Monkey Shines (1988)

Director:

George A. Romero

Writers (WGA):

Michael Stewart (novel)
George A. Romero (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 July 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil...

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.

Plot Keywords:

Quadriplegic | Psychological Drama | Beautiful Woman | Psychological Thriller | Murderous Monkey

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Ella
Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

113 min | West Germany:105 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

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

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Quotes:

Geoffrey Fisher: [dazed] Sorry. She got me.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Malcolm in the Middle: Monkey (#3.22)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

THE GLORY OF LOVE

Could've been better, could've been a lot worse

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.