MONKEY MAN

FILM REVIEW

If you’ve heard anything about the production of Monkey Man you would be forgiven for expecting the film to be a catastrophe.

Filming began in early 2020, just as the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic. The closing of the borders meant the the production lost its director of photography, its stunt team (who had previously worked on the John Wick franchise), and all of its background actors.

On day one of the shoot director and star Dev Patel broke his hand, requiring him to spend the rest of the shoot with a screw holding it together (as putting it in a cast would have seen the entire production close). Throughout the rest of the shoot he also broke his foot and tore his shoulder.

The films financier went bankrupt, leaving them with no money in the account until Jordan Peele came in to save them. They lost filming locations and had to scramble to find new ones.

In the midst of the financial issues they had producers buying props and putting them on credit cards just so they could get through.

And then the cameras broke meaning they had to shoot some scenes on Patels old iPhone and GoPros.

It is then, to its immense credit, that Monkey Man not only works, but is one of the slickest action films we have seen in years.

Monkey Man follows Dev Patels Kid, a fighter who, whilst wearing a monkey mask, is beaten night after night as he tries to earn enough money to survive. It is a revenge film, but to say much more than that would be to give too much away.

For a revenge film, which starts out in a bloody underground fight club, it may seem counter intuitive that the films opening act is a surprisingly slow burn. As we get to know Kid the mystery around his past builds and gradually - and satisfyingly - reveals itself, allowing you to get a feel for the character, but also the world that the film is introducing us to.

However, while the drama can be slow the action is anything but. When we are eventually treated to it it explodes into life in a frenetic haze of blood and brutality. The choreography of the fights, whether that be the scrappiness of the early moments, where Kid is undisciplined and raw, or the slickness of those later in the run time when he has been trained, and is better prepared, is expertly put together.

It is, at least, on a par with anything you will see in a James Bond or a John Wick film, again made even more impressive knowing the difficulties that they had getting it made.

And on John Wick; this is obviously the easy comparison to make. There is even a joke about the franchise during the film. But this is something else entirely. Where John Wick is focussed almost solely on its action - and, honestly, if you’re just looking for some adrenaline fuelled fun, Johns your guy! - Monkey Man wants to give equal weight to its story. Giving Kid a backstory worth delving into.

It has oppression running through its very core. Oppression of the poor, forced to fight and demean themselves to survive. Oppression of women, forced to welcome the advances of wealthy men. Oppression of the trans community, shunned by society and under increasing threat from the political powers.

The representation of the trans community especially is something unlike anything I have seen in film before. They are portrayed with an agency often not afforded to minority groups in Hollywood.

They are their own people, with their own motivations. And they exist independently of our lead. And while their reasons for fighting back may align with Kid they are their reasons. They do not blindly fight for the films hero, they are fighting for themselves. As a reaction to the persecution that they have faced.

And they are fierce. Their fight is as bloody and brutal as anything that has come before it.

A lot of the Indian mythology themes did go over my head and, though I have tried to do some reading since seeing the film, I think I would still have a lot to learn before I understood much of what Monkey Man is trying to do, but this in no way dampened my enjoyment of it.

It may offer some extra enjoyment to those who are more well read than I am, and you may increase your enjoyment by doing a little research before going in, but this should not put anyone off. There is still plenty to love about Monkey Man.

Monkey Man is one of - if not the - best action films we will see this year. Maintaining the freneticism and brutality needed of the action, but also giving us something with a little depth in its story.

And with it, Dev Patel has announced himself as a film maker worth paying attention to.

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