NeonThe Monkey is a new horror movie from the twisted mind of Osgood Perkins, who has included an unexpected Easter egg that’s linked to the greatest Stephen King movie of all time.
Although written and directed by Longlegs helmer Osgood Perkins, The Monkey is based on a terrifying short story by Stephen King, which was first published in a magazine in 1980, before appearing in his Skeleton Crew collection in 1985.
The sick story revolves around a toy monkey that attaches itself to a family, leaving death and destruction in its wake, inspiring our list of best kills in The Monkey ranked.
It isn’t a film that’s filled with Easter eggs, but there’s one reference that stands out, harking back to our favorite Stephen King movie. But to explain the link, be warned, we need to delve into SPOILER territory…
How The Monkey references Stephen King’s Misery
Early in the movie, mother Lois (Tatiana Maslany) sends her twin boys off with a babysitter called Annie (Danica Dreyer). We know that’s her name because Lois specifically called her “Babysitter Annie.”
Things don’t go well for the child carer, however, as the toy is already working its dark magic. When she takes the boys out for Japanese food, their chef accidentally slices her head off.
Which is shocking, horrific, and the way Perkins shoots it, very funny. But then the writer-director does a strange thing during the character’s funeral, as the priest says her full name, and it’s… Annie Wilkes.
As true Stephen King fans know, that’s the name of the hero/villain of the author’s 1987 novel Misery, and the role for which Kathy Bates won an Oscar in the 1990 film adaptation.
MGMSo what’s going on here? There is a babysitter who dies in the source material, but she’s called Beulah and is shot to death by her boyfriend, so there’s no connection there.
It can’t be the Annie Wilkes in Misery, as this version dies much younger. So there’s no shared universe.
Instead, it seems to simply be an Easter egg for King fans. Though quite a weird one as it took me straight out of the movie, then left me somewhat confused, and wondering if The Monkey would be filled with similarly referential names. Which it isn’t. Making the mention of Annie Wilkes as curious as the monkey at the heart of Perkins’ film.
The Monkey is in cinemas now. Check out our piece on surprise cameos in The Monkey and the film’s ending explained, while you can head here for Dexerto’s list of the best horror movies of all time.
