Last summer was a groundbreaking moment for Osgood “Oz” Perkins as his film Longlegs exceeded expectations, grossing nearly $127 million on a budget of under $10 million. This success led to two follow-up films, including The Monkey, set to be released on Feb. 21, which was actually the third film he shot in a trio that also includes Longlegs and Keeper. James Wan and Peter Safran approached Perkins about adapting Stephen King’s short story about a lethal toy monkey, but the original script did not align with Perkins’ vision for the project.
As a result, Perkins decided to take a horror-comedy approach, a genre that can be challenging to pitch in the studio system. While a major studio initially rejected this direction, Wan and Safran stood behind Perkins and allowed the project to move forward independently.
Perkins drew inspiration from personal experiences, using the toy monkey in the film as a symbol of life and death, reflecting unexpected tragedies from his own life including the loss of his parents. Despite initial delays due to labor strikes, Perkins stayed active in the industry by shooting another indie horror film, Keeper, with the Vancouver crew and producing team he had collaborated with on Longlegs.
Starring Tatiana Maslany, Keeper was a fast-paced project that set the stage for The Monkey, showcasing the bond Perkins had formed with his Canadian team. Perkins adapted King’s story to fit his own sensibilities, focusing on themes of fatherhood and the sacrifices made to protect loved ones.
Perkins’ unique take on The Monkey attracted not only Wan and Safran’s support but also caught the attention of Guillermo del Toro, who provided valuable advice and insight throughout the process. Perkins shared that keeping a sense of humility and honesty in his work has been crucial to his success.
Despite a demanding shooting schedule, Perkins remains driven, having completed three successful films in a short span. The Monkey is set to hit theaters on Feb. 21, showcasing Perkins’ innovative approach to the horror-comedy genre.
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