Monkey Shines

A recently paralyzed man named Allan becomes increasingly dependent on his capuchin monkey, Ella, which has been trained to assist him with daily tasks. However, Allan soon begins to suspect that Ella is not just a helper, but is also capable of violence and is somehow connected to his increasing paranoia and the mysterious deaths occurring around him. The bond between man and monkey takes a sinister turn as Ella's actions become more disturbing and uncontrollable.

Monkey Shines received a mixed to negative reception from critics upon its release. While some praised George A. Romero's attempt at a more psychological and suspenseful horror film, many found the premise far-fetched and the execution lacking the director's usual flair for social commentary or effective scares. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm, with the film failing to achieve significant commercial success.

• Some critics appreciated the unique premise of a helper monkey turning sinister.

• Many found the plot to be unbelievable and not frightening enough.

• The film was seen by some as a weaker entry in Romero's filmography.

Google audience: Audience reviews suggest that while the concept of a violent monkey was intriguing to some, many found the film to be slow-paced and ultimately disappointing, with a lack of genuine scares.

The capuchin monkey used in the film, named Katie, was reportedly trained to perform many of her own stunts, including interacting with the actors and handling props.