Tales of revenge in film are practically as old as the medium itself. For as long as cinema has existed, revenge stories have been present, offering deep catharsis to audiences worldwide. And it’s easy to see why: few structures are as uniquely satisfying on a fundamental level as revenge stories. A wrong is committed, suffering is endured, and come hell or high water, the wrong is righted with righteous zeal.
At its core, the subgenre of the revenge thriller serves as a skeletal foundation, allowing any given filmmaker to add their own blood, sweat, and ligaments. The best revenge thrillers enable the rigorous story structure to act as a blank canvas, which the filmmaker then fills with their own beliefs, desires, aesthetics, and more. Revenge is a cinematic dish best served stylized as hell, and fortunately for audiences, Dev Patel is keenly aware of this fact.
Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man” is an incendiary blast of filmic ambition; one in which the writer-director-producer-star proves more than capable of cashing the checks he writes. By utilizing the would-be trappings of the revenge thriller, Patel delivers a liberating and often transcendent film.
TOP FIVE THINGS ABOUT “MONKEY MAN”
5. Dávid Jancsó and Tim Murrell’s Editing
“Monkey Man” is rigorously disciplined in its form but experiential and subjective in its craft. This blend is exacerbated tremendously by editors Dávid Jancsó and Tim Murrell’s cutting of the film, which balances the two with awe-inspiring ingenuity.
On the one hand, “Monkey Man” is propulsive. Frequently cut to upbeat needle drops or Jed Kurzel’s percussive score, making great use of match cuts and associative editing to violently thrust the story forward. It is a film that wastes no time, setting up its story’s characters, motivations, and stakes with great speed and power. On the other hand, “Monkey Man” is also meditative. So often, the film’s editing brilliantly utilizes the core principles of Sergei Eisenstein’s montage theory, sewing seemingly minute and disparate visual ideas together into a cohesive and meaningful whole.
The resulting film resonates with profound impact and meaning. It features some of the best-edited action sequences of the year, showcasing the remarkable collaboration between Patel, Jancsó, and Murrell. Their adept balancing act between sustained single takes and precise cuts allows them to harness the strengths of both approaches. Additionally, a prolonged shot in the midst of the second act stands out as one of the most liberating and awe-inspiring moments I’ve experienced in cinema this year. As the camera travels through Patel’s chest and into a literal canvas of abstract art, it epitomizes incredible, craft-driven editing that is deeply rooted in classical cinema while also pushing the boundaries of the medium. In sum, it’s a truly fantastic achievement.
4. The Themes
Paired with and propelled by the tremendous editing of the film are its themes. “Monkey Man” grapples with significant socioeconomic ideas, filtered through a distinctly personal and intimate lens. It finds universality through specificity, as its tale is deeply entrenched in and uniquely tailored to India. Yet, it’s remarkably easy to draw distinct and poignant parallels to America circa 2024 within Patel’s world of religion, the bastardization of religion, and oppression.
The way in which Patel and his co-writers Paul Angunawela and John Collee craft a story that is both anchored in and commenting upon Indian folktale and myth is profoundly affecting, particularly when juxtaposed with Patel’s character’s growth from childhood to adulthood. The stories he was told by his mother as a child formed the foundations of his belief system, but those beliefs in goodness and righteousness were not reflected in the cold and unforgiving world around him. Consequently, as an adult, Patel’s character endeavors to right these wrongs and find a sense of holiness within himself in the process.
It’s a beautifully composed narrative, as Patel and his collaborators weave a tale of religion and self that is deeply nuanced, articulate, and thought-provoking.
3. The Action Setpieces
“Monkey Man” was reportedly made on a budget of ten million dollars, and until Jordan Peele came on board to help secure a theatrical release, it was perilously close to being shelved altogether. If you’ve seen “Monkey Man,” you’ll understand that both of these facts are absolutely mind-blowing. The film feels and looks like a much more expensive production, with Patel and his team ensuring every dollar is visible on screen. Moreover, it’s an incredibly entertaining work that thrives in a movie theater setting.
Patel’s film is brimming with charm, energy, and enthusiasm, nowhere more evident than in its abundant action set pieces. From the impeccable sound design to Sharone Meir’s stunning cinematography to the intricate and fluid staging and choreography, every aspect of cinematic craftsmanship is firing on all cylinders in these sequences, delivering maximalist and monumental thrills.
It is exhilarating to watch the camera become such an active participant in the choreography while Patel keeps it lower to the ground to maintain the characters’ gargantuan scale. The fight scenes pack a punch and are often gritty and ruthless in their impact, yet there’s also a beautiful quality to the choreography on display.
2. Dev Patel – The Actor
Patel has long been recognized as a phenomenal actor, and “Monkey Man” showcases one of his most incredible performances to date. Even without context and separated from his other credits on the film, Patel’s acting prowess is truly remarkable.
Infused with a physicality and outward emotional depth that lies at the core of the film, Patel delivers a tour de force performance in which every action feels incredibly alive. One can sense Patel’s dual roles as both actor and director influencing each other, often in visceral and tangible ways.
While the film boasts phenomenal performances from the likes of Pitobash, Sikandar Kher, Sharlto Copley, and Vipin Sharma, both on and off screen, “Monkey Man” undeniably belongs to Patel.
1. Dev Patel – The Director
Dev Patel’s directorial debut is an astonishingly accomplished, technically exacting, and visually arresting work that defies belief. Drawing inspiration from cinematic legends such as Bruce Lee, Gareth Evans, Martin Scorsese, Sam Raimi, and more, Patel and cinematographer Sharone Meir have crafted a visual masterpiece that exudes excitement and innovation. From their visceral visual language reminiscent of “Raging Bull” to their Michael Mann-esque exploration of the digital film form and its boundaries, “Monkey Man” offers an enthralling and captivating filmmaking journey that is truly a sight to behold.
The ways in which Patel painstakingly crafts an experience that is so rooted in distinct subjectivity and fluidity, with single shots flowing seamlessly from master to insert to POV, are remarkable. To call the resulting work “experiential” feels like an understatement, as Patel intricately involves the audience in and through these sequences. In an age of action films whose setpieces are often so digitally aided (and made by a literal committee of VFX artists) that they feel disconnected from the rest of the film’s craft, Patel’s propulsive and powerful filmmaking serves as the beating heart behind every single shot of “Monkey Man.” Whether it’s a fight sequence or a simple conversation, Patel brings the same visual sensibilities and craftsmanship to the table in stunning ways.
RGM GRADE
(A-)
“Monkey Man” is so fucking good. It’s a riotously entertaining action film that played like gangbusters to the sold-out theater this writer was in, but it also offers a great deal of food for thought. It’s incisive and reflective about society, culture, and the values we hold in high regard. Ultimately, it’s a film about no longer waiting for the good you want to see in the world, but rather becoming that good (or that god) yourself. It’s a beautiful film and one that deserves to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.
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