An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.
Stunning, sleek, and sharp, “Monkey Man” is a passionate triumph of action filmmaking and a victory lap for Dev Patel. A visually distinctive and emotionally fueled freshman effort from Patel, this thriller flawlessly blends hard-hitting political commentary and ceaseless adrenaline rushes in its two-hour run. Patel excels in both acting and directing, with a film so unique and uncompromising that it will inspire action films for years to come.
Based on the Hindu story of Hanuman, “Monkey Man” begins with Patel starring as an anonymous fighter, listed only as Kid in the credits, living in a fight club working as a boxer where every night he is beaten up in the ring for cash from a boxing advertiser named Tiger (Sharlto Copley). After earning enough money, the Kid uncovers a way to infiltrate the hidden world of the culprits who killed his mother and burned his village. With the help of his coworker Alphonso (Pitobash), the Kid discovers the dark underworld of the city’s elite and authorities who helped murder his mother and work for the hypocritical spiritual political candidate Baba Shakti (Makrand Deshpande), who ordered the extermination and clearing of his village.
As the Kid digs deeper into the society of the elite and uncovers the secrets within, his rage boils over, and he begins a lengthy killing spree of those who wronged him, including targeting several authorities across the city. The Kid then starts a murderous rampage towards those who killed his mother. The Kid recruits the help of a small, persecuted temple and their leader, Alpha (Vipin Sharma), who helps him discover his true inner power and physically train. Feeling more intense than ever, the Kid begins his final siege against the people who killed his mother and desecrated his village.
In the acting field, “Monkey Man” is a breath of fresh air. Not only do writers Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, and John Collee fit in an abundance of development to all of their characters, but they also manage to make them highly human, a rarity in the action league. Ashwini Kalsewar, who plays the Kid and Alphonso’s boss, stands out despite her low screen time and steals the scene with her quick comedy and intense acting. The sharp cinematography and editing are also crucial elements to the film’s success, with the red color scheme and neon lights illuminating the state of the Kid’s mind. However, if the viewer gets motion sickness quickly or is sensitive to quick flashing lights, the fast editing style of the movie will make the watcher queasy.
A close watcher will really appreciate the film’s political consciousness. At first glance, “Monkey Man” appears as a revenge film that revolves around the underworld of India. However, while this may be the case, the themes of the Indian caste system, Hindu vs. Muslim culture wars, post-Modi Indian nationalism, and LGBTQ+ issues are rampant and frequent in the film. The character of Baba Shakti can be directly drawn to hypocritical spiritualism and using religion as a crutch to justify your actions. Even if the viewer is unaware of Indian politics, they can easily pick up on allegories for diplomatic and social issues.
This film will define Dev Patel’s acting and directing career and set the stage for the rest of his career. Without a doubt, the role of the Kid is Patel’s best acting role, as he isn’t limited to the writing of others and can write and act the character as he deems fit. His character’s emotional vulnerability and intense brutality is a major standout in the action hero archetype, changing the stereotype from characters like John Wick or Jason Bourne. Watching “Monkey Man” is a cathartic experience for viewers from all walks of life and will change the action genre for the better for years to come.
In Theaters Friday, April 5th
