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This movie advertises itself as a horror film based on Stephen King's short story and boasts some big names attached. If you came here expecting the trademarks of King's stories or a slow-paced atmospheric adaptation like those by Mike Flanagan, you should quickly discard that idea. While Flanagan's adaptations have almost perfected the art of bringing King's work to the screen, Osgood Perkins did a great job with The Monkey.

If, like me, you were unfamiliar with the short story, the plot revolves around twin brothers, Bill and Hal, who find their father's old toy monkey in the attic. Their father is absent, and they are being raised by their single mother, Lois (Tatiana Maslany). The younger versions of the brothers are both played by Christian Convery, who does a great job portraying their contrasting personalities. The movie features a time jump, after which both brothers are played by Theo James, who also performs well in the role. Elijah Wood, Adam Scott and Osgood Perkins himself also have small roles.

However, as soon as you wind up the monkey, it starts beating the small drums attached to its lap, and shortly after, something terrible happens.

To put it simply, this movie feels like a combination of Final Destination and a typical haunted-object horror film. The monkey itself looks terrifying, staring straight into your soul as you watch in desperation to see what will happen when it beats its drums. Perkins knows exactly how to work with the monkey to amplify its eerie presence, creating a tense atmosphere of dread and terror. The film is beautifully shot and mostly features solid effects. There are moments of poor CGI, but also some great practical effects, and the gore looks fantastic.

If you're a fan of gore and over-the-top kills, you'll love this. However, if you're looking for logic and realistic physics, you may struggle to enjoy it. This is a dark comedy that isn't meant to be taken too seriously, and the movie knows exactly what it wants to be. It's not particularly scary but instead focuses on the fun of watching characters get picked off in gruesome ways. Strange circumstances lead to characters dying in the most graphic ways imaginable, while other characters seem oddly indifferent.

While The Monkey may not have the same attention to detail as previous Osgood Perkins films like the recent Longlegs or the deep storytelling of other Stephen King adaptations, I had a hell of a time watching it. It's a great alternative to tide us over while we wait for Final Destination: Bloodlines.

Go into this with the right mindset. Don't expect a serious horror narrative. Instead, expect a dark comedy with horror elements and lots of carnage, and you'll definitely enjoy this movie. [7,2/10]

The Corpse Washer follows familiar tropes and ideas but introduces some unique elements and social commentary. Lela, a young mortician, is unhappy with her life and the work she inherited from her family, especially since her mother insists on keeping it as a tradition. After her mother suddenly dies, Lela notices something odd about her body while washing it, unraveling secrets from the past with dire consequences.

The premise is simple yet intriguing, featuring some interesting elements. Lela and the other characters are mostly likable, and the actors deliver commendable performances. The acting is a bit uneven at times, especially from minor characters, but it's not too distracting.

The film heavily relies on jump scares and rarely takes the time to build a tense atmosphere. Instead, it bombards viewers with scary faces and loud noises. To its credit, the makeup and effects are well done, preventing it from feeling like a low-budget jumpscare fest. However, the movie doesn't fully reach its potential and could have been more engaging.

It's a decent watch, with a reasonable 107-minute runtime, so you won't feel like you've wasted over two hours if it doesn't fully click for you. If you enjoy Indonesian cinema, especially horror, you might want to give it a try, though it's unlikely to leave a lasting impression. [5,6/10]

Even though the cover of Control Freak looks like a cheap SYFY movie, I was intrigued because it was tagged as body horror, and the ambiguous description gave me hope that it would be something special. The film's low ratings prepared me to lower my expectations, but I gave it a try nonetheless.

The story follows Valerie, a successful motivational speaker who becomes tormented by an unrelenting itch on the back of her head, causing her life to spiral out of control.

Visually, the movie is well-made, with strong cinematography and decent performances, though the acting felt uneven at times. Unfortunately, the story itself falls flat over its 100-minute runtime. Control Freak is apparently based on a short film, which I haven't seen, but I imagine the concept worked much better in a shorter format. The premise-where a protagonist is tormented by something unknown, leaving the audience to wonder whether it's psychological or supernatural-isn't exactly new. The only unique angle here is that the lead is a motivational speaker, which fits well with the movie's overarching metaphor.

The film did succeed in making me feel itchy and uncomfortable, especially with Valerie's constant scratching and the unsettling imagery of ants crawling around. I also genuinely enjoyed the third act, though the movie never really built up enough momentum for me to stay fully invested in Valerie's struggle.

If you have Hulu or another streaming service where you can watch this without paying extra, it might be worth a try. However, I wouldn't recommend spending money on it, as it doesn't offer enough to stand out. The pacing drags, and the narrative lacks originality, but it remains a watchable film with both its strengths and flaws. [5,4/10]