See The Creepiest Stephen King Teaser In Years
When it comes to adapting Stephen King stories into feature films, it seems that there really isn’t much of a middle ground in their quality. Either we get classic horror films such as The Dead Zone and The Shining or we’re stuck with frightless duds such as The Mangler and Thinner. On August 12, Neon Films released the first trailer for the upcoming film, The Monkey, on YouTube, and it is the creepiest Stephen King teaser we’ve seen in years, giving hope for a modern classic horror adaptation.
Take a look at the trailer and see for yourself:
The teaser is the perfect example of the “less is more” mantra, leaving viewers with just a small taste of what fans are in store for when the film is released on February 21, 2025. The trailer begins with a black screen as the sound of typical carnival style music plays in the background. As the music slows down into a twisted variant, a shadowy toy monkey with beady red eyes pops up front and center.
At just 44 seconds long, the teaser trailer doesn’t reveal anything about the film besides a possible warning that there will be blood, and lots of it.
The visuals then shift to a close up of the monkey’s drum, which is rhythmically tapped with drum sticks as the haunting music continues to play. Meanwhile, red-lettered text then appears on screen, listing The Monkey producer James Wan’s recent films, including Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. As the text turns its attention to writer and director Osgood Perkin’s latest film, Longlegs, a drumstick creates a splatter of blood atop the drum.
We then see a close-up of The Monkey star Theo James, who has been completely saturated with blood. As James removes his large glasses, he reveals the only part of his body not painted with blood as he stares hopelessly past the camera. The trailer then sharply cuts to the film’s title, which is displayed over a shot of the toy monkey’s unsettling smile.
The Monkey tells the story of a pair of twin brothers who find a toy monkey in their father’s attic.
At just 44 seconds long, the teaser trailer doesn’t reveal anything about the film besides a possible warning that there will be blood, and lots of it. Based on Perkins’ previous affinity for the usage of prop blood in his films, viewers should be prepared for a visceral experience. Perkin’s directorial debut The Blackcoat’s Daughter, is often lauded as a hidden horror gem that doesn’t skimp on the violence.
In 2023, Black Bear announced that it was adapting Stephen King’s short story The Monkey into a feature film. In partnership with Atomic Monster, Wan was brought onboard to produce and Perkins was selected to write and direct. The film then entered into the production stage less than a year later, with the filming taking place primarily in Vancouver, Canada.
The teaser is the perfect example of the “less is more” mantra, leaving viewers with just a small taste of what fans are in store for when the film is released on February 21, 2025.
The Monkey tells the story of a pair of twin brothers who find a toy monkey in their father’s attic. Soon after, a series of gruesome deaths surround the boys, leading them to discard the toy monkey. Years later, the now adult brothers team back up to destroy the toy monkey after another series of gruesome deaths is discovered.
Alongside James, The Monkey also stars Tatiana Maslany, who is perhaps best known for her work on the television series Orphan Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Woman in Gold. In addition to working together on The Monkey, Perkins and Maslany have also teamed up for the upcoming thriller, Keeper, which follows a couple as they head to a secluded cabin for a romantic anniversary weekend.
