In the latest episode of My Bloody Podcast, the crew takes a deep dive into the bizarre world of The Monkey, a 2025 blood-soaked romp from our favorite director we love to rag on, Osgood Perkins. The hosts, Bryan Kluger, Preston Barta, and Chelsea Nicole, set up traps through this strange installment into the Stephen King horror canon, which left in the hands of Perkins, turns out to be either gory excitement or the dull impalement of life and slow-paced filmmaking.
Set against the backdrop of small-town Maine; a landscape familiar to King’s readers, The Monkey oscillates between the 1990s and present day, weaving a tale of twin brothers haunted by a demonic toy drummer. The premise, redolent of a Final Destination knock-off with a dash of Rube Goldberg sadism, promises more than Perkins’s direction ultimately delivers. That said, enjoyment in The Monkey is a fleeting experience.
While the film gleams with moments of fun and wit, it still suffers from the same fundamental weaknesses that have plagued Perkins’ career; an inability to commit to tone, an aversion to narrative coherence, and a lack of control over the story’s emotional core. At its best, the film is a twisted, gory, and occasionally, hilarious exercise in chaos, but at its worst, it feels like a half-baked mess of ideas scrambling for an identity.
As the host of the show, Bryan Kluger brings his signature sharp wit and unapologetic love of dark humor, offering biting commentary on Romero’s experiment in mixing the supernatural with the very human fears of disability and isolation. Preston Barta, ever the voice of horror analysis, dives into the narrative structure, the shifting tones, and the inherent absurdities of the film, illuminating the psychological layers that may escape the casual viewer. Chelsea Nicole, the cultural critic of the trio, was regrettably absent for this episode, but her incisive observations on the interplay between disability, dependency, and the monstrous, while not present in this installment are ever-looming.
Amidst the thoughtful analysis, the hosts also dive into a slew of hot topics in the horror industry.
This Week’s Highlights:
- What horror movies have won Oscars?
- Haley Joel Osment joins The Burbs tv series.
- There is a new movie called Pigshit. What is it about?
- The new film I see the Demon stars the Napoleon Dynamite actor Jon Heder.
It’s a lively, fast-paced exploration of the horror world, where no topic is too taboo or too strange.
Movie Analysis: The Monkey
The Monkey is an uneven film, one that offers sporadic pleasures but never quite delivers on its promise. It represents a step forward for Perkins, but it also highlights the distance he still has to travel before he can truly claim a seat at the table of great horror filmmakers. At best, The Monkey is an amusing exercise in splatter and wit; at worst, it’s a failed attempt to build a story around its admittedly entertaining set pieces. And the brave souls of My Bloody Podcast bring out their toys for every topic up for debate.
Of course, no episode of My Bloody Podcast would be complete without some fan-favorite segments. Listeners will be treated to an engaging round of Horror Show & Tell, where the hosts reveal the latest genre-related items. The gang even digs into the all-funny question: What toy scared you the most growing up?
Listeners who crave more behind-the-scenes industry insights, unfiltered opinions, and plenty of laughs will find themselves addicted to My Bloody Podcast. You can catch the latest episode on iTunes or Spotify, or reach out to the team at mybloodypodcast@gmail.com. Whether you’re a seasoned horror fan or a casual viewer looking for something to spice up your movie night, this podcast is a must-listen for those who love their horror served with a side of humor, insight, and a touch of irreverence.
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WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
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