Dev Patel and Jordan Peele’s Monkey Man is a refreshing take on the action revenge genre. They have spiced it up with social commentary and a heap of sexiness that will blow your head off.
Inspired by both Hindu mythology and several revenge films, Monkey Man is about Kid (Dev Patel), a man traumatised by his past, as he decides to exact his bloody revenge on those who ruined his life.
When discussing the film with the Variety, Dev Patel described the film as, “an anthem for the underdogs…”.
He said: “My initial pitch to the financiers was that I want to create a revenge film about faith and how powerful faith is, how it can be manipulated, weaponised, how it can be a beautiful teacher.”
The film is built on comparisons. Rich vs poor, good vs evil, and most importantly, faith vs corruption. All of these aspects elevate the film above others in the same genre. Discussing this point, Dev Patel had this to say: “What I wanted to do was to give it some real grounding, some real context.”
Directorial debut
As Dev Patel’s directorial debut, he knocks it out of the park. Mixing in traditional filmmaking and guerilla techniques, using both professional cameras and phone cameras depending on the scene.
These techniques help to add to the film’s hands-on feel. During the action we never leave Kid’s perspective for too long and in one very notable scene we see the action from his own eyes.
Sticking to the realistic setting of the film, the action is notably brutal. Most fights don’t drag on and no one gets out injured. Taking influences from films such as The Raid and Oldboy, some fights are entirely done uncut, sticking to Kid and his violent rampages.
Speaking of violence, this has to be one of the bloodiest films to come out in the last few years. Noses fly off, necks are torn open, and bodies are eviscerated. However, none of it is done senselessly. Every fight and every death serve to further the themes of the film, rather than just for shock value.
Performance
Acting-wise, everybody is great. Obviously, Dev Patel puts out a powerhouse performance as Kid. He’s able to find a balance between rage and serenity which is incredibly impressive. Another great performance comes from Sharito Copley as Tiger.
Another aspect that elevates Monkey Man is its deconstruction of India’s wealth disparity. The film flips between the neon-soaked city, the dingey slum, and finally the rainy beauty of the forest. Each location represents different social classes, those at the top harm everyone else, and those at the bottom must retreat further into the forest.
Monkey Man is an unforgettable thrill ride that pulls you in with its well-choreographed action and keeps you hooked with its political subtext and informed take on the dangers of religion.
I cannot recommend this film enough. It’s not one for those with a weak stomach but if you have a love for revenge films or well-made action, this will be right up your alley.
Featured image credit: Universal Pictures
Second year Film and journalism student
Horror fanatic
