Monkey Shines (sometimes called Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear) is an American thriller film originally released in 1988. Written and directed by George A. Romero ("Night of the Living Dead", "Creepshow"), the film is based on a novel by the same title authored by Michael Stewart. It was filmed on location in and around Pittsburgh.
Monkey Shines tells the story of an athlete, Alan Mann, who is rendered quadriplegic when struck by a truck. Mann fails to adjust to his condition, becoming suicidal and despondent. When a scientist friend of his (portrayed by John Pankow), who has been experimenting with the injection of human brain tissue into monkeys, learns this, he is prompted to supply one of the experimental monkeys, named "Ella" (portrayed by Boo, whose sounds are provided by Frank Welker), to Alan as a helper.
Their relationship is amicable at first, with Mann's life being made much easier, and the two bond deeply, even sharing "romantic" moments with sweet music. But soon their interaction takes a decidedly sinister turn. The monkey seems to become a telepathic receptacle for Mann's anger at his state and his desire for revenge against friends and family for slights both real and imagined. Simultaneously, Mann develops a romantic relationship with Melanie (Kate McNeil), a specialist in quadriplegia and helper monkeys.
The film contains a rare example of an intimate love scene with a severely handicapped protagonist.
Ella's protectiveness turns to savage jealousy even as Alan is informed that his condition may be reversible. First, Ella kills Alan's jealous and unappreciated mother (Joyce Van Patten), by electrocuting her in the bathtub. Then, Ella kills the scientist, by injecting him with the very syringe of poison he had intended to use on her, and disables Melanie, before trying to light her on fire. Alan, helpless and alone, is able to summon the strength to turn on the tape player with the romantic music, summoning Ella to cuddle close to him. When Ella cradles Alan's head, Alan, painfully betraying Ella's trust, bites into her neck with his teeth, and then thrashes his head back and forth, hitting Ella into the handles of his wheelchair before finally relinquishing his bite and throwing her toward the open deck of his tape machine, killing Ella.
The movie ends with Alan undergoing surgery to restore his mobility, after which he walks using the aid of crutches.
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