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Kill of the Week: Man Bites Monkey in ‘Monkey Shines’

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Every week, we spotlight a kill that we just can’t get enough of. This is Kill of the Week.

We entered this week with the incredibly devastating news that George A. Romero, independent film pioneer, master of horror and creator of the modern day zombie, had passed away at the age of 77. In the wake of the news, most horror fans have spent the week celebrating the life and legacy of Romero, revisiting the immortal body of work he leaves behind.

Of course, Romero is most known for his zombie movies, but he also directed a handful of other notable films throughout his career. Romero’s first studio film was Monkey Shines, released after his original zombie trilogy was completed, in 1988.

Infamously, Romero’s experience on the film was bad enough to send him running back to the indie scene, but his adaptation of Michael Stewart’s novel nevertheless turned out to be a late ’80s gem. After all, Romero in his prime was a force to be reckoned with – even with lots of studio interference.

Monkey Shines tells the story of Allan Mann (Jason Beghe), an athlete who is left quadriplegic after an accident at the start of the film. In an effort to make life easier on him, Mann takes in an experimental monkey named Ella, who at first appears to be a godsend. Of course, however, Ella soon goes on a warpath, leaving several bodies in her wake.

From what I gather, it was the studio that forced Romero to end the film on a happy note, with Mann surviving and Ella being killed off. But even if Romero wasn’t sold on the idea himself, I’ve gotta say: the ending to Monkey Shines is absolutely perfect, giving Mann a badass hero moment after being tormented throughout the film.

I’m gonna take you apart. I’m gonna rip your fuckin’ eyes out. I’m gonna tear you open and chew out your fuckin’ heart,” Mann promises Ella a bit earlier in the film; and he makes pretty damn good on that promise when he later lures Ella onto his lap and, well, takes a bite out of her. He thrashes Ella around wildly in his mouth, ending her reign of terror the only way his body allows.

Somehow, despite Ella being a murderous little shit, you feel bad for her in those final moments. A testament to Romero’s ability to humanize even the most inhuman of monsters – one of the very things that made his zombie movies so essential.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

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SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

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As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

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