Monkey Man ★★★½

DEV Patel’s directorial debut reflects, as you would expect, two different cultures.

Monkey Man is an action thriller merging Indian culture and film-making tradition with the best Hollywood capture of recent Asian cinema efforts like The Raid and the John Wick series.

It’s high-octane, brutal action with supernatural overtones and a script that respects spiritual traditions integral to all sub-continent cinema.

Patel, best known as an impressive actor in films like Lion, Hotel Mumbai and Slumdog Millionaire, ensures the film isn’t just a stylistic exercise by also producing, starring in the lead role and co-writing the screenplay.

At times the film is a little too packed with commentary on the caste system, the roles of women, the nature of duty, revenge and redemption and, most importantly, how societies emerge from colonial influence and form their own identities, as well as progressing its story and impressive stunt work.

A prologue establishes the reasons why Patel’s character is in tent on vengeance against a corrupt police chief character that also pits him against ruthless gangsters.

Sharlto Copley is among the good supporting cast, but this is Patel’s film all the way and he dominates the screen on both physical and emotional levels.

Watched on Apple TV.