Monkey Man review: "Dev Patel's directorial debut is a savage triumph"

GamesRadar+ VerdictGruelling, exhausting, thrilling: there’s a lot going on in Dev Patel’s directorial debut. Steel yourself. GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Gruelling, exhausting, thrilling: there’s a lot going on in Dev Patel’s directorial debut. Steel yourself. Gruelling, exhausting, thrilling: there’s a lot going on in Dev Patel’s directorial debut. Steel yourself. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Hats off to Dev Patel. That the adorkable kid fromSlumdog Millionairehas grown into the commanding leading man he is today is the cinematic equivalent of the kid who has sand kicked in his face hitting the gym to sculpt himself into a powerhouse. Or, if we work Monkey Man into the metaphor – and we must, given his new film sees him not only star but also direct, produce, and co-write – it’s like that sand-spluttering kid hitting the gym, training in martial arts, and becoming a weapons expert in order to morph into a one-man army. Kid is at the bottom of the caste system, the weight of the self-serving elite having pressed down on him for his entire life, compacting his rage. And now all of that torment and trauma is about to erupt as he embarks on a roaring rampage of revenge. Monkey Man is intense. Maybetoointense, its two-hour run time pummelling viewers with deafening sound design, fast, jagged cuts, and shallow-focus close-ups lensed in murky browns and soiled yellows. The effect is disorientating and nauseating. And that’s not even the fights. When they arrive, which they do for large chunks of the movie, they’re up close and personal, almost seeming to shove viewers between the fighters as they go at each other with fists, feet, elbows, knees, and teeth – there’s more biting than you’d expect in a Mike Tyson vs. Luis Suárez alley scrap. Can you have too much of a good thing? Perhaps, but it certainly knocks you out. And though Patel borrows heavily from Commando, Rambo, Bruce Lee movies, The Raid, and John Wick, he gives things enough of a cultural twist (the obligatory training montage is cleverly adapted) to make it fresh, throwing social realism, Indian mythologies, and pointed messaging regarding weaponised, monetised faith into the mix. A savage triumph. Monkey Man is in US theaters and UK cinemas on April 5. More info More More about monkey manDev Patel’s new action movie Monkey Man is so much more than the next John WickDev Patel talks performing and directing himself with “so much rage” in his new action movie Monkey ManLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about monkey manDev Patel’s new action movie Monkey Man is so much more than the next John WickDev Patel talks performing and directing himself with “so much rage” in his new action movie Monkey ManLatest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest► More about monkey manDev Patel’s new action movie Monkey Man is so much more than the next John WickDev Patel talks performing and directing himself with “so much rage” in his new action movie Monkey Man 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adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: 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sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”