Dev Patel directs and stars in Monkey Man, an action revenge film that makes sure to add in emotion, trauma, as well as some commentary on religion and politics. It’s all done without losing the driving, pulse-pounding action sequences that make this film incredibly enjoyable and watchable.

As the nameless hero of the film, known in the credits as Kid, and sometimes by Bobby to those he interacts with, Patel brings the character to life with a singular focus, a focus that encompasses the entire production.

Driven by a desire to avenge the brutal murder of his mother, as well as the destruction of his village, the Kid sets out after those who took everything away from him, the corrupt police chief, Rana Singh (Sikander Kher) and an equally corrupt religious leader, Baba Shakti (Makrand Deshpande).

The villains have aligned themselves with a very right-leaning political party that doesn’t want minorities, alternate religions, or rights for anyone other than themselves. But that’s just the backdrop, as important as it is to think about and consider.

These ‘elitists’ don’t see the people around or ‘beneath’ them, who suffer to eke out an existence on a daily level, struggling to survive, while they live off of the labours of the ‘lower classes.’ They certainly won’t recognize one unknown Kid working in the hotel kitchen.

But the Kid has worked his way up in a fighting ring, run by Tiger (Sharlto Copley), and he’s trained and thinks he’s ready. When his assault doesn’t go as well as he hoped, and he finds himself injured and on the run from the police, he awakes to find himself in a ruined temple, the residence of a displaced trans community, who takes him in, heals him and transforms his role from one of revenge to avenger.

Patel keeps the camera moving throughout the film, giving it an increased kinetic movement when fights occur, and the Kid is in danger of losing control. He mixes in the vibrant colours of India even as he shows the stark contrasts between those who live well and those who simply survive.

The action sequences are violent and bloody, and feature some fantastic stunt work, all coupled with a character whose motivations we understand and can relate to. It’s fast-moving, and a captivating watch and shows that Patel, who has long been a favourite of mine, can tell a fantastic tale when he sits in the director’s chair – this is his feature directorial debut! I’ll look forward to seeing if he delivers future action films.

Definitely worth the watch! He combines myth with modern fight sequences and honours the films of Bruce Lee, Bollywood, and big-budget action films. It’s a lot of fun.