Monkey Shines: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Jan 23, 2024
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
George A. RomeroRelease Date(s)
1988 (December 6, 2023)Studio(s)
Orion Pictures/MGM (Umbrella Entertainment)- Film/Program Grade: B
- Video Grade: B+
- Audio Grade: B+
- Extras Grade: A
Review
Monkey Shines (with the tagline/subtitle An Experiment in Fear added by the studio) is a book-to-film adaptation by George Romero, based upon the novel of the same name by Michael Stewart. It tells the story of a quadriplegic man named Allan who’s given a small pet monkey named Ella to help him with everyday activities. Things ultimately go horribly wrong when it’s revealed that secret experiments have been performed on Ella, making her intelligent enough to form a psychic bond with Allan, lashing out at those who might try and come between them.
Interestingly enough, Monkey Shines was George Romero’s first studio film, and also his second to last. After dealing with Orion Pictures and being fed up with the way they had meddled with his work, he decided to go back to making independent films again soon after. But Monkey Shines, for all intents and purposes, is one of the most well-crafted films in his entire catalog; a strange thing to say given his previous body of work. This means that he was afforded the benefit of having access to more production value, and it certainly shows. George was always a director who tried to cover everything from every possible angle and then make it work in the editing room, but Monkey Shines feels more planned and slicker by comparison.
As for the film itself, the plot comes off as a bit silly at times. It’s a premise that you really have to suspend your disbelief in order to follow along with it. Just the thought of a small adorable killer monkey is enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face, but the execution is about as good as you’re going to get. On the other hand, the performances are quite good, which helps hold the film up a lot more than it would have without them. A decidedly saccharine ending aside, Monkey Shines is pretty tightly put together. It’s not perfect on all sides, but it has some genuinely effective and suspenseful moments.
Monkey Shines was shot by cinematographer James A. Contner on 35 mm film using Arriflex 35 BL3 cameras and spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Umbrella Entertainment’s Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release appears to use the same master as Scream Factory’s 2014 Blu-ray release. Since it’s an older master, it’s definitely softer with a higher yield of grain and less detail than more recent film scans, but it looks very good for its age. It appears filmic without any heavy-handed clean-up, with occasional speckling popping up from time to time. Colors aren’t all that robust, but what’s present offers a nice variety with good skin tones and decent black levels that are only mildly crushed. Contrast is acceptable and the image is stable throughout. Could it use a fresh 4K scan of the original camera negative? Of course, but it’s still a fine-looking presentation that holds up relatively well.
Audio is included in English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional English subtitles. The film was released theatrically in Dolby Stereo SR, which is likely what this track is derived from as it decodes nicely. Dialogue is always clean and clear, while score and sound effects fill the surrounding space and offer good movement and atmospherics. It’s worth noting that the Scream Factory release included a 5.1 option, which was a bit front-heavy and, therefore, not really missed here.
Monkey Shines on Collector’s Edition Region-Free Blu-ray sits in a clear amaray case with a double-sided insert featuring the home video poster of the cymbal monkey holding a bloody straight razor on both sides, but sporting the Australian rating for the film on the front. Tucked inside is a reversible poster featuring the original US theatrical poster artwork on the front, and alternate artwork that uses a version of the French and Belgian posters (as well as the Music Box Records soundtrack CD release) on the reverse, which is also used on the front and rear of the slipcover. Alongside this are 8 lobby card replicas and a 52-page booklet containing the essay Ain’t We Got Fun: The Kept Man Syndrome in Monkey Shines by Lee Gambin; a set of production notes; Joyce Van Patten Goes Bananas: Remembering Monkey Shines, an interview with the actress by Lee Gambin; the essay A History of Orion Pictures Horror: A Severed Limb, Urban Wolves, Ritual Sacrifice, Animal Experiments & Inhuman Duality by Jarret Gahan; and a set of special thanks. All of this material is housed in a numbered Limited Edition rigid slipcase with new artwork. Extras on the Blu-ray include the following:
- Audio Commentary with George A. Romero, Moderated by Stuart “Feedback” Andrews
- An Experiment in Fear: The Making of Monkey Shines (HD – 49:32)
- Deleted Scenes (SD – 4 in all – 4:07)
- Alternate Ending (SD – 5:12)
- Vintage “Making Of” (SD – 5:21)
- Behind-the-Scenes Footage (SD – 13:16)
- Archival Interviews and News Feature (SD – 5:44)
- Theatrical Trailer #1 (HD – 1:55)
- Theatrical Trailer #2 (HD – 1:29)
- TV Spot (SD – :33)
The audio commentary with George and Stuart “Feedback” Andrews of the Cinemaphobia Radio podcast is a decent one (any George Romero commentary is better than none at all), which is a mix of the reactionary and the educational. They watch the film together and George is asked questions along the way, often finding himself commenting upon the film’s events as they happen. An Experiment in Fear is an excellent Red Shirt Pictures documentary about the making of the film, featuring interviews with George Romero, executive producer Peter Grunwald, actors Kate McNeil, Jason Beghe, John Pankow, editor Pasquale Buba, and special make-up effects artists Tom Savini, Greg Nicotero, and Everett Burrell. Next are a set of Deleted Scenes and an Alternate Ending, the latter of which might’ve made a better fit had George had his way. There’s various EPK material, including a Vintage “Making Of” featurette, interview snippets, and a news feature. Also included are thirteen minutes of Behind-the-Scenes Footage, some of it official and some shot by Tom Savini. Last are a pair of trailers and a TV spot. Not included from the Scream Factory Blu-ray release is a still gallery, and missing from the Eureka UK Blu-ray release is an exclusive audio commentary by the late Travis Crawford. Otherwise, everything’s accounted for.
Due to the popularity of George Romero’s zombie movie sextet, most might overlook something like Monkey Shines as a less important work. But one should never underestimate George. Monkey Shines is still a somewhat unique and suspenseful horror film with more going on in it than many of the killer monkey movies made duinrg the same era. And Umbrella Entertainment’s beautiful Collector’s Edition Blu-ray package offers a fine presentation and a great extras package.
- Tim Salmons
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