Immerse yourself in a narrative rich with rhythm, action, stunning cinematography, and skillful editing, Monkey Man presents a story that ingeniously blends mysticism with a classic tale of vengeance, marked by violence and atrocity. At its core, themes of injustice and mortality intertwine with ancient gods, blurring into the multi-faceted reality that persists in India.
This brilliant film captivates on all fronts, boasting everything we crave in a cinematic experience. At the helm, writer, director, and lead actor Dev Patel demonstrates his readiness to narrate a grand story filled with epic moments, commercial appeal, and ultimately, a high-quality film that masterfully weaves action, social drama, and exceptional cinematography.
Plot Overview
A boy witnesses his mother’s death in a fire. Years later, the memory unrelenting, he plunges into the underworld to track down the perpetrator of the tragedy. The protagonist must descend into hell itself to confront and overcome the ghosts of his past.
About the Movie
Monkey Man channels pure Bollywood in its most spectacular form, with an epic storytelling style where everything, absolutely everything, seems exaggerated. The film masterfully combines this grandiosity with a gritty underworld story, a realistic narrative that rings true, manifesting as a thriller that feels part fairy tale, part brutal social commentary.
Featuring breathtaking cinematography and memorable sequences, the entire film is set against a richly atmospheric backdrop. It balances realism with the fantastic and surreal, transitioning into a thriller as the plot unfolds. The storytelling, brutal and violent, culminates in a fittingly intense conclusion. Excellently executed across all its elements, the film especially shines in its editing and use of vibrant, contrasting tones in photography.
Between Hindu Tradition and Reality
The film opens with a tale, that of the monkey man (which gives the movie its title). Throughout, it is laden with references to the Vedas, Hindu gods, and Indian traditions. In this metaphorical transformation of the boy into the monkey man, the protagonist navigates the hells of his childhood through tradition, engaging with the gods amidst a reality skillfully intertwined with ancient lore.
A Stark Portrait of India’s Brutality
Monkey Man aims to expose the bitter, brutal, and violent face of India, highlighting its corruption without reservation. The narrative portrays a country where corruption and greed for rupees reign supreme, focusing on power and corruption. It tells the story of a man who, through discovering himself as a deity, seeks to end this corruption, or at least a part of it, showcasing a reality filled with thieves, pickpockets, prostitutes, and murderers in a corrupt world that has forgotten the teachings of ancient gods.
Our Opinion
A thriller that truly deserves attention. Brutal, violent, and exceptionally crafted, it’s a film that embraces excess and violence, offering a path to enlightenment through extreme violence. Yet, beyond its thrilling action sequences, it delivers a powerful action-packed movie with much more to say.
Beautifully aesthetic and well-told, Monkey Man is more than just an action film; it’s a cinematic experience that profoundly resonates.
Movie Trailer
The Cast
