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Osgood Perkins can’t be stopped.

The writer/director is not precisely a newcomer; he made waves with 2016’s “I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” and 2020’s “Gretel & Hansel.” But it was 2024’s “Longlegs” that served as his breakthrough. The offbeat crime thriller, which featured an unhinged turn by Nicolas Cage as a Satanic serial killer, was uneven but memorable.

Barely six months have passed since that film’s release, and Perkins has already delivered another phantasmagoric horror experience, “The Monkey.”

Loosely based on a short story by Stephen King, “The Monkey” stars Theo James as twin brothers who share an unusual curse. They’ve inherited a wind-up toy monkey; when you turn the key in its back, it taps out a rhythm on a small drum.

Then, someone nearby dies. Usually in complicated and messy fashion.

The twins (played in their youth by Christian Convery) quickly learn the simian’s secret, after they inadvertently bring about the grisly deaths of their mother (Tatiana Maslany) and uncle (Perkins). Blaming one another for their misfortune, they attempt to bury the toy; in adulthood, it returns, with an even higher body count.

“The Monkey” is grisly, but it’s more dark comedy than true horror; it aims to shock and revolt but not truly frighten. If you’re uncomfortable laughing at comedically timed disembowelment, it may not be the film for you; if you can take the heat, though, there are guilty belly laughs aplenty to be found.

There are also bizarre asides and plot threads that are inadequately explained. Perkins throws a lot of ideas into his films, and some are undercooked; a key character emerges late with barely a line to explain who he is or what he’s doing in the film. Stumbles like these (which were also present in “Longlegs”) hurt Perkins’ films in cohesion, even if they add something in madcap energy.

Like “Longlegs,” “The Monkey” is an over-the-top, unforgettable film. Also like its predecessor, it’s a bit uneven. But once again, I’m ready for Perkins to make another picture. And apparently, I won’t have to wait long; after the credits, a brief teaser rolls for “Keeper,” a new film from Perkins due this October.

Like I said: He can’t be stopped.

My Rating: 7/10

“The Monkey” is now playing in theaters.