Monkey Shines
A quadriplegic man is given a trained monkey help him with every day activities, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master and those who get too close to him.
The film underperformed commercially against its tight budget of $7.0M, earning $5.3M globally (-24% loss).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Monkey Shines (1988) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of George A. Romero's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Allan Mann jogging through city streets - athletic, accomplished law student with girlfriend Linda, fully mobile and independent. The opening establishes his vibrant, physical life before tragedy strikes.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Allan is struck by a truck while jogging, rendered quadriplegic in an instant. The accident destroys his former life and identity, leaving him completely dependent on others.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Allan agrees to accept Ella, the capuchin monkey, into his home as his helper companion. This is his active choice to attempt a new life with assistance rather than give up entirely., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Ella kills Allan's overbearing mother by causing her fatal fall. Allan realizes the psychic connection - Ella is acting on his suppressed rage and desires. What seemed like salvation (having a helper) becomes a curse. The stakes dramatically shift from rehabilitation to survival., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Geoffrey is killed by Ella after trying to remove her from Allan's home. Allan's best friend is dead, murdered by the creature he accepted into his life. Allan is utterly helpless, trapped in his wheelchair with a killer monkey that shares his mind., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Allan realizes he must use the psychic connection itself as a weapon - controlling his mind to control Ella. He accepts his condition but reclaims his agency through mental strength rather than physical power. This synthesis of his new reality with his will to survive enables the final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Monkey Shines's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Monkey Shines against these established plot points, we can identify how George A. Romero utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Monkey Shines within the horror genre.
George A. Romero's Structural Approach
Among the 8 George A. Romero films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Monkey Shines represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George A. Romero filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more George A. Romero analyses, see Creepshow, Land of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Allan Mann jogging through city streets - athletic, accomplished law student with girlfriend Linda, fully mobile and independent. The opening establishes his vibrant, physical life before tragedy strikes.
Theme
Geoffrey discussing his experimental brain tissue injections with Allan, mentioning how "intelligence doesn't guarantee morality" and that increased brain function can lead to unpredictable behavior. This foreshadows the central conflict about consciousness and control.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Allan's world: his relationship with Linda, friendship with Geoffrey the scientist, his running routine, law school aspirations. We see a man at the peak of his physical and intellectual powers.
Disruption
Allan is struck by a truck while jogging, rendered quadriplegic in an instant. The accident destroys his former life and identity, leaving him completely dependent on others.
Resistance
Allan's hospitalization and initial rehabilitation. Linda struggles with his condition and eventually abandons him. His mother hovers oppressively. Geoffrey suggests the experimental helper monkey program as a potential path forward. Allan resists accepting his new reality.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Allan agrees to accept Ella, the capuchin monkey, into his home as his helper companion. This is his active choice to attempt a new life with assistance rather than give up entirely.
Mirror World
Melanie, the animal trainer, enters Allan's life to work with him and Ella. She represents acceptance, compassion, and the possibility of connection without pity. Their relationship becomes the emotional B-story carrying themes of independence and intimacy.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the monkey-helper premise: Ella learns to serve Allan, they bond, he regains some autonomy. Allan and Melanie grow closer. But subtle signs emerge that Ella is unusually intelligent and responding to Allan's darker emotions - the experimental injections are working too well.
Midpoint
Ella kills Allan's overbearing mother by causing her fatal fall. Allan realizes the psychic connection - Ella is acting on his suppressed rage and desires. What seemed like salvation (having a helper) becomes a curse. The stakes dramatically shift from rehabilitation to survival.
Opposition
Ella becomes increasingly aggressive and possessive. She attacks Linda when she returns. Allan tries to explain the psychic link but struggles to be believed. Geoffrey's experiments are exposed as unethical. Allan is trapped - he cannot physically remove the threat, and the monkey is becoming more dangerous as his fear and anger intensify the connection.
Collapse
Geoffrey is killed by Ella after trying to remove her from Allan's home. Allan's best friend is dead, murdered by the creature he accepted into his life. Allan is utterly helpless, trapped in his wheelchair with a killer monkey that shares his mind.
Crisis
Allan's dark night - alone in his house with Ella stalking, knowing she will kill Melanie too. He must confront that his rage and helplessness have created this monster. He cannot rely on physical strength or others to save him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Allan realizes he must use the psychic connection itself as a weapon - controlling his mind to control Ella. He accepts his condition but reclaims his agency through mental strength rather than physical power. This synthesis of his new reality with his will to survive enables the final confrontation.
Synthesis
The finale: Ella attacks Melanie and Allan. Allan fights back using the mental link, turning their connection against the monkey. The physical battle intercuts with the psychological one. Allan must literally face his own rage embodied in Ella. Fire destroys both the house and the monster.
Transformation
Allan and Melanie survive, emerging from the burning house together. Allan has transformed from a man destroyed by physical limitation into someone who has mastered his mental strength and accepted love. The final image mirrors the opening's physicality with hard-won emotional resilience.