MONKEY MAN
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Critics Go Bananas for Dev Patel’s Revenge Epic “Monkey Man”

April 3, 2024
By The Credits

The critics are going ape wild for Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man. Patel leads his own tour-de-force action film as Kid, an anonymous young man who’s been suppressing his rage for years after his mother was murdered by the ruthless, heartless leaders who prey on the poor and powerless in Mumbai. All that’s about to change.

Kid is ultimately inspired to act by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage. Kid learns the ropes on how to fight, and perhaps more importantly, how to take a beating and keep going, by submitting himself to the brutalities of an underground fight club where he dons a gorilla mask and gets routinely pummeled by the more popular brawlers.

Eventually, Kid finds a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s upper echelons, where he unleashes years of his fury and vengeance on the men who make life a living hell for so many.

Patel directs from his original story and his screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World). Joining him in the cast are Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven), Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm), Vipin Sharma (Hotel Mumbai), Ashwini Kalsekar (Ek Tha Hero), Adithi Kalkunte (Hotel Mumbai), Sikandar Kher (Aarya) and Makarand Deshpande (RRR).

Monkey Man swings into theaters on April 5. Let’s take a quick peek at what the critics are saying:

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Featured image: MONKEY MAN, directed by Dev Patel. Courtesy Universal Pictures.

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The Credits

The Credits is an online magazine that tells the story behind the story to celebrate our large and diverse creative community. Focusing on profiles of below-the-line filmmakers, The Credits celebrates the often uncelebrated individuals who are indispensable to the films and TV shows we love.