Actor Dev Patel is already known for delivering award-worthy performances in films like Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, and The Green Knight. Now though, he charts an exciting new path for himself as he heads behind the camera for an exhilarating, action-packed directorial debut in Monkey Man. 

The film follows Kid (Patel), a young man living in the fictional Indian city of Yatana who seeks revenge against corrupt officials for tearing his life apart. Right away, Patel establishes Kid’s underdog persona with a mix of flair and genuine heart. His current standing as a disrespected heel in an underground wrestling circuit has all the vibes of a classic comic book origin story. The slow drip of his vengeance-fueling backstory creates an irresistible emotional pull. Not to mention, the film’s larger than life setting easily makes Kid’s presence small. Yatana’s dense population instantly induces claustrophobia at times, and there are political figures so powerful that they cast their image across towering skyscrapers for all to see. Yet, even being as small and seemingly unimportant as Kid is, Patel never forgets to showcase his ingenuity. 

There’s some very likeable street smarts to Kid that are excellently shown through a stunning pickpocket sequence and his ability to work his way into a secluded criminal empire. Patel characterizes Kid’s dark horse status really well, and quickly creates a protagonist who locks you into his every move. However, Kid isn’t depicted as this unstoppable force, and it allows for the stakes and danger to instantly heighten at a major turning point. There’s a great subversion of expectations just as Kid seems to have the upperhand, and Patel utilizes the moment to create this super actiony midpoint. The escape sequence Kid is forced into leaves you breathless and widens the scope of the setting well. And, there are good tastes of fighting that’ll leave you hungry for more. It’s an incredibly effective mid-act turn that not only lets Patel’s vision for action flourish, but also takes the narrative down a compelling path. 

As Kid faces the personal demons of his past and leans into what’s scarred him, you really connect with his plight. The trauma he carries with himself cuts deep, and comes through in his determination for vengeance. It’s what makes him hitting rock bottom so crushing. Yet, watching him rise out of it is so satisfying. With every punch thrown in training or harsh glimpse into his pain, Kid becomes something so much more, and the building of this “rise from the ashes” persona is genuinely awesome – right down to the re-dying of his monkey mask. Patel, and co-writers Paul Angunawela and John Collee, craft an easily connective hero story that isn’t afraid to get dark or tap into the hard conflicts happening within its main character. It’s so strong that it can generally outweigh the flaws or lackluster power of some of the cultural, spiritual, and political elements sewn into the film. It’s definitely admirable that Patel finds subtle ways to touch on Indian culture and political conflicts through visual magnitude and contrasts. But, these thematic threads never hit the same emotionally as Kid’s central arc, mainly because Patel’s performance is so damn excellent.

Patel wears a lot of hats with Monkey Man (including producing, directing, co-writing, and acting), but he only thrives under this pressure. The passion and physical commitment he brings to this performance instantly makes it memorable and constantly raises the emotional toll Kid deals with. He completely immerses himself into Kid’s fury and finds ways for his drive to make things right to be filled to the brim with genuine heart.  Even with there being strong villain performances from Sikandar Kher and Makarand Deshpande, and scenery chewing lines from Sharlto Colpey, Patel always keeps viewers captivated. It’s a career-best performance that pushes Patel outside the range we generally see him work within – especially when it comes to the action. 

The best parts of Patel’s efforts are seen through the film’s tense and wildly fun action sequences. After Kid hones his skills and finds a new strength from within, the entire last act becomes an endless fight to the finish that never disappoints. There’s an incredibly funny yet badass moment of Kid abruptly ending a fight that leaves everyone jaw-dropped. From there, you get this video game-like final stretch that ramps up the challenge and death with each floor while repeatedly delivering hard hitting punches and brutal finishes. The combat choreography captures the intensity and chaos of the moment perfectly. Plus, the added elements of Sharone Meir’s neon-tinted cinematography and the momentum-building score from Jed Kurzel ramp up the stylistic vibes of the setting excellently. More importantly though, the power of Kid’s arc is well-maintained and results in a bloody final encounter that’s gut-wrenching and immensely satisfying. 

Monkey Man effectively showcases Patel as an all-around, must-watch talent as his first foray into directing culminates in a gritty, undeniably captivating action epic. Whether it’s the daunting persona he brings to a likeable underdog or his raw vision for bloody, eye-widening action, Patel completely excels on both sides of the camera. It’s as heartfelt and connective in its narrative as it is pulse-pounding and riveting in its action – the perfect combo for a clear crowd-pleaser.

Watch the Trailer Here: