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Horror Cult Classic

A demon lurks in a cymbal-banging monkey, turning a birthday gift into pure terror.

THE DEVIL'S GIFT

Surprise!

1984 · 1h 52m · NR · Horror / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Lethal havoc is released upon a suburban family when the son receives the cymbal-clinking, glowing-eyed toy monkey as a gift, unleashing the demon within which then exerts its evil influence on the kid's parents.

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What is The Devil's Gift about?

The Devil's Gift is a 1984 American horror-thriller film directed by Kenneth J. Berton about a suburban family terrorized after a young boy receives a cymbal-banging monkey toy possessed by a vengeful spirit.

Synopsis

An elderly woman, Elmira Johnson, uses a Ouija board to communicate with a dead spirit. When a spirit becomes angry, it manifests itself into a cymbal-banging monkey toy. The monkey's eyes glow red and uses its cymbals to cause lightning to strike the old woman's house, presumably killing her.

Some time later, David Andrews, a suburban single father, celebrates his young son Michael's ninth birthday. The child receives the monkey from David's girlfriend Susan, who purchased it at an antiques store. The monkey strikes its cymbals on its own accord. Soon after the party, David awakens screaming from a nightmare in which he found Michael dead in the bathtub. After the household plants die, and the family's dog mysteriously dies from smoke inhalation after a fire in their garage, David suspects the monkey of being behind the events.

David hires Adrienne, a fortune teller, to perform an exorcism on his home, but does not inform her about the monkey. Adrienne asks him if he has any statues or idols, explaining that demons often possess objects that are seemingly harmless, but use them as an outlet for their satanic activity. David realizes that the monkey is such an item, and is certain that a demon is in their home. He wants Adrienne to come and do an exorcism immediately. She tells him that she would need to find out more about his situation before she can intervene. She tells him that if it is a demon, she may not be able to help.

David returns to the antiques store and the clerk tells him an odd man brought it to the store the previous week after finding it in the ruins of the old woman's house; the monkey showed no signs of fire damage, causing the clerk to disbelieve the story. Despite this, the clerk tells David about Elmira Johnson's recent death by fire. David doesn't think anything of this. When he arrives home, he finds that Susan has become possessed by the monkey and is trying to drown Michael in the bathtub. He grabs Susan and throws her out of his home, which causes her to sustain a head injury. A neighbor witnesses the incident and calls an ambulance.

David decides to tell Adrienne about the monkey. She tells him she may be able to help. However, she tells him that when a demon is in contact with one who can see into the future and talk to ghosts, it goes crazy, and that "all hell would break loose" if she set foot in his home. She gives him a special necklace that will protect him from the demon as long as he keeps it in on him at all times. She tells him that he must get rid of the monkey immediately. The boy's father throws the monkey away, but his son quickly rescues it from the garbage and brings it back inside the house. Moments afterwards, Michael is almost hit by a car while playing in the driveway. David then takes the monkey and attempts to bury it but it finds its way into the house again thanks to his mother. The monkey then winds up causing the violent deaths of the boy and his family by blowing up the house from inside.
Details & Specs
Director
Kenneth J. Berton
Writers
José Vergelin, Kenneth J. Berton, Hayden O'Hara
Release
1984
Runtime
1h 52m

Why Cult

Possessed Toy Monkey

The central menace is a cymbal-clinking monkey with glowing red eyes, possessed by a vengeful spirit.

Ouija Board Opening

The film opens with an elderly woman contacting spirits through a Ouija board, setting the supernatural tone.

Suburban Family Horror

Beneath the veneer of an ordinary family birthday lies a descent into supernatural chaos and lethal havoc.

Trailer

Questions from the Vault

What is The Devil's Gift about? +

The Devil's Gift is about a suburban family whose lives unravel after a young boy receives a demon-possessed cymbal-banging monkey toy, unleashing supernatural mayhem.

When was The Devil's Gift released? +

The Devil's Gift was released in 1984.

Who directed The Devil's Gift? +

Kenneth J. Berton directed The Devil's Gift.

How long is The Devil's Gift? +

The Devil's Gift has a runtime of 112 minutes.

What genre is The Devil's Gift? +

The Devil's Gift is a horror-thriller film.