Bayou Film | Dev Patel’s Monkey Man

review by Tabitha McBride

Dev Patel makes his directorial debut with Monkey Man, a powerful genre-bending action film. The story begins with a memory, an important one for our protagonist. His mother lovingly tells him the story of Hanuman, a divine human-monkey icon in Hindu mythology. Hanuman mistakes the sun for a golden mango in the sky and upsets the gods as he reaches for the enticing fruit. This universally recognizable parable sets the stage for a dynamic, cinematically beautiful story to unfold. Will our aptly named “Monkey Man” whose golden mango in the sky is retribution for his people, his mother, and all the oppressed, meet the same fate as Hanuman?

Though called a few names by different characters, the given name of our protagonist, who Patel also portrays, remains a mystery throughout the duration of the film, but he earns the moniker “Monkey Man” through a series of trials. At an underground fight club in an Indian city, the young man takes a beating every night wearing a gorilla mask. His adversaries carry a few of the many references to The Jungle Book the film contains, and he grows tired of bleeding for only a small amount of cash. We learn through flashes of memory the young man grew up in the jungle with his mother, and though he clearly misses home, he can never return. The village burned down in a night of political unrest and violence. He decides to uncover the responsible party who seem to be at the root of ongoing land disputes and sociopolitical unrest. Things get interesting when he discovers the inner sanctum of the realm ruled by the city’s tyrannical crime gods. What he sees and experiences incites an unmatched rage, and armed with his memories fragmented like sharp shards of glass, “Monkey Man” goes on to find strength in his culture as he trains to become a better fighter and avenge his people. He faces the very question spoken by a politically involved religious leader we see flash on a city center billboard: “Who are we to question the gods?” 

Patel starred in Slumdog Millionaire which won Best Picture and swept other categories at the 2008 Oscars. He went on to take part in many other projects, but his film career has been lifelong. Patel directed, starred in, wrote, and produced Monkey Man. It’s no surprise that with a career so prolific, he’s learned all about what it takes to make an impactful movie. With Jordan Peele by his side as a producer on this film, Patel is sure to go on as one of the most risk-taking and successful directors and producers of his time.

Monkey Man defies tropes of the action genre with its innovative camera work, its complex story, and its brutally shocking resolution. The score honors Bollywood cinema and India’s impact on world culture, even including Indian Rap Metal band Bloodywood. The shaky, often angled hand-held camera movements increase the chaos in some scenes, and intense close-ups elevate the characters’ emotion in others. Action fans will love this one for its thrilling car chases, morally gray characters, and unique video game-like impacts in fight scenes. At the same time, cinephiles who love stories about humanity, hope, and finding strength in community with love this one as well. However, leave the kids at home for this one and take the R rating seriously. This one will spark a great post-date conversation for the mature couple.