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Monkey Shines (film)
Encyclopedia
Monkey Shines is an American
horror film
originally released in 1988. Written and directed by George A. Romero
, the film is based on a novel with the same title authored by Michael Stewart
.
), who is rendered quadriplegic when struck by a truck. Mann fails to adjust to his condition, becoming suicidal and despondent. When Jeff, a scientist friend of his (John Pankow
), who has been experimenting with the injection of human brain tissue into monkeys, learns this, he is prompted to supply one of the experimental monkeys, named "Ella" (played by Boo, whose vocal effects are provided by Frank Welker
), to Alan as a helper.
Their relationship is amicable at first, with Mann's life being made much easier, and the two bond deeply, even sharing poignant moments with moving music. But soon their interaction takes a decidedly sinister turn. The monkey seems to become a telepathic receptacle for Mann's anger at his state and his desire for revenge against friends and family for slights both real and imagined. Simultaneously, Mann develops a romantic relationship with Melanie (Kate McNeil
), a specialist in quadriplegia and helper monkeys. The film contains a rare example of an intimate love scene with a severely handicapped protagonist.
Ella's protectiveness turns to savage jealousy even as Alan is informed that his condition may be reversible. First, she kills Alan's former girlfriend (Janine Turner
), who is now in a relationship with his former doctor (Stanley Tucci
), by setting their romantic hideaway on fire. Ella then kills Alan's jealous, overbearing mother (Joyce Van Patten
), by electrocuting
her in the bathtub. Ella then kills Jeff by injecting him with the very syringe
of Sodium pentobarbitone he had intended to use on her, and disables Melanie, before trying to light her on fire. Alan, helpless and alone, is able to summon the strength to turn on the tape player with the romantic music, summoning Ella to cuddle close to him. When Ella cradles Alan's head, Alan, rightfully betraying Ella's trust, bites and thrashes his head back and forth in a violent manner, hitting Ella into the handles of his wheelchair before finally relinquishing his bite and throwing her toward the open deck of his tape machine, killing Ella.
Alan undergoes surgery to restore his mobility, eventually regaining the ability to walk short distances with the aid of crutches. But before then, as he in rest post-surgery, he has a nightmare that he flat-lines and Ella leaps out of his back while the doctor is making his surgical incision.
, George Romero's first commercial film, appeared in 1988: while the film got a mixed response from the critics, the movie failed financially, leading director Romero to return to independent film. He learned that his film was cut by the distributor, Orion Pictures, and objected to this. Meanwhile, Orion was having financial difficulties and hoped a cut film would help them. Things did not work out with this film. Now the film has become a cult classic.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horror film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
originally released in 1988. Written and directed by George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
, the film is based on a novel with the same title authored by Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart (writer)
Michael Stewart is a writer known for the novel Monkey Shines adapted 1988 into an American horror film with the same name.- External links :...
.
Plot summary
Monkey Shines tells the story of an athlete, Alan Mann (Jason BegheJason Beghe
Jason Beghe is an American film and television actor and critic of Scientology. As a young man he attended the Collegiate School in New York City, where he became best friends with John F. Kennedy, Jr. and David Duchovny. Beghe is married and lives in Los Angeles, California.Beghe starred in the...
), who is rendered quadriplegic when struck by a truck. Mann fails to adjust to his condition, becoming suicidal and despondent. When Jeff, a scientist friend of his (John Pankow
John Pankow
John Pankow is an American film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for a supporting role on the sitcom Mad About You .-Early life:...
), who has been experimenting with the injection of human brain tissue into monkeys, learns this, he is prompted to supply one of the experimental monkeys, named "Ella" (played by Boo, whose vocal effects are provided by Frank Welker
Frank Welker
Franklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
), to Alan as a helper.
Their relationship is amicable at first, with Mann's life being made much easier, and the two bond deeply, even sharing poignant moments with moving music. But soon their interaction takes a decidedly sinister turn. The monkey seems to become a telepathic receptacle for Mann's anger at his state and his desire for revenge against friends and family for slights both real and imagined. Simultaneously, Mann develops a romantic relationship with Melanie (Kate McNeil
Kate McNeil
Kate McNeil is an American television actress. She began her acting career on the soap opera As the World Turns in 1981. In 1982, she appeared in the low-budget comedy Beach House, billed as Kathy McNeil. The following year, she starred in the slasher film The House on Sorority Row where she was...
), a specialist in quadriplegia and helper monkeys. The film contains a rare example of an intimate love scene with a severely handicapped protagonist.
Ella's protectiveness turns to savage jealousy even as Alan is informed that his condition may be reversible. First, she kills Alan's former girlfriend (Janine Turner
Janine Turner
Janine Turner is an American actress who starred on the prime time television show Northern Exposure from 1990 to 1995. From 2000 to 2002, she appeared on the Lifetime original series Strong Medicine...
), who is now in a relationship with his former doctor (Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is an American actor, writer, film producer and film director. He has been nominated for several notable film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in The Lovely Bones...
), by setting their romantic hideaway on fire. Ella then kills Alan's jealous, overbearing mother (Joyce Van Patten
Joyce Van Patten
Joyce Benignia Van Patten is an American stage, film and television actress.-Personal life:Van Patten was born in New York City, the daughter of Josephine Rose , an Italian American magazine advertising executive, and Richard Byron Van Patten, a Dutch American interior decorator.She is the younger...
), by electrocuting
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
her in the bathtub. Ella then kills Jeff by injecting him with the very syringe
Syringe
A syringe is a simple pump consisting of a plunger that fits tightly in a tube. The plunger can be pulled and pushed along inside a cylindrical tube , allowing the syringe to take in and expel a liquid or gas through an orifice at the open end of the tube...
of Sodium pentobarbitone he had intended to use on her, and disables Melanie, before trying to light her on fire. Alan, helpless and alone, is able to summon the strength to turn on the tape player with the romantic music, summoning Ella to cuddle close to him. When Ella cradles Alan's head, Alan, rightfully betraying Ella's trust, bites and thrashes his head back and forth in a violent manner, hitting Ella into the handles of his wheelchair before finally relinquishing his bite and throwing her toward the open deck of his tape machine, killing Ella.
Alan undergoes surgery to restore his mobility, eventually regaining the ability to walk short distances with the aid of crutches. But before then, as he in rest post-surgery, he has a nightmare that he flat-lines and Ella leaps out of his back while the doctor is making his surgical incision.
Release
Monkey ShinesMonkey Shines
Monkey Shines may refer to:* Monkey Shines, a 1988 film written and directed by George A. Romero* Monkey Shines , a 1997 shareware game for the Apple Macintosh...
, George Romero's first commercial film, appeared in 1988: while the film got a mixed response from the critics, the movie failed financially, leading director Romero to return to independent film. He learned that his film was cut by the distributor, Orion Pictures, and objected to this. Meanwhile, Orion was having financial difficulties and hoped a cut film would help them. Things did not work out with this film. Now the film has become a cult classic.
- Chosen by the SDSU SHS Communication Staff as "the most influential movie of our lives."