One of last year’s biggest surprises was “Longlegs,” a taut white-knuckle horror film that established Oz Perkins, the son of the late Anthony Perkins, as a visionary new filmmaker.

His follow-up “The Monkey” only reinforces that Perkins knows his way around the horror genre. This time the writer/director shows a more humorously sinister side, creating a film that has as many uncomfortable laughs as it does blood and gore.

It’s a welcome side of Perkins that makes “The Monkey” stand out – a devious slice of horror with a sense of humor that makes it one fun cinematic carnival ride.

Working from an adaptation of a Stephen King short story, “The Monkey” tells the story of twin brothers Hal and Bill Shelburn (played first by Christian Convery and as an adult by Theo James). Despite being twins the brothers are very different, with Hal being more sensitive and Bill more outgoing.

The boys discover a windup monkey among the items left behind by their father (he mysteriously disappeared one day, leaving their mom Lois [Tatiana Maslany] to raise them alone). Hal and Bill soon discover that the vintage windup monkey (don’t call it a toy) actually has evil powers – when you wind it up the monkey arbitrarily chooses someone to die.

After a series of horrific deaths, Hal and Bill decide to get rid of the monkey to break the curse, and go their separate ways. But 25 years later the monkey is back, and no one is safe – including Hal and his estranged son Petey (Colin O’Brien).

Perkins takes this story and crafts a film full of set pieces that are very reminiscent of the “Final Destination” movies. Every location, every prop is just a piece of an elaborate mouse trap that is somehow going to lead to the demise of its human target.

Like the early “Final Destination” films there is almost this playful quality to it, with Perkins displaying a very morbid sense of humor. It’s the kind of film that continually crosses the line, but does so in very fun and creative ways.

It wouldn’t work if there wasn’t at least someone in the film for the audience to care for and fortunately James and Convery both deliver performances that make the film’s narrator Hal quite sympathetic – with Bill a much more complex character that is quite the opposite of his twin.

Maslany is very good as their wise mother, who in one scene provides the boys with the harsh lesson that death is certain. There are also fun cameos from Adam Scott, in an opening scene that perfectly sets the tone for all this madness, and Elijah Wood.

But it all comes back to Perkins, whose deft eye for mixing comedy and gore proves to be quite impressive. His screenplay is just as smart, providing enough twists and turns to keep this thing moving at a brisk pace.

We aren’t even two months into the year and horror fans have already been living well with this, “Presence” and “Companion” all strong entries into the genre. “The Monkey” may well be the best of the month, a film that now makes the next Perkins film appointment viewing.

If You Go
“The Monkey”
Starring: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany
Directed by: Oz Perkins
Rating: R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references
Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)
Grade: B