DVD Corner

The Jolly Monkey DVD Review

“The Jolly Monkey” is a slasher bore.

For those that may not be aware, The Asylum is known for making low-budget knockoffs of Hollywood films. This time around there’s “The Jolly Monkey” which is a take-off of 2025’s horror-comedy “The Monkey.” 

Written and directed by Ryan Ebert, “The Jolly Monkey” does indeed feature cymbal clashing monkey toys (although these ones have jacked up looking faces and make obnoxious sounds). The toys certainly play a pivotal part in the story, but aren’t the main focus of this slasher. Anyway, the main plot involves a brother and sister heading to the rundown Jolly Monkey Motel alongside their parents, aunt, and uncle. You see, their grandmother has passed away and the family has inherited the property. The sketchy motel has a dark history (unbeknownst to most) in which families went missing and were murdered by a man dressed as a monkey. It seems someone is donning the monkey suit again and has focused their attention on the family. Who is the murderer and what is their motive? Everything is revealed in the end.

Asylum films are often known for their cheap mindlessly entertaining over-the-top knockoffs, but unfortunately, that campy appeal is missing from this otherwise bland slasher film. This low-budget film really doesn’t have much to offer outside of some gory thrills for horror junkies. There’s minimal characterization, a cast of relative unknowns (outside of Dominic Keating of “Star Trek: Enterprise” fame), a plot twist you can see coming miles away, visually unappealing cinematography, basic jump scares, and atrocious pacing that somehow makes a short 93 minute movie feel like 2 ½ hours. The only moments that really stand out are the bizarre out of the blue supernatural element and some overacting from the killer in the final act. Much of the runtime is devoted to the characters wandering around, looking at belongings and squabbling over what to do with the property. It’s as boring as it sounds.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: Widescreen. Grade: C

Audio Track: 5.1 Surround. Grade: B-

Trailers for “Jolly Monkey,” “Jurassic Reborn,” “Black Panthers Of WWII,” “Morgan: Killer Doll,” “Ballerina Assassin,” and “Airplane 2025.”

January 8, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | DVD review | Asylum Movie, horror, Slasher, The Jolly Monkey DVD Review