Monkey Man is the film I wanted on so many levels

Including sweet sweet choreographed violence.

It took me long enough (my excuses are many and valid) but I finally watched Monkey Man. And oohh boy do I have a lot of thoughts and feelings.

Spoiler: I had a blast.

Also, spoilers: throughout.

Released on 5th April 2024 in the UK, Monkey Man is the feature length directorial debut of the film’s star and every Indian mum’s favourite son: Dev Patel.

Dev is an interesting young man — he’s been part of some of my life, but not all — I will admit now, I never watched Skins. Released in 2007, Skins aired while I was finishing an alcohol fuelled last year at university, in an abusive relationship, and living on a drug dealer’s sofa.

(After a quick Google, it seems that I was actually living my own episode of Skins.)

Dev came into my life via Slumdog Millionaire released in 2008, and while I enjoyed the film at the time for the novelty of seeing parts of India, it was later that I understood that the voyeur was whiteness — including my own.

I enjoyed, but again became aware of the white gaze in his film about finding his roots — Lion, released in 2016.

This was different, and the only reason was that it didn’t show a complete falsehood of India — in fact, it portrayed as many different aspects of India’s corruption as possible.

When I watched the trailer, I understood that right away. While I saw Hindu iconography in India, I also saw a dictator, and with this imagery, it was simple to deduce one metaphor: Modi and the BJP.

A man with slick back white hair, standing in front of a microphone? People protesting? A sign saying ‘Protect Indian Muslims’? Forget about it. This film is clear on its stance.

Don’t get me wrong, this film isn’t going to tear down the regime — no right winger will watch the film and say “I’ve been wrong this whole time” — but it’s important that our art stands for something.

Importantly, this film is based around Hindu mythology and strength, all while admonishing the Hindu nationalism in India. Something many of us forget to do is separate the religion from the corrupt. Because — like Jews aren’t the same as Zionists — Hinduism isn’t the same as Hindu nationalism.

But let’s not forget, this film is a fantasy revenge. It’s an action film. And yes, it is a lot like John Wick — there’s even a dog in Patel’s version — but there’s a shift in the film that adds more power.

You see, revenge films have on thing in common — they are selfish. Just like Dev, someone wants revenge for their dead wife/girlfriend/mother/other nameless woman/or dog. We see Dev’s anger guide him, and watch his rage in his forever teary eyes (inspired, I assume, by Aishwarya Rai in Devdas/everything she’s in).

But, after he spends time with the Hijra community — after they save his raging ass — he learns ‘who he is’, after a spiritual moment with the roots of a tree.

And suddenly, he isn’t getting revenge for just himself, he’s doing it for everyone.

He’s doing it for the Hijra’s who took him in — who are also multi-faceted characters. Strong, wise, resilient, but still victims of violence. And then, with their beautiful flowing lengha’s, they are also expert killers.

Although no representation of marginalised communities is going to be perfect, for example, all the sex workers in the film have little to no lines in the entire film, which is infuriating.

And the women are all victims.

Except for the female villain, who annoyingly says ‘fuck’ in every sentence. Because if they can’t have lines, they you can’t have a large vocabulary.

Nothing’s going to be perfect, but I appreciate the hell out of something that tries this hard.

Now, one thing many don’t know about me, is I love action. Ever since the Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee films of the 70s to 90s, I’ve loved choreographed action in particular.

Recently, films have fulfilled this love — 2011 Indonesian film The Raid being one of the most satisfying 1 hour 40 minute fight scene I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

Monkey Man, although not anywhere near the level of the Raid films, is choreographed beautifully. I jumped, winced and silently high-fived Dev an adequate amount.

There’s so much I haven’t discussed here, because there is so much to say, and I have just returned from the cinema.

But, that goes to show how good it is.