Summary
For those who love horror,Stephen King’s long list of captivating and scary movies certainly won’t be a stranger. Classed as one of the best writers in the world, King has published dozens of stories that have made their way to the big and small screen due to his ability to craft relatable themes and well-developed characters. Best known for hishorrorgenre, King’s numerous works includeMisery, IT, The Shining, Carrieand so many others that it’s not surprising that so many directors want to adapt his thrilling narratives.
Many of King’s stories have made cinema history with the likes of the iconic scene fromThe Shiningwhere Jack chased Danny in the hedge maze or when he busted the door down with an ax. Or who could forget the terrifying scene fromMiserywhere Annie Wilkes took a sledgehammer to bedridden Paul Sheldon’s legs? For over forty years, viewers have been captivated byStephen King’s books that have been adapted into films and series’and even now, King’s work shows no signs of slowing down as his short story,The Monkey, is on the horizon for release.
The Monkey Trailer Sets Huge Record for Independent Horror Film
As reported byDeadline, Stephen King’s upcoming horror movie,The Monkey, has already achieved a massive trailerviewing record as it racked up 109 million views across a variety of platforms. The horror trailer produced more than 43 million views within its first 24 hours of release and, if that wasn’t impressive enough, the trailer went on to surpass 100 million views after 72 hours. In turn, this viewership has set a record for a non-MPA studio independent horror movie. In second place,Danny Boyle’s28 Years Latertraileramassed 146 million global views, butThe Monkeywas able to beat another highly anticipated horror film,Nosferatu,which came in at 74 million views.
Inspired by King’s 1980 short story,The Monkeytells the story of twin brothers, Hal and Bill, who discover an old Monkey toy in the attic, which spears a series of horrific family deaths. In a bid to leave their terrifying past behind them, the twins go their separate ways, but 25 years later, the horror returns with the mysterious and evil monkey beginning a new killing spree. Directed by Osgood Perkins, who directedLonglegs,and starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, and a possible cameo from Stephen King himself, theadaptation has already earned strong reviews from critics.
King, who hasn’t always been pleased with his previous adaptations likeFirestarterandStanley Kubrick’sThe Shining, thought thatThe Monkeywas “batsh*t insane” and “admirable,” so this is a very promising start if the “King” himself gave Perkins' upcoming horror his seal of approval.The Monkeywill be in theaters on February 21st, 2025.
