CBFC clears Stephen King's 'The Monkey' without any cuts
What's the story
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared the India release of The Monkey, a horror-comedy film based on Stephen King's short story.
The film has been given an 'A' certificate without any cuts, putting to rest fears of cuts that have been the norm with recent Hollywood releases.
However, four instances of strong language have been muted in the Theo James-led movie.
Film synopsis
'The Monkey' plot and CBFC's reasoning for approval
Directed by Osgood Perkins, The Monkey revolves around twin brothers who discover their father's old toy monkey and its connection to a string of mysterious deaths.
As the brothers grow older, they must confront their past when the toy reappears.
A CBFC insider revealed to Mid-Day that the board members appreciated the film's "balanced blend" of horror and dark comedy, stating it was "palatable for an adult audience."
Modification details
No scene deletions as 'violence was not excessively graphic'
A CBFC insider explained the board's decision, saying, "The film has intense horror elements, but the mix of dark humor offsets it, making it palatable for an adult audience."
"It didn't warrant scene deletions as the violence was not excessively graphic. The only modifications involved muting four instances of strong language."
This decision is a departure from CBFC's previous approach to horror films like It, Heretic, and Evil Dead Rise, which underwent dialogue changes and minor scene alterations.
Past precedents
CBFC's history with horror films in India
The CBFC has a history of altering or even banning certain horror films in India.
Notably, Ari Aster's psychological horror Midsommar was never released in Indian theaters because of its disturbing imagery.
However, the approval of The Monkey without scene deletions hints at a possible change in CBFC's attitude toward horror-comedy films.
Recently, Hollywood offerings such as Babygirl and The Brutalist underwent cuts at the hands of the Indian censor board.