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“You killed my Bogie! Not with your hands. You had your little demon do it for you.” Her “Bogie” and his “little demon?” That’s a new one. Never heard them called that before. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr – as they go talk-about with Monkey Shines (1988), one of George Romero’s studio efforts.
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 235 – Monkey Shines (1988)
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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.
- Director: George A. Romero
- Writers: Michael Stewart, George A. Romero
- Makeup Department:
- Special Makeup Effects: Tom Savini
- Special Makeup Effects Assistants: Greg Nicotero, Everett Burrell, Mike Trcic
- Special Effects: Steven Kirshoff
- Visual Effects: Alexandra Menapace (motion control graphics) (uncredited)
- Stunts: David Meeks, Tom Savini, Patricia Tallman, Judy Zazula
- Selected Cast:
- Jason Beghe as Allan Mann
- John Pankow as Geoffrey Fisher
- Kate McNeil as Melanie Parker
- Joyce Van Patten as Dorothy Mann
- Christine Forrest as Maryanne Hodges
- Stephen Root as Dean Burbage
- Stanley Tucci as Dr. John Wiseman
- Boo as Ella
- Janine Turner as Linda Aikman
- William Newman as Doc Williams
- Tudi Wiggins as Esther Fry
- Tom Quinn as Charlie Cunningham
- Chuck Baker as Ambulance Driver
- Patricia Tallman as Party Guest
- David Early as Anesthetist
- Michael Naft as Young Allan
- Tina Romero as Child Playing
- Mitchell Baseman as Child Playing
- Lia Savini as Child Playing
- Anthony Dileo Jr. as Vandal (as Tim DiLeo)
- Melanie Verlin as Vandal
- Dan Fallon as Allan’s Friend
George A. Romero writes and directs Monkey Shines, an adaptation of Michael Stewart’s 1983 British novel of the same title. Despite the monkey with the clapping cymbals on the poster, this movie has nothing to do with Stephin King. An excellent cast (Jason Beghe, John Pankow, Kate McNeil, Joyce Van Patten, Christine Forrest, Stephen Root, Janine Turner, and Stanley Tucci) and detailed storytelling that crosses all the t’s and almost dots all the i’s, might just make this work. And beware if you have a phobia regarding monkeys with sharp objects! You’ve been warned.
At the time of this writing, Monkey Shines is available to stream from Tubi, Pluto TV, and multiple PPV sources.
Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Chad, will be The Incubus (1981) from the novel by Ray Russell [Mr. Sardonicaus (1961) and X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963)] and starring John Cassavetes.
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