The Monkey: Opening Layout

The film opens with a black screen and heavy, male breathing. The black screen cuts to a shaky drone shot of an apartment building, leveled with a second floor window with warm lighting emanating from within. The breathing from the black screen intro continues and is complimented by a droning, one note synth lead. This coupled with the shaky camera movement is meant to convey the sense of an unknown presence. As the camera zooms in on the window, we can see three friends playing video games together, and we can hear the muffled sounds of banter through the window. This is meant to create a sense of warmth and familiarity that contrasts the unsettling unknown presence, and makes the audience feel as though the characters are being watched.

The scene then cuts into the room. We can no longer hear the heavy breathing, instead our characters and the video game they are playing. Their banter is playful and natural, and is meant to help make the audience relate to them. After the round of the game is over, two friends say their goodbyes and leave. Corey is left alone, and he turns off the lamp in his room, eliminating the scene's warm lighting. This is meant to strip the audience of any comfort they once felt.

The heavy breathing returns, indicating that the presence is inside Corey's home. The camera cuts to show to a hallway. The set from the point forward is fluorescently lit to make the audience feel a sense of unease and to create and oppressive, unnatural environment. Corey leaves his room and we can see him walk down the hallway and turn into the kitchen. The camera lingers in its position, and with the absence of Corey in the frame we are able to see a masked white face peering out of the closet. 

Corey begins to cut up some chicken on the kitchen counter, and we hear the footsteps of a dog coming towards Corey. Lovingly, Corey chops off a piece of chicken and feeds it to the dog. Corey continues chopping the chicken and the dog can be heard running down the hallway to eat the piece of chicken. The running sound stops and the dog begins to bark. Shortly after, we hear a crunching sound and a whimper. Corey looks back into the hallway to investigate and he sees the closet door slightly ajar. As he approaches the closet, ominous synth music begins to play, ala Halloween (1978). 

Corey opens the closet door and the camera cuts to a low angle shot from within the closet of his reaction. Corey, horrified, stumbles into his room and picks up his landline phone to call the police. Immediately after he picks up the phone, a droning phone sound effect comes into the mix, letting us know that the phone line is either down or has been cut. 

In a panic, Corey falls to the floor in tears. The camera cuts to a mid shot of him on the floor crying in a fetal position. The music cuts out and all we can hear is Corey’s wimpers. The camera then switches focus to Corey’s bedroom closet. After a couple seconds, the masked white face becomes visible. Suddenly, it begins aggressively advancing towards Corey with loud heavy footsteps. A kitchen knife is visible in his hand. Corey looks up and lets out a scream which is cut off by the slashing of his throat. The camera remains in its position as Corey bleeds out on the floor. We can only see the murderer’s legs as he stands above Corey’s body for a couple seconds. He then begins walking away with the same aggressive cadence as before. We hear the apartment door open and slam shut.

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