Review: Monkey Man

Official synopsis: An anonymous young man (Dev Patel) unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.

Dev Patel said it's not enough to grace us with his presence in front of the camera, he wants to give it a shot behind the camera too. And so we get his Jordan Peele produced first time feature, Monkey Man. A film that's bound to bring comparisons to the John Wick series.

This film has a lot to say about the rich and the powerful, especially the ones who use religion to push their agenda and harm those they deem beneath them. That's what makes Monkey Man stand out from your every day "Dude goes on a killing rampage" film. Patel's not reinventing the wheel here, but by giving us this story with an Indian man front and center, the Western world is at least getting something new. 

And he's good as a director! Definitely a bit green. There's far too much shaky cam and close up shots to get him off scot-free here. The film also tends to drag a bit in the middle, but it picks up nicely. I hope this film does well in theaters.

Grade: B