‘The Monkey’ Opening Scene Explained: Who Is Capt. Petey?

Oz Perkins has made a name for himself over the last few years. Son of Psycho killer Anthony Perkins, he’s a descendant of Hollywood horror royalty and is trying to prove himself in the sphere, with the release of his last two movies, Longlegs and now The Monkey. Longlegs was a surefire hit for Neon, praised for its performances and scares, now Perkins is having a go at adapting the works of another horror legend, Stephen King. Read about The Monkey opening scene below.

This article contains spoilers for The Monkey.

The Monkey is based on a short story by Stephen King of the same name from the Skeleton Crew anthology book. The story follows twin brothers Hal and Bill (played by Christian Convery as young boys, and Theo James as adults) who inherit a toy monkey from their absent father that sparks numerous deaths within and around the family. Cranking the toy’s key once will result in the death of one person, something that later becomes apparent in the movie driving a rift between the two boys.

Fatherhood is a big theme in the movie, where the relationship between Hal and his son Petey (Colin O’Brien) is spread thin as a result of Hal’s weariness at the hands of The Monkey. Not only does it stem from the danger presented by the antagonist, but it stems from a lack of a father too, where Petey (Hal’s son’s namesake) is considered an absent parent by Hal and Bill’s mother Lois (Tatiana Maslany). In a later scene, it’s also revealed that he was a pilot.

What Happened To Captain Petey In ‘The Monkey’ Opening Scene?

In an indirect cold open, we actually learn what happened to Capt. Petey Shelburn. The film opens with a dishevelled-looking Petey, played by Severance actor Adam Scott, entering a Parisian pawn shop covered in blood. He brandishes a toy monkey and attempts to sell it to the cashier, before being turned away by the man as the toy seems “broken.” He had bought The Monkey for his sons but the toy turned out to be a sinister purchase. Suddenly, The Monkey slams its drumstick into the drum causing a Rube-Goldberg machine of events that leads to the disembowelment of the store operator. 

Petey takes a flamethrower from the shelf and torches The Monkey, whose face falls off under the hot temperature. Due to the fact that Petey is still considered an absent father, there’s a few options as to what could have happened to him. He flees and stays away from his children as Hal does to his son later in the film, or he was subject to the wrath of the fake primate. Considering the themes of the movie, it is likely that the first option was the reality, but it is also possible that the Monkey caught up to him like it later does to Hal and Bill. After being torched, The Monkey seemingly teleports to Capt. Petey’s closet back home in new condition and latches its life force onto Petey’s two unsuspecting sons.

Who Plays Captain Petey In ‘The Monkey’ Opening Scene?

Captain Petey is played by actor Adam Scott, who is currently undergoing a bit of a renaissance in the last few years. He is currently best known for his performance as Mark Scout on Apple TV+’s sci-fi mystery Severance. Elsewhere he can be seen in supporting roles in projects like Madame Web, Step Brothers, and Krampus. He can next be seen in Apple TV+’s The Studio, as well as the third season of Severance. Stay tuned for our coverage of both shows!

The Monkey is written and directed by Osgood Perkins for Neon. The film is produced by James Wan through his Atomic Monster label, and is currently playing in theatres worldwide.

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