The Monkey (in theaters)

How funny do you find blood splatter?

The answer to that will determine how you feel about “The Monkey,” the latest from “Longlegs” director Osgood Perkins. Loosely based on a Stephen King short story, the horror-comedy utilizes a lot of its absurdity in a series of dramatic, cartoon-like deaths. Though there’s also plenty of fringe ridiculousness, including Elijah Wood playing one of his textbook weirdos, it’s clear that the deaths are what Perkins is really invested in. They get increasingly chaotic in the second half, losing impact and swallowing up a late attempt at an emotional subplot, but if wacky deaths are your thing “The Monkey” still has plenty to appreciate.

The plot is more of an excuse than anything else in movies like this, featuring a monkey toy that is always down to commit murder. Theo James plays a set of embattled twins who receive the toy as children. It reappears in their lives as adults, causing another series of deaths and forcing them to try and defeat it.

James does a solid job distinguishing the twins’ personalities, particularly with the meaner, more eccentric Bill. The really entertaining performances are from supporting cast members, however, including Adam Scott as the twins’ father and Perkins himself as an uncle who briefly takes custody of them. Colin O’Brien has a thankless task as the son of one of the twins, a serious center often lost in an absurd storm.  

With all the ridiculousness and blood splatter, there’s really not room for anything else.

Grade: Two and a half stars

The Gorge (Apple TV+)

It’s important to know that “The Gorge” isn’t really a sci-fi action movie. It’s a romance with some sci-fi action in it.

That’s not a bad thing, though. The chemistry between leads Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller is by far the best thing about the movie, strong enough to overcome even screenwriter Zach Dean’s wooden dialogue. The first hour, focusing on the slow, unexpectedly sweet buildup of their romance, is enough to keep you going even through the clunky, chaotic, and often far too predictable sci-fi action beats that follow. Thanks to Taylor-Joy and Teller, you’re invested.

The movie opens with two operatives (Taylor-Joy and Teller) getting hired to guard opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. They’re supposed to man their individual towers for one year, not communicate with the person on the opposite side, and make sure whatever is in the gorge doesn’t get out. The two soon break the second rule, even crossing the gorge to see each other, but an accident soon forces them to discover the secrets of the gorge for themselves.

Director Scott Derrickson does what he can with the genre explosion in the movie’s second half, trying to maintain the danger as much as possible. Though the movie hardly qualifies as horror, Derrickson’s experience in the area is more effective at adding drama to battle scenes than the CGI. The score, by the always excellent Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, also adds to the experience.

The best part, though, is still seeing Taylor-Joy and Teller’s characters trying to stay together. No matter how silly the monsters are, it’s a worthy fight.

Grade: Two stars

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Utah Film Critics Association. Find her on Twitter at @wardellwriter or drop her a line at [email protected].