A young man ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he's beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, he discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city's sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.
Director: Dev Patel
Cast: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sikandar Kher, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Makarand Deshpande
Release Date: April 5, 2024
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, rape, language throughout, sexual content/nudity and drug use.
Runtime: 1h 53m
Review:
Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, has a kinetic energy that propels the blood soaked, revenge thriller through some of its more uneven sections while managing to leave a lasting impression. On its surface, it'd be easy to categorize this as little more than a John Wick knockoff but clearly Patel has much more on his mind than mindless mayhem. The action here is much more brutal and less cartoonish than Wick's gunplay heavy style which gives the sequences a certain level of grimy authenticity. The action is hard hitting and chaotic, occasionally to a fault, as Patel tries to put you right in the middle of the action. Some set pieces work better than others, but you get a definite sense that Patel feels more comfortable directing these portions of the film. The quieter moments prove to be a bit more of a mix bag as it grinds the film to a halt which makes the whole thing an uneven flow, making it feel longer than its actual runtime. Dev Patel is committed throughout in front of the camera as his character is believably focused on his revenge journey. He brings a lot more depth and nuance to the character thanks to his talent as an actor which allows him to overcome some of the script's underwhelming characterizations. The supporting cast doesn't get much more to work with as many of the characters are one dimensional type instead of fully realized people. Pitobash and Sharlto Copley in particular seem to be begging for meatier roles as they chew up scenery in their limited screen times. Issues aside, there's plenty to appreciate about Monkey Man's approach and overall style showcasing Patel's talent in front of and behind the camera
B
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