★★★★★

Way more unsettling than I expected. It’s not the monkey that scared me, it’s what she represented.

Lisa J.

Oregon

When most people hear the name George A. Romero, they think zombies. And fair enough, the man basically reinvented the undead. But tucked away in Romero’s filmography is a high-concept psychological thriller that rarely gets the respect it deserves: Monkey Shines (1988).

At BoxReview.com, we love rediscovering these cult gems, the ones that slipped past the mainstream but have way more going on than people remember. Monkey Shines isn’t your average killer-animal flick. It’s a layered, slow-burning psychological horror film that takes the idea of dependency to terrifying extremes.

Plot (Spoiler-Free):

Allan Mann (played by Jason Beghe) is a young, athletic law student whose life is shattered after an accident leaves him quadriplegic. Struggling with depression and helplessness, Allan receives an experimental helper monkey named Ella, trained to assist him with daily tasks. But Ella’s not just a sweet little service animal; she’s been genetically enhanced and has a psychic bond with Allan.

At first, the connection is miraculous. But as Allan’s inner rage and resentment build, Ella begins acting out violently. Soon, the line between Allan’s darkest thoughts and Ella’s actions starts to blur, leading to a disturbing question: who’s really in control?

What Most Reviews Miss: It’s Not Really About the Monkey

Yes, there’s a monkey. Yes, it gets violent. But what makes Monkey Shines interesting and, honestly, way more chilling than you expect, is how it explores helplessness, loss of autonomy, and suppressed rage.

Romero isn’t just giving us a killer animal movie. He’s digging into what happens when we can no longer physically act on our emotions and what happens when something (or someone) else does it for us.

Allan’s condition becomes a metaphor for emotional paralysis. Ella’s increasing aggression feels like an extension of his buried frustration. And the way she begins to act on his behalf is unsettling in a very personal way.

That idea of losing control not just of your body, but of your intentions is what gives Monkey Shines its lasting edge.

Jason Beghe: A Surprisingly Raw Performance

Beghe (best known today for Chicago P.D.) delivers an incredibly vulnerable and believable performance as Allan. You feel his frustration. His loss. His shame. And later, his deep, quiet terror as he begins to suspect that his thoughts are no longer private.

It’s a demanding role, especially given how much of the film relies on small expressions and controlled physicality, and Beghe pulls it off. He brings authenticity to a role that could’ve easily gone over the top.

Also, credit to Romero for never exploiting Allan’s disability. The film treats his condition seriously and explores the emotional complexity of living with paralysis, something rarely addressed in horror.

Ella the Monkey: Cute, Smart… and Absolutely Terrifying

It’s easy to laugh off the premise of a killer monkey until you actually see Ella onscreen. Played by a real Capuchin monkey named Boo (who deserves her own horror icon status), Ella is both adorable and incredibly unsettling.

Romero doesn’t rely on CGI or flashy effects. Instead, it’s the clever use of animal behavior, camera work, and sound that builds tension. Ella’s expressions feel just human enough to make you uncomfortable, especially when you realize how intelligent she is.

And the most disturbing part? She’s not evil. She’s bonded. She’s loyal. And that’s what makes her dangerous.

Underrated Themes: Mind, Body, and Manipulation

While some viewers dismiss Monkey Shines as a campy creature feature, there’s a lot more going on under the surface. The film tackles:

• Dependency and resentment

• The ethics of animal experimentation

• Mind-body dualism

• The fear of losing personal agency

It’s very much a Romero film in the sense that it’s about human nature as much as horror. And like his best work, it’s political in its own way, just quieter.

Also worth noting: there’s a great supporting cast, including John Pankow as Geoffrey (the guilt-ridden scientist who modified Ella) and Stanley Tucci in an early, wonderfully sleazy role.

Practical Effects and Tone: Tense, Not Over-the-Top

In true Romero fashion, the film relies heavily on practical effects and atmosphere, not gore. There are a few brutal moments, but they’re earned and often suggested rather than shown.

The score by David Shire (of The Conversation fame) adds an eerie undercurrent, keeping you in a state of unease even during quieter scenes.

There’s also a certain slow, creeping tension that modern audiences may not be used to. This is a psychological thriller at its core, not a jump-scare fest.

Why It Deserves a Rewatch Today

Monkey Shines was largely dismissed when it came out, mostly due to its marketing as a horror gimmick. But in today’s landscape of re-evaluated genre films, it stands out as a thoughtful, disturbing exploration of control and connection.

Plus, in a time when AI, brain-machine interfaces, and ethical questions about animal testing are in the headlines, the movie suddenly feels eerily timely.

Final Thoughts from Box Review

At Box Review, we’re always on the hunt for films that offer more than they promise on the surface. Monkey Shines might sound like a silly B-movie, but it’s actually a smart, character-driven psychological thriller wrapped in a horror shell.

It asks uncomfortable questions about control, disability, rage, and dependency, all while delivering a genuinely creepy story. If you’ve never seen it (or wrote it off years ago), it’s time to give it a second chance.

Box Score: 8.4/10

A surprisingly intelligent, emotionally grounded horror thriller that proves George Romero was always more than just the zombie guy.

Watch Now on Amazon!