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IMDbPro

Monkey Shines

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
7,806
1,479
Monkey Shines (1988)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:39
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorSci-Fi
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
7,806
1,479
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • George A. Romero
    • Writers
      • Michael Stewart(novel "Monkey Shines")
      • George A. Romero(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Jason Beghe
      • John Pankow
      • Kate McNeil
    Top credits
    • Director
      • George A. Romero
    • Writers
      • Michael Stewart(novel "Monkey Shines")
      • George A. Romero(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Jason Beghe
      • John Pankow
      • Kate McNeil
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 87User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Monkey Shines
    Trailer 1:39
    Monkey Shines

    Photos132

    Jason Beghe, Kate McNeil, and John Pankow in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Jason Beghe and Kate McNeil in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Boo in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Jason Beghe and Kate McNeil in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Boo in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Jason Beghe in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Monkey Shines (1988)
    Boo in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Boo in Monkey Shines (1988)
    Monkey Shines (1988)
    Monkey Shines (1988)
    Monkey Shines (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jason Beghe
    Jason Beghe
    • Allan Mann
    John Pankow
    John Pankow
    • Geoffrey Fisher
    Kate McNeil
    Kate McNeil
    • Melanie Parker
    Joyce Van Patten
    Joyce Van Patten
    • Dorothy Mann
    Christine Forrest
    Christine Forrest
    • Maryanne Hodges
    Stephen Root
    Stephen Root
    • Dean Burbage
    Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci
    • Dr. John Wiseman
    Boo
    Boo
    • Ella
    Janine Turner
    Janine Turner
    • Linda Aikman
    William Newman
    William Newman
    • Doc Williams
    Tudi Wiggins
    Tudi Wiggins
    • Esther Fry
    Tom Quinn
    Tom Quinn
    • Charlie Cunningham
    Chuck Baker
    • Ambulance Driver
    Patricia Tallman
    Patricia Tallman
    • Party Guest
    David Early
    • Anesthetist
    Michael Naft
    • Young Allan
    Tina Romero
    Tina Romero
    • Child Playing
    Mitchell Baseman
    • Child Playing
    • Director
      • George A. Romero
    • Writers
      • Michael Stewart(novel "Monkey Shines")
      • George A. Romero(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was the first film role for Stephen Root, then a stage actor. According to Root, he had been instructed by his agent not to let the casting directors know that he was inexperienced with film as an actor. Root's official debut was Crocodile Dundee II (1988), which had been released in theaters a month before this film, despite being shot a month after it.
    • Goofs
      Fisher incorrectly refers to performing an "autopsy" on Ella. An autopsy is performed on human remains. The correct term for examining animal remains postmortem is "necropsy". This is a common mistake for most people, one that Fisher would not make, given his profession.
    • Quotes

      Geoffrey Fisher: You're a clinical cunt.

    • Crazy credits
      "Introducing Boo as Ella"
    • Alternate versions
      Earlier versions of Monkey Shines allegedly contained a bizarre brain surgery scene, as well as several abusive scenes involving the small monkey, Ellie. Although the scenes were all staged and no animals were harmed in the making of the movie, the filmmakers decided it would be better to simply leave them out to avoid conflicts.
    • Connections
      Featured in Document of the Dead (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      There'll Be Another Spring
      Written by Peggy Lee and Hubie Wheeler

      Performed by Peggy Lee

      Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.

      Under license from Capitol Special Markets

    User reviews87

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    not your typical horror flick
    If you're looking for body count, blood, or bogeymen, this film is not for you. It is more of a psychological thriller than a horror film, though it was billed as horror, likely because of the pseudo-science gimmick that provides the basis for the conflict in the plot.

    While the film tends to wander a bit (i.e. a sub-plot involving the research head that gets dropped 3/4 of the way through) it stays fairly well focused on the main character and his problems. Aside from the lead, the most effective acting was done by the monkey(s), but the "real" actors do a pretty good job of carrying their own. It gives you a little insight into what it's like to be quadriplegic. For a late 80's movie, the style of filming was well done, there is very little cheese, and the special effects didn't overreach.

    The premise seems a bit farfetched to our currently more sophisticated and informed sense of what's possible on the genetic engineering front. After all, this movie was made 15 years ago. If Romero had gone with either a supernatural cause or a plain animal jealousy angle, it might be less dated, but then again it might have been a little less believable to begin with.

    Not very horrific, not startling or scary, but worth seeing if you don't mind a slightly slow-paced thriller. I gave it a higher than average score (6 out of 10) just because it didn't make me say "oh, please!" too many times unlike other movies from that time--particularly horror films--are prone to do. For example, the pivotal moment is fully supported by plausible input earlier in the film, it's not one of those miraculous developments pulled out of nowhere in the last few seconds before the climax.
    helpful•13
    3
    • Sleel
    • Sep 19, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Do disabled people in real life ever use monkeys for help around the house?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ella
    • Filming locations
      • Carnegie Mellon University - 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production company
      • Orion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,344,577
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,902,024
      • Jul 31, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,344,577
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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