Warning: SPOILERS for The Monkey!Rohan Campbell is no stranger to horror films and because of that, he has died a lot of ways on screen. That said, he admits that his death in The Monkey is his favorite of them all and was absolute mayhem to film. And if you have seen the movie, surely you know why.
An adaptation of a Stephen King story, The Monkey is packed with over-the-top, ridiculously bloody deaths, each one crazier than the last. This string of kills is kicked off when twin brothers discover their father’s old toy monkey, who, very clearly, has a taste for blood.
ScreenRant spoke with Rohan Campbell about this new horror-comedy, in which he revealed that The Monkey features his favorite way he has died on camera. Campbell details what it was like to get to work opposite Theo James as he portrayed two completely different characters – the older versions of the twins. He also reveals the story he created for his character, Thrasher, and his obsession with toy monkeys, because it is never explained in the movie.
Thrasher’s Death Scene Is One Of The Monkey’s Most Disturbing
“I Had No Idea How They Were Going To Do It”
Thrasher dies when a horde of bees flies into his mouth and then through his skin. It is one of the most disturbing death scenes in the whole film, but is, no doubt, epic. Campbell recalls being “incredibly excited” when he read it in the script. “I had no idea how they were going to do it, and I just wanted to make sure no bees were going to get hurt in the process,” he jokes
Thinking back on filming, Campbell says “that day was electric.” He adds, “It obviously looks amazing in the movie, and it’s probably my favorite way I’ve ever died on camera. And I’ve died a lot of different ways on camera. But this one is electric.“
I think when they called cut, everyone was just silent, because it was so ridiculous.
He then breaks down what the scene looked like in actuality, versus the finished product that we all got to see on the big screen: “Doing it without any CGI or effects is just me gargling in a back seat with Theo screaming at the top of his lungs.“
Campbell laughs, saying “it was mayhem, just absolute mayhem. I think when they called cut, everyone was just silent, because it was so ridiculous. It was a really fun day in the back of that car.“
Thrasher’s Backstory In The Monkey Explained By Rohan Campbell
“Is He Telecommunicating With This Monkey?”
In The Monkey, Thrasher has a very strange infatuation with the monkey, repeatedly saying it reminds him of his dad, but offering up no more details. It is part of what makes this movie so ridiculous, in a good way. When asked about why he thinks it is, Campbell reveals he came up with his own thoughts on that.
“I spent three weeks when I booked the role prepping everything. And the main question was is the monkey actually talking to him? Is he telecommunicating with this monkey?“
Thrasher’s got a very unique relationship with this toy monkey.
When he got on set, he spoke with the writer/director Osgood Perkins, who surprised him with his response, which was “I don’t need to know what’s going on in your brain. Just do your thing.” So Campbell reveals “in my mind, I thought that it would be funny if he was actually telecommunicating with this monkey.“
He admits “that’s what’s going on in my head,” before adding, “I don’t know if that’s what’s happening to anybody else.” He says “Thrasher’s got a very unique relationship with this toy monkey that’s relatable for him.“
Rohan Compall Discusses What It Was Like Working Opposite Theo James As Two Different Characters
“Like A Completely Different Human”
Theo James does a fantastic job in this movie playing twin brothers who could not be any different from one another. Campbell has the opportunity to play opposite both of them. He immediately praises James’ work, “He is so good in this movie. I know you’ve seen it, but for anyone who hasn’t yet, he’s so good in this movie that working with both versions of him was like a completely different human.“
Campbell explains, “I don’t want to spoil anything, but the later version of the twin, that you meet, has such a different vibe, and he was in it.” Because James was so into character, Campbell “gave him his space when he was doing that.“
He admits that James made “such an interesting choice,” before adding, “He’s so good.“
The Monkey arrives in theaters on February 21.
Check out our other The Monkey interviews:
- Colin O’Brien
- Sarah Levy
- Christian Convery
- Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, & Osgood Perkins
Source: Screen Rant Plus
