HORROR THRILLERS. “The Monkey.” / “Out Come the Wolves.” / “Baby Ruby.” / “Blood Red Sky.”

“The Monkey” (2025, Hulu) comedy horror film, written and directed by Osgood Perkins. Based on Stephen King's 1980 short story about twin brothers whose lives are turned upside down by a cursed toy monkey that causes random horrific deaths around them. 



       This icky movie received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $68.9 million worldwide against a budget of $10–11 million. Weird, I say.

       Rotten Tomatoes consensus: "Cruelly clever with some unforgettably gory set pieces.” Really? As for me, this eerie joint is cruelly stupid and the gory pieces are just that sort of mess, gory. Those whacked-out scenes are made to elicit boisterous laughter in a drunken, stoned frathouse. That's it. 🎥💻📽


“Out Come the Wolves” (2024, Hulu) Canadian horror thriller. A group of friends whose camping trip turns into a nightmare when they are stalked by a pack of wolves in a remote forest. 


       The survival thriller premise is a familiar ride but director Adam MacDonald has somehow turned this movie to a level of brutality aesthetics. Not too gory, not too graphic--but the intensity is unmistakable.

       Plus the performances of the three characters--Missy Peregryn as Sophie, Joris Jarsky as Kyle, Damon Runyan as Nolan--are finely engaged, compelling. 🎥💻📽


“Baby Ruby” (2022, Hulu) psychological horror-thriller that explores the dark side of new motherhood, focusing on postpartum depression and psychosis. 


       Writer/director Bess Wohl created a fascinatingly weird and eerie dive into new parenthood. A brilliant directorial debut, indeed. Noemie Merlant as first-time mom Jo gave a powerful performance that I can't help wonder why I haven't seen her yet in other movies. 🎥💻📽


“Blood Red Sky” (2021, Netflix) British-German action-horror crime-thriller vampire film. A mother with a mysterious blood disease (vampirism) travels with her son to New York. When terrorists hijack their transatlantic flight, she must unleash her monstrous, supernatural powers to protect her son. 


       Peri Baumeister as the vampirish Nadja exuded soul and heart that makes this movie more of a drama thriller rather than action horror. Avid genre hounds will definitely approve of the high-concept inventiveness. 🎥💻📽

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