X
- 1988
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
- 1988
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
Summary A quadriplegic man has a trained monkey help him with his paralysis, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master.
Directed By: George A. Romero
Written By: Michael Stewart, George A. Romero
- 1988
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
- 1988
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
Monkey Shines
71
6.6
Where to Watch
Summary A quadriplegic man has a trained monkey help him with his paralysis, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master.
Directed By: George A. Romero
Written By: Michael Stewart, George A. Romero
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
71
71% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
21% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
71
71% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
21% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Getting the best out of a middling novel, Romero finds new, less gruesome avenues for his skills.
One of Romero's most complex and challenging creations. The film shifts effortlessly between playfulness and outrage, between a distanced irony and an awful, immediate horror.
Despite a hokey prologue and ending (the latter imposed by producer Charles Evans), this is one of George Romero's most effective and interesting horror thrillers—not as profound as his remarkable Living Dead trilogy, but unusually gripping and provocative.
This is Romero at his best - a set-piece of sustained chills all precisely shot and rhythmically cut, good enough to make us
forgive (if not forget) the cast that is merely competent, and an ending that is downright tepid. But even at half-throttle, Romero can quicken the pulse. Worse than it could have been, Monkey Shines is still better than most. [29 July 1988]
Romero loses momentum in the closing passages because he has too many loose ends to keep track of. Somewhere within this movie’s two hours or so is hidden an absolutely spellbinding 90-minute thriller.
Mr. Romero, who adapted the screenplay from Michael Stewart's novel, wraps up more loose ends than anyone cares about, yet leaves some nagging bits of illogic.
Monkey Shines is just humdrum theater fodder that exploits the problems of quadriplegics for a cheap buzz of fear that it can't even deliver. This movie could make the apes sorry that we're related. [29 July 1988, p.9]
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
6.6
70% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
20% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
6.6
70% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
20% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
Orion Pictures
Release Date Jul 29, 1988
Duration 1 h 53 m
Rating R
Tagline A man trapped within his own body. An animal trained to read and carry out thoughts. One with a mind for revenge. The other with an instinct for carrying out that revenge.
Awards
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
• 4 Wins & 5 Nominations
Fantasporto
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
