The Monkey out on OTT in India: Here's where you can stream horror-comedy based on Stephen King's short story
Stephen King's The Monkey, a dark comedy horror starring Theo James, is now streaming on Prime Video India. Directed by Osgood Perkins, the film blends absurd deaths with eerie nostalgia.
Last Updated: 04.02 PM, Jun 21, 2025
If you are interested in horror and dark comedy, you now have a new title to add to the watchlist. Streaming on Prime Video in India, The Monkey is the black comedy horror film adapted from Stephen King's 1980 short story.
Stephen King's story gets twisted adaptation
The Monkey is a satirical and absurdist tale of a troubled childhood haunted by supernatural dread that was written and directed by Osgood Perkins. The film, which debuted in theatres across the United States in February 2025 and was produced by Atomic Monster, has amassed a global gross of $68.6 million on a tiny budget of $10–$11 million.
Twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn, played by Theo James, have their lives turned upside down when they find a wind-up monkey toy that causes strange, unexplainable deaths. Tatiana Maslany plays Lois, the twins' mother, while Christian Convery plays the younger twins. Supporting cast members include Rohan Campbell, Adam Scott, Sarah Levy, Colin O'Brien, and Elijah Wood.
Unfolding across two timelines
The plot follows throughout two eras. The toy monkey seems to be associated with a series of random, brutal deaths in the past, which causes severe division between Hal and Bill's family. When the monkey reappears and the lethal pattern starts over again, endangering their surviving loved ones, Hal, who has grown distant from Bill in the intervening 25 years, is compelled to reconcile with him.
The Monkey goes for the gimmick on purpose, in contrast to many King adaptations that opt for atmospheric or psychological horror. Perkins reflected the absurdity of death in his film by injecting it with dark humour and stylised gore. In an interview with Empire, the filmmaker disclosed that they had a very serious script. However, he thought it was overly solemn. Perkins revealed that this toy monkey instigates mad methods of death. So, he went into it with a positive attitude.
Personal inspiration
Perkins, whose credits include Gretel & Hansel and The Blackcoat's Daughter, has stated that the surreal tone of the film was inspired by his experiences with loss and sadness. The end product is a film that manages to be both shocking and utterly disrespectful.
The unique style and great performances, especially by Theo James, have earned The Monkey mostly good reviews from critics. The film is now available on Prime Video India for those who are seeking a horror film that combines bizarre comedy with Stephen King's signature terror.