Stephen King's latest adaptation called 'gory chaos' and 'deliriously entertaining' is out now

A ridiculously entertaining gory romp that could be destined to become a future horror classic is now in cinemas

The latest fright-fest based on the work of beloved horror author Stephen King has finally hit the big screen.

Based on one of The Shining author’s lesser-known short stories from the 1980s, it’s directed by Osgood Perkins, who delivered the chilling Longlegs last year.

However, the horror auteur takes scare-addicts on a very different yet equally wild ride with his latest terrifying caper, The Monkey.

In total contrast to Longlegs’ atmospheric slow burn, Theo James stars in an unhinged horror-comedy about a wind-up monkey toy that kills its victims indiscriminately with an endless, gory parade of thrillingly entertaining kills.

After accidentally causing tragedy with the cursed toy, twins Hal and Bill Shelburn (played by Christian Convery) vow to put it behind them. But a series of accidents years later convinces adult Hal (James) the monkey has come back to haunt him.

Horror fans are already raving about the film, particularly highlighting the series of deliciously macabre kills the monkey leaves in its wake.

Empire wrote: “The main sustenance is course after course of ketchup-covered set-pieces that recall Peter Jackson’s Braindead or the last act of Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise in their gleeful nastiness, and the Final Destination movies in their Mousetrap-style, chain-of-calamity inventiveness.

“Don’t expect the true terror of Perkins’ Longlegs or King’s source story. Do expect plentiful gags to make you, well, gag. The best scenes here are a gory glory.”

While the Irish Times promised: “Good old-fashioned disgusting fun. You’ll have a blast.

“Based on the Stephen King story, Osgood Perkins’s new film delivers spectacularly gruesome beheadings, eviscerations and disembowelment.”

One horror fan who got to see the film early posted on Reddit: “The kills are unapologetically over-the-top – with a few straight out of the Final Destination playbook – and the dialogue is just as exaggerated, particularly from Bill.

“Rather than sloppy writing, these are intentional choices by Perkins, using absurdity as a vehicle to explore weightier ideas.”

While a user on the film social media platform Letterboxd said: “Oz Perkins really knows how to deliver for the sickos & the horror freaks.

“The Monkey is gory straight chaos from start to finish. Hilarious, dark toned and unserious as f***!! I was having the f***ing time of my life. Some of the most blood splattered, unique and creative kills I’ve seen in any horror film recently. Multiple contenders for kills of the year I’d say.”

And another user raved: “Osgood Perkins absolutely snapped here with The Monkey. Stephen King giving him the keys to this deliriously entertaining, blood soaked film only proves he can pull out the very best from total madness!

“It’s grim carnage with a mischievous sense of humour that only serves as a reminder that the horror genre can be both deeply unsettling, and outrageously entertaining in the same breath.

“I mean my goodness the kills I saw in this film were a thing of twisted beauty, and it never seemed to lose its sense of playfulness in moments of sheer chaos.

“And that monkey.. that eerie, clattering monkey… instant icon anyone? I THINK SO.”

Will you be braving The Monkey’s curse this weekend? It currently holds 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, so most critics agree you’ll be in for a treat.

The Monkey is in cinemas now.