History may not look more favorably upon many directorial debuts than Dev Patel’s inaugural feature Monkey Man. The film is both a wholly entertaining action film and an emotional, rewarding tale of revenge and dramatic character growth and development.

The story of Monkey Man concerns itself with the legend of something called Hanuman – which is the embodiment of strength and courage – that is supposed to serve as a vessel of retribution for those unable to achieve so themselves. At this point, the character of Kid (Patel) is introduced as a young man trying to earn a living participating in an illegal fight club wearing a gorilla mask. Through a series of flashbacks, it is revealed that Kid has been scarred by some rather brutal childhood traumas. The result of these incidents initiates and fuels his methodical quest for revenge against the men who destroyed the idyllic life he once enjoyed.