Monkey Shines (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

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

Underrated Romero film

This film has been described as a "horror film for people who don't like horror films." That's an apt description for this underrated psychological/supernatural thriller from Pittsburgh's master horror director, George A. Romero. To date, this is Romero's only studio film, and he had to make numerous compromises to the finished product. (The originally intended ending would have been a killer.) That said, the film still comes off as smart and sharp, with some very good casting. (John Pankow, recognizable from "Mad About You," is really excellent here, and there are nice early performances from Stephen Root, Stanley Tucci, and Janine Turner.) And check out the amazingly good editing in the last 10 minutes. Overall, while this is not first-tier Romero, it's a terrific little horror film.