Spanking the Monkey

Spanking the Monkey

A gripping comedy about letting go.

Directed by David O. Russell

Produced by Swelter Films, Fine Line Features

1994106 min5.7 / 10

A darkly comedic psychological drama about a young man trapped between familial obligation and forbidden desire, grappling with shame and the loss of his future.

Bright young student Raymond Aibelli is forced to sidetrack an important medical internship because his mother, Susan, is recovering from a broken leg. When he isn't tasked with the most mundane aspects of Susan's recuperation, Raymond finds distraction in a neighborhood girl, Toni Peck. But, as Susan begins relying on her son for both physical and emotional needs, Raymond starts developing disturbing and unwanted new yearnings.

Questions people ask

  • Is Spanking the Monkey sad? Yes. More sad than 88% of films.

  • Does Spanking the Monkey end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 80% of films.

  • Is Spanking the Monkey scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 72% of films.

  • Is Spanking the Monkey violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

  • Is Spanking the Monkey easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

24/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Conventional, and it does not land.

Rarity66

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise9

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love13

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Spanking the Monkey

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Spanking the Monkey

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Spanking the Monkey, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Spanking the Monkey, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Spanking the Monkey, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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