It is well known that Dev Patel is an incredible actor, with movies such as Lion, Slumdog Millionaire, etc. Now he can add filmmaker to his list of many talents. Monkey Man, Patel’s first directorial debut effort, is an incredible story of revenge, offering filmgoers insight into the social ladder in India and a closer look at the social injustices that are still very much around. 

“When I first saw the trailer for the movie, I just knew it was going to be something special.” said senior Sebastian Pacheco.

The film opens with a myth of Hanuman, a monkey god who mistakes the sun for a mango and eats it. This angers the other gods, and cuts to a fight club, with people cheering for blood and violence, a common theme throughout the film. Viewers experience the main character, who wears a gorilla mask every night, get beat bloody just for some cash. At the beginning of the film, casual viewers may wrongly assume it is simply a story about a mediocre fighter, when really it is much darker. 

Monkey Man follows a young man, Kid, who is out for the revenge on behalf of his village, and most importantly, his mother. When working another night at the fight club, he learns of a way to infiltrate the city’s elite clubs. Filmgoers soon become witnesses to the descent of his humanity as he is consumed with a desire for revenge to get back at those who took everything from him. 

“When I started the movie, I honestly thought it would be kind of like John Wick. It was so much better than that,” exclaimed junior Rashad Lee. 

Not only is the movie a message to the Indian elite, it is also a message to the politicians of India who manipulate everyone around them for their own personal gain. While viewers do get to experience some of the beauty of India, like the temples and forests, they will witness a much darker India, a not-so-colorful one, where the rich and powerful rule everything, where women are sold to the highest bidder, and where villages and people are burned down.

Dev Patel has truly exceeded expectations with this film, showing everyone just how multi-talented he truly is.