Action cinema has been thriving as of lately and there has been a lot of emphasis on stunt performers. John Wick is arguably the film that started it all off with a lot of imitators soon following. Then filmmaker David Leitch started making stunt heavy films with Bullet Train and the upcoming film The Fall Guy. Action films are much more immersive I believe when the stunts feel real, kinetic and fresh and that is one of the main mantra’s in the film Monkey Man.
Monkey Man is a film by Dev Patel, a name some people may be familiar with. Patel started acting in hit TV show Skins and soon made the leap to films with Slumdog Millionaire and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Patel has done some action work before but he’s decided to go all out with Monkey Man. Monkey Man is Patel’s first film as director and he even came up with the story himself. When you find out the film was also produced by Jordan Peele, the filmmaker behind Get Out and Nope, is when things get more exciting. This combination of talent has crafted a truly magnificent work of action cinema, which is ironic considering the film was originally meant to have a streaming release. It was the faith in the creative minds involved that saw the film get a cinematic release and I am so glad it did.
Dev Patel is Bobby, also known as the Monkey Man as people call him. He fights for cash in a bare knuckle underground boxing club while wearing a Monkey mask. The reason for the Monkey mask? It is all do with a story that he was told as a kid from his mother. Something clearly happened to him in his childhood which leads him to getting involved in the life of a rich club in a local Indian town. This is where the corrupt come for sex, drugs and show off their money and it is here where the story kicks in. The film is a little scattered and feels very non-linear as we learn more about the characters and the story in fragments over the course of the film. Saying that you will be glued to the seat as the culture, the style and the look of the film instantly draws you in.
Monkey Man is clearly inspired by the likes of John Wick. There’s even a dog involved and a very big nod and reference to the John Wick films too, which felt very tongue-in-cheek. It takes a while for the action elements to kick in but when it does we are treated to some of the most inventive and original action sequences committed to screens in recent memory. The ending in particular will leave your jaw dropped from start to finish. There is a lot of blood and a lot of physicality involved from Patel and he completely owns the role. This feels like a passion project for Patel and it clearly shows as he crafts a film that honours his heritage.
Monkey Man is a must-see for fans of action cinema. Patel performs all of his own stunts, with one in particular actually injuring Patel during filming, and it is that rawness and the unflinching camera-work that keeps the film going. As a first time filmmaker Patel is absurdly confident and I cannot wait to see what happens next in his career. I would personally love another film set within this universe and it is a film that will stay inside my head for a long time after viewing it. It is great to see a different perspective on the typical action-packed revenge story, and it is films like Monkey Man that will keep the action film industry going.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Monkey Man is an extremely stylish and blood soaked experience. With inspirations from Pulp Fiction, John Wick and The Raid, the film feels fresh and new while honouring the legacy of action cinema with ease. Dev Patel has proven to be a more than capable filmmaker as well as performer. The action elements of Monkey Man is what sells the film and anyone who loves action should not sit this one out. The story may be sporadic, but it is worth it and by the end you will still have adrenaline in your system, just like the titular Monkey Man.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions