Movie Reviews
The Monkey Movie Review: A chilling yet darkly hilarious horror film that embraces the absurdity of its premise
Review: Osgood Perkins takes a unique approach to The Monkey, blending supernatural horror with a wicked streak of dark comedy. While the premise—a toy monkey that triggers violent deaths—could be pure nightmare fuel, Perkins leans into its absurdity, allowing for moments of bleak humour amidst the tension. The film often revels in the ridiculousness of its concept, crafting death scenes that are so exaggerated they almost become morbidly funny. This tonal balancing act between horror and satire is one of the film’s most intriguing elements, though it may not land for all audiences.
Theo James delivers a committed performance as both Hal and Bill, capturing their contrasting reactions to the trauma they endured as children. His portrayal of Hal, the more straight-laced of the two, plays well against Bill’s more jaded, almost detached demeanour, adding an extra layer to the film’s comedic undertones. In a supporting role, Elijah Wood brings an offbeat energy that further reinforces the film’s darkly humorous sensibilities, while Tatiana Maslany adds emotional weight to the story. Colin O’Brien, as Hal’s son Petey, serves as the innocent heart of the film, grounding the supernatural chaos in something real.
Visually, The Monkey is as much a horror film as it is a grim parody of the genre. Perkins and cinematographer Andrés Arochi craft an eerie yet playfully exaggerated aesthetic, using heavy shadows, surreal framing, and unsettlingly bright moments of colour to highlight the monkey’s presence. The sound design is particularly effective, with the monkey’s cymbals becoming an almost comedic punchline—an ominous sound cue that signals doom in the most absurd circumstances. Perkins is aware of the inherent ridiculousness of his premise and leans into it, allowing the film to have fun with itself rather than taking everything too seriously.
However, the film’s biggest gamble—its tonal shifts—may also be its most divisive element. The transitions between horror, tragedy, and black comedy aren’t always seamless, and some viewers may be unsure whether they should be terrified or laughing. Additionally, Perkins’ signature slow-burn storytelling occasionally clashes with the film’s more playful moments, resulting in pacing issues that could test the patience of some audiences. While the film delivers many eerie moments, its humour may not land for those expecting a more straightforward horror experience.
Movie Reviews
‘Leader’ Twitter review: Netizens call Legend Saravanan starrer a watchable commercial entertainer | Tamil Movie News – The Times of India
The action film ‘Leader,’ starring Legend Saravanan, released in theatres worldwide today (April 3). Directed by Durai Senthilkumar, the film features an ensemble cast including Andrea Jeremiah, Lal, Shaam, and Payal Rajput. The film opened in more than 300 theatres across Tamil Nadu and is already trending on social media with audience reactions. After facing heavy trolling for his debut film ‘The Legend,’ Saravanan returned with ‘Leader,’ hoping to prove himself as a commercial action hero. Fans quickly took to social media to share their reviews of the film.
Fans praise the action moments and the second half
Several viewers called ‘Leader’ a watchable commercial entertainer. According to fans, the movie takes time to pick up but becomes interesting as it progresses. Several social media users said the second half is enjoyable after the first half. Several reviewers also noted that the film becomes more entertaining in the second half. The interval block and some action sequences are considered the best parts. The train fight in the climax also caught the attention of online fans, who described the sequence as a brilliant ride that adds to the movie’s overall excitement.
Mixed reactions from viewers on performances and story
While some viewers focused on the amazing action sequences, many considered it a typical mainstream commercial film. Viewers further complained that the first half of the film took too long, and some plot points were too predictable. Nonetheless, many fans agreed that Legend Saravanan’s acting in this film is much better than in his last project. The works of Andrea Jeremiah, Shaam, and Lal have also earned applause from fans. Music director Ghibran has been praised for his background score, which many fans mention added life to several scenes.
‘Leader’ – Plot and cast
‘Leader’ is set in the Thoothukudi port city; the lead character is a car mechanic who works in a large gangster dock. It presents the lead hero’s views on polar opposites and features thrilling battles with the villain. A recent flashback details the hero’s difficult past and differences, offering insight into his main reason for being at the dock. Legend Saravanan, along with Andrea Jeremiah, Shaam, Lal, and Payal Rajput, are in the lead cast. It is an action-packed mass film for commercial movie lovers.
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Movie Name : Biker
Release Date : April 03, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Sharwanand, Dr Rajashekhar, Malvika Nair & Others.
Director : Abhilash Reddy
Producers : Vamsi Krishna Reddy, Pramodh Uppalapati
Music Director : Ghibran Vaibodha
Cinematographer : J Yuvraj
Editor : Anil Pasala
Related Links : Trailer
Sharwanand has now come up with the sports drama Biker. Directed by Abhilash Reddy, the movie stars Rajasekhar in a key role. Let’s see how the film is.
Story:
Vikas Narayan aka Vikky (Sharwanand) is a top-class motocross racer.. Since childhood, he is trained rigorously by his father Sunil Narayan (Rajasekhar). However, Vikky suddenly leaves the sport, putting his father in a tough spot.
Why did Vikky leave racing? How is he connected to Ananya (Malavika Nair)? What is her role in his life? What happened after Vikky left the sport? This forms the crux of the story.
Plus Points:
We have already seen multiple sports dramas in Tollywood, but motocross racing has never been explored before, and that becomes the USP of Biker. Even though a few moments appear familiar, the unexplored territory in Telugu cinema keeps the proceedings engaging, and credit where it’s due.
The sport sequences are superbly shot and choreographed. Some moments truly keep us on the edge of our seats. To make a film on a less popular sport in India by weaving emotional moments around it, the director does a pretty good job in helping the movie connect with the regular audience.
Sharwanand looks in his best shape, and it’s good to see him try his hand at multiple genres. He brings sincerity to his performance as a professional racer and is effective in the emotional segments as well. His scenes with Rajasekhar work well. With Biker, Rajasekhar (Angry Man) reaches a new level, playing his part with utmost dignity and elegance.
When veterans play their age and become an integral part of the story instead of trying to outshine others, it’s a pleasure to watch. From here on, Rajasekhar could become the go-to actor for character roles in Telugu cinema. The second half is comparatively more engaging with decent emotional depth. Malavika Nair is fine in her role.
Minus Points:
Biker plays it safe in key moments with familiar tropes, which prevents it from reaching the next level. The vulnerability of the protagonist should have been explored more during the actual racing portions to make it stand apart from regular sports dramas. Some elements feel too easy for the hero to achieve, which takes away from the realism.
Instead of external factors, if the hero had been troubled by his own internal thought process during the racing, the impact could have been much higher. The episodes involving the hero’s sponsorship needed better execution.
The racing scenes are no doubt solid, but the moments leading up to them could have been still better. The conflict point between the lead pair is meaningful, but it is underutilized. The first half is slow at times, and isn’t upto the mark on the whole.
Technical Aspects:
Ghibran’s background score is solid in the thrilling moments, and the sound design is excellent. Cinematographer Yuvraj does a fabulous job in picturizing the racing sequences. The editing is fine in the latter half, but needed improvement in the first half.
The production values are solid. Director Abhilash Reddy takes up a not-so-popular sport and delivers an engaging film with a fair number of good moments. Had he avoided a few clichés, the movie could have reached a whole new level.
Verdict:
On the whole, Biker is an engaging sports drama with a never-before-explored motocross racing backdrop and good performances. The racing scenes are brilliant, and the film is carried by Sharwanand and Rajasekhar with their impressive performances. The first half is slow, and there are a few convenient moments. The use of certain tropes could have been avoided for better impact. Nonetheless, if you enjoy sports dramas, Biker turns out to be a satisfactory watch.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
‘Vaazha’ found its footing in how sharply it reflected a certain kind of youth, boys dismissed as ‘vaazhas’, but carrying their own confusions and emotional weight. The second part returns to that space, again following a group of boys trying to figure themselves out.
Directed by Savin SA, the film tracks this gang through their higher secondary years, with Hashir and Alan among the central figures. It stays with them as they move through that in-between phase, dealing with early attraction, peer pressure and the pull of new experiences, the kind that often arrive before they fully understand them. The narrative is not built around a single arc, but around the shared rhythm of the group.
The first half is mounted as a high-energy stretch, driven by humour, action and a fast pace, with a background score that keeps it buoyant. The inclusion of contemporary content creators stands out here, and the response suggests it lands well with younger viewers, especially in the way the film taps into familiar emotions.
Vijay Babu, Aju Varghese and Sudheesh appear in key supporting roles, adding presence around the central group.
Where the first Vaazha had a more subdued, easygoing take on youth, the sequel is noticeably louder and more vibrant, holding on to the same core but pushing it with greater energy.
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