you can do to get ready.
- Read the original story: It’s in the collection Skeleton Crew. It’s short—you can finish it in twenty minutes—and it’ll give you a great baseline for what to expect.
- Watch Longlegs: If you haven't seen Oz Perkins' other work, you’re missing out. It’ll help you understand the "language" of the director.
- Check out the soundtrack: Perkins often uses music in very jarring, effective ways. Keep an ear out for the score, which is likely to be just as unsettling as the visuals.
- Follow the actors on social media: Theo James and Tatiana Maslany have been doing some interesting press rounds discussing the "dual nature" of the roles.
This movie is shaping up to be one of the more unique horror offerings of the year. It’s got the pedigree, it’s got the source material, and it’s got a cast that actually knows how to act.
Check your local listings for showtimes, and maybe keep any old toys you find in the attic far away from your bedroom. Especially if they have cymbals.