Stephen King's "The Monkey" is a short story about a cursed toy monkey that causes a string of horrifying deaths. The story explores themes of childhood trauma, fate, and the consequences of unchecked curiosity. The novel features memorable characters, including the twin brothers who must confront the monkey's malevolent power. King's masterful storytelling creates a chilling atmosphere of suspense and dread. The novel's exploration of childhood trauma and the supernatural has made it a classic of the horror genre.
This one-act play, 'I'm Still Here,' is a work by Ramona Baillie that has been performed at several venues including Central Alberta Theatre, New Ideas Festival, and The Arts & Letters Club. The play is part of Baillie's body of work that reflects her expertise in both stage and screen writing.
The Haunting of Hill House follows Dr. John Montague, an investigator of the supernatural, and his guests—Eleanor Vance, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson—as they stay at the notorious Hill House. The house, known for its dark history and inexplicable phenomena, begins to exert its influence on the group, particularly on Eleanor, who may be losing touch with reality or possessing a subconscious telekinetic ability. The novel explores themes of psychological horror, the blurring of reality and imagination, and the haunting nature of the house itself.
Welcome to another show jam-packed with top takes from Simon & Mark—which are still eliciting your ‘quiet affirmative noises’...
Reviews this week of The Monkey—a splattery and slanted dark comedy horror about a murderous wind-up toy from Longlegs director Osgood Perkins, and I’m Still Here—the Brazilian drama about ‘the disappeared’ under the military dictatorship in the 1970s that has taken the Oscar nominations by storm. Plus September Says, an unsettling drama of sisterly bonds, and a little bit of Captain America: Brave New World, since we were foiled by the screening schedule last week.
This week’s guest is 90s New Black Realist cinema’s MVP—that’s Mario Van Peebles. Possibly our smoothest, coolest guest evs, he directed 90s classics New Jack City, Panther, Posse—and now Outlaw Posse. With it, he’s pushing the frontier in more ways than one, bringing us a classic western without the whitewashing as he follows a gang of black cowboys who have rejected the unjust laws of their time to become outlaws. He talks to Simon about Black Westerns, ‘Black Rodeo’—the BFI season celebrating the genre that launched earlier this month—and being part of an indie filmmaking dynasty with his father Melvin and son Mandela.
Your verdicts from our inbox on all the big releases too—keep them coming!
Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):
September Says Review: 08:46
Captain America: Brave New World Review: 19:24
Mario Van Peebles Interview: 27:02
I’m Still Here Review: 46:11
Laughter lift: 52:53
The Monkey Review: 55:22
You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo
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Kermode & Mayo’s Take 
