FFFA: Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round

Monkey's Magic Merry Go Round

Australian Premiere

“★★★★ A fever dream you just can’t look away from.” – Letterboxd user

“Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round stands out not only for its striking visuals and intense psychological elements but also for its bold approach to existential horror.” – Love Horror 

James Jensen (Michael Gilio, co-writer of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Dark Harvest) is the host of a children’s TV show called Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round alongside a kooky cast of puppets.

Something really bad happened to James when he was a kid, but a case of amnesia has prevented him from remembering it. Until one day, while hosting the latest episode of Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round, long-repressed memories start to re-emerge, threatening his sanity and possibly his life. Will Monkey and the Playground Pals help James recover his lost memories, or have they been deliberately keeping something from him all along? Where is the Post Lady hiding? And who is The Freak?

A must-see for fans of the existential dread-inducing surrealist puppet series Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, this unsettling directorial debut by Aidan Leary was produced by Joe Swanberg (The Rental, Easy, Drinking Buddies).

Festivals & Awards
Leeds International Film Festival 2024

Rating

Unclassified 18+

Duration

92 min

Country

United States

Language

English

Cast

Michael Gilio, Frank Cesario, Connar Brown Sprenger

Director

Aidan Leary