Going into this film we had very little knowledge about it. All we saw in relation to it, was the haunting images of director and star, Dev Patel’s character, credited as Kid, wearing a monkey mask as well as the poster of the character standing in a blood red hallway. What this film delivered was an authentic depiction of righteous fury; revenge has never felt so spiritual. Dev Patel delivers a deep vulnerability and a pain with deep white rage that is aching to be unleashed. Occupying the fictional Indian city of Yatana, Patel’s directorial debut offers a great deal of duality. If you are looking for an action film that will have you emotionally invested from start to finish and contemplating the complexity of revenge and violence, this is the film for you.

Back of the DVD summary: As Kid (Dev Patel) barely scrapes by, taking dives at an underground fight-club, when a chance to avenge the death of his mother presents itself. Conning the wife of Rana (Sikandar Kher), the man who helped destroy his village and kill Kid’s mother, Kid manages to get close to the high class elites who perpetrated the crime. In the background, an increasingly popular religious figure begins to take India by storm, but this figure may not be as he seems. Confronted by his past trauma, Kid takes revenge into his own hands.

This film plays within the realm of the Neo-noir style, which Dev Patel executed beautifully. While on occasion there were experimental shots that we felt didn’t quite work, more often we felt Patel delivered some of the best cinematography that we have seen in a while. The film’s use of shadows and bright colors to help to set the scene and mood were stunning and well deserving of Jordan Peele’s support to get it on the big screen. The composition of the film wears its influences well but it dares to be creative and fresh in its cinematography. Colorful hanging disks, the brief point-of-view shot in the stairwell shot, and playful training montage set to the rhythm of tabla hand drums.

If going into this film you are looking for another “John Wick” clone you’ll be disappointed; it shares some similarities but this is a grittier, more violent film soaked in dirt and blood. “Monkey Man” however, does take stylistic cues from “John Wick,” even making a nod at it with a reference to a gun Wick used in film two. The characterization of Kid should not be compared to Wick, nor should his fighting style, which was much more fluid and animalistic, an homage to the monkey persona he takes on during prize fights. The kills and fights feel gruesome, we felt the bones crack and skin tear. While watching the film we cringed and winced, as Patel’s character takes one hell of a beating.

At the heart of this film is genuine faith and spirituality, against corrupt politicians posing as religious figures. It is about fighting to survive versus fighting to live, with violence against self versus violence for a purpose. Constantly the story clashes its spectrum against itself. It is creating a narrative that feels like more than just a revenge film. The story’s emphasis is not just about honing the body or about how efficiently you can kill but rather the sharpening of all three elements of self, mind, body and soul, in the pursuit of a just cause.

These ideas become more prominent in “Monkey Man” through its use of artful iconography and themes surrounding the Hindu god Hanuman, a fallen monkey god, as well as the god Ardhanarishvara or Shiva, a deity that is both male and female. Patel uses Hanuman as an almost prophetic story to connect to the journey Kid goes on throughout the film. What begins for him as a simple mission of vengeance for his mother becomes a part of a mission beyond himself, as a corrupt religious leader begins to rise to power. Patel uses this film to make commentary on corruption, religious violence as well as violence against the trans community. While the film in its entirety could be considered violent, it did not however show violence being enacted on the “Hijra” the third gender in Indian culture, instead Patel depicts the beauty and strength of the characters. Not only that but they have initiative in the narrative and join the fight for themselves.

In summary, “Monkey Man” is a welcome surprise that is absolutely worth your time and attention. There’s always clamor for new and original films, and it doesn’t get more new or original than this. Please, go and watch this film on the biggest screen you can, so that we can continue to get more fresh and engaging films in the cinema.