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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Michael Stewart (novel)
George A. Romero (screenplay)
Release Date:
29 July 1988 (USA) more
Tagline:
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil... more
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
7 wins more
NewsDesk:
Fantastic Fest 09: Another review of Survival Of The Dead
(From QuietEarth. 6 October 2009, 8:47 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Could've been better, could've been a lot worse more (55 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jason Beghe | ... | Allan Mann | |
| John Pankow | ... | Geoffrey Fisher | |
| Kate McNeil | ... | Melanie Parker | |
| Joyce Van Patten | ... | Dorothy Mann | |
| Christine Forrest | ... | Maryanne Hodges | |
| Stephen Root | ... | Dean Burbage | |
| Stanley Tucci | ... | Dr. John Wiseman | |
| Boo | ... | Ella | |
| Janine Turner | ... | Linda Aikman | |
| William Newman | ... | Doc Williams | |
| Tudi Wiggins | ... | Esther Fry | |
| Tom Quinn | ... | Charlie Cunningham | |
| Chuck Baker | ... | Ambulance Driver | |
| Patricia Tallman | ... | Party Guest | |
| David Early | ... | Anesthetist |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Ella
Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear (USA) (promotional title)
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
113 min | West Germany:105 min (cut version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18
Filming Locations:
Carnegie Mellon University - 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA more
Company:
Fun Stuff
Quotes:
Geoffrey Fisher: [dazed] Sorry. She got me. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Malcolm in the Middle: Monkey (#3.22)" (2002) more
Soundtrack:
THE GLORY OF LOVE more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (55 total)
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George Romero, with his films and choosing of certain projects, is at least dependably unpredictable. The genres he works in 99% of the time are in the horror genre, or some bird of it (be it with zombies in his 'Dead' films, or more psychological with Martin and the Dark Half). Here he brings us the tale of a once prime athlete confined to a wheelchair, and the plucky little monkey who is trained to help him around the house and act as his companion as well as hands and feet. But, of course, things don't turn out right with what this 'experiment' comes forth. It's like one of those stories you find in those cheap paperback books at the grocery store, only stripped down to bare essentials and given some adrenaline from its filmmaker.
This is a peculiar film to see, which offers brilliance as well as dullness and just plain oddness. Some things about the story make less sense than others as well (as will happen when science becomes important to the story as opposed to more of a MacGuffin). The lead actor, Jason Beghe, is good in the role, but isn't nearly as convincing in being the after effect of the 'medicine' he's given (as does the Monkey) as he is in being the earnest, nice side of the character. There is even one great supporting performance in cold, hard-pressed form from Christine Forrest (wife and bit player in the films of Romero). It's not meant to be taken very seriously, to be sure, but Romero on the one hand has a kind of sweet (in the ironic sense), interesting story with just the monkey and her master, as the injections start to take its toll on the both of them. On the other hand, he still has to work in this framework of building up more and more terror with a kind of one-foot death-machine or something.
It's worth a look, especially for just the craft of the film, but it's definitely not one of Romero's best.