When it comes to horror movies, you know that a Stephen King adaptation starts from greatness. The Monkey is no different, but the question is whether this is suitable for the family.
Not all horror movies are rated R. Some of them are PG-13 because they tone down the violence. However, when it comes to a Stephen King adaptation, you know that gore and frightening scenes are everywhere.
The Monkey is based on the short story of the same name. It follows twin brothers who come across a toy monkey that once belonged to their dad. When the key is turned, a mysterious death happens. Nobody has control over who this monkey chooses, and it doesn’t matter how much the twins try to get rid of the monkey, it always comes to find them.
The Monkey age rating: Explaining the R rating
This movie has received mixed ratings around the world. In the United States, it is officially rated R. However in Ontario and other parts of Canada, it’s rated 13+ or 14A. The UK has rated it 15, while Spain has given it a 16 age rating. Part of the R-rating is due to this movie not being suitable for younger children, so a PG-13 rating won’t work. There isn’t anything in between in the U.S. like there is in other countries.
Sex & nudity: There isn’t anything in the way of sex and nudity throughout the movie. There are a couple of masturbation and swingers jokes, but the worst of the nudity is when one of the characters is in a strip club watching a dance from afar.
Violence & gore: The Monkey is packed with gory scenes from start to finish. We open with a man getting impaled by a fishing spear from a crossbow. There are scenes where bowling balls are dropped on people’s heads, and body parts go flying across the scene in explosions.
While these scenes are brief and add to the humor of the horror, they can be frightening and disturbing for younger children. Think of what you would expect in the Final Destination movies.
Language: There are multiple uses of the F-bomb throughout The Monkey. Bill calls his brother “Dumb S**t” as a nickname, which is uttered on multiple occasions. There are other swear words like the S-word, the B-word, and more. The F-bomb is the worst of all the swear words.
Alcohol & drugs: There are a couple of scenes where characters drink or smoke cigarettes leisurely. This isn’t glorified, though.
Overall verdict: Who is The Monkey appropriate for?
The Monkey is one of those movies that certainly earns its R rating for the level of violence. That being said, there’s a reason other countries have rated it 15. There is a lot of gore, but it’s done in a humorous way as this is designed to be a comedy horror movie.
This is certainly not for the younger kids in the house. If you have kids who have adored the likes of Final Destination and can even sit through the gore of Saw, I’d say that The Monkey will work for them.
The Monkey is currently out in theaters.