Two weeks ago, I received an item in the mail. It was a DVD for a movie called "Monkey Shines", which is a psychological horror film from the 80's. I figured, "My Horror Exchange match must be recommending this film to me. I've never heard of it!"

But then, to my surprise, my match messaged me and notified me that an additional package would be sent. I was so excited!

I couldn't help but chuckle when I opened the second package because it was a re-used Disney box; I was fully expecting happy Disney plushies to fall out of the box in what I would have guessed as a surprise antithesis to the "horror" exchange. To throw me off even furhter, the box was filled with Christmas wrapping as a method of cushioning.

But to my pleasure, the bag contained two "horror"-related items: an unopened copy of Evil Dead (which I listed as one of my favorite horror film/trilogy {Army of Darkness}), and an EVIL, MOVING, CYMBAL-BANGING MONKEY!

The toy monkey creeped me right out, but it's oh-so-undeniably-cool! The box stated it was made in my home country (Japan) by the Daishin corporation in the 1950s. The box was pretty worn and I could tell that this was a vintage item, but the actual monkey was in pristine condition! I'll have to find a glass case to use as a display for it. I had to Google the significance of the monkey, but I found out that it was used in promo shots for the first DVD that my match sent to me (although the actual toy isn't used in the movie).

If I had the power of Reddit, I would give 9000 internet points to the gifter for a) sticking to the same movie/theme in both rounds of gifts, b) giving me something that was made in my home country, and c) surprising me with a completely unexpected, awesome gift!

I now have an evil pet monkey :D