Monkey Man just pounded a whole bunch of awesome into the face of SXSW attendees. Following a special screening of the film, Dev Patel was greeted with a standing ovation that had the budding action stars wiping away tears after pouring everything he’s got into his directorial debut.
Monkey Man is a passion project for Patel who wrote, directed, and starred in the actioner that is already getting rave reviews coming out of Austin. There’s a reason Jordan Peele scooped up the film and made sure it got the theatrical release it deserves.
“MONKEY MAN is brutally violent, against the villains, but also against the hypocrisy of religion, the tyranny of caste, and the oppression of a corrupt government,” Josh Hurtado tweeted. “Dev Patel nailed it, bloody as hell and intense as f*ck.”
MONKEY MAN is brutally violent, against the villains, but also against the hypocrisy of religion, the tyranny of caste, and the oppression of a corrupt government. Dev Patel nailed it, bloody as hell and intense as fuck. pic.twitter.com/b6bytWYbGl
— J Hurtado (@HatefulJosh) March 12, 2024
“MONKEY MAN was clearly burning a hole in Dev Patel, and I’m so glad he got it out,” Drew McWeeney wrote.
MONKEY MAN was clearly burning a hole in Dev Patel, and I’m so glad he got it out.
— DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny) March 12, 2024
“Holy sh*t, I never thought I’d see an action sequence set to a Bloodywood song???” Matt Donato tweeted. “Dev Patel comes out swinging, stabbing, and pulverizing in his hard-hitting debut. Dev’s adoration of action cinema shines as clear influences meld with his fiery storytelling.”
MONKEY MAN: Holy shit, I never thought I’d see an action sequence set to a Bloodywood song??? Dev Patel comes out swinging, stabbing, and pulverizing in his hard-hitting debut. Dev’s adoration of action cinema shines as clear influences meld with his fiery storytelling. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/kqoiJoWXyq
— Matt Donato (@DoNatoBomb) March 12, 2024
“The only thing blocking Dev Patel from being the next James Bond is that he’s such a good director,” Whitlock and Pope wrote. “I just don’t think he’d want to step back from that. But the Broccolis would be nervous about how much power they’d cede by making him writer/director AND star.”
The only thing blocking Dev Patel from being the next James Bond is that he’s such a good director – I just don’t think he’d want to step back from that. But the Broccolis would be nervous about how much power they’d cede by making him writer/director AND star.#MonkeyMan #SXSW pic.twitter.com/1wIVACQNWn
— Whitlock And Pope
at SXSW (@WhitlockAndPope) March 12, 2024
You can see more reactions below:
I think I have never been as proud of a career trajectory as I am now of Dev Patel’s from Skins to #MonkeyMan. He has created a hard-hitting action masterpiece that in full of pulsating emotion throughout. Thank God it’s coming to theaters! #SXSW pic.twitter.com/zu4h7dI0I3
— The Distracted Tatiana @ SXSW (@myrcellasear) March 12, 2024
Dev Patel’s ambition behind the camera is second only tohis talent. MONKEY MAN is an insanely ambitious first feature, the constantly escalating action setpieces strengthened by the story’s strong emotional core. Prepare yourselves for Action Star Dev Patel. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/gjO86SGgIc
— Dancin’ Dan in Oscar Land (@dancindanonfilm) March 12, 2024
MONKEY MAN is an exhilarating passion project where Dev Patel’s blood, sweat and tears are evident in every frame. The cinematic parallels are there, but Patel makes everything his own. Witness an action star being born in this must-see vengeance film. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/Vw86xvHig0
— Paul Lê
(@AFinalBoy) March 12, 2024
Wow. Hats off to Dev Patel, #MonkeyMan is remarkable. The action movie with heart that he promised, bursting with color and life in every frame. Patel is a live wire. More than an action hero, he’s a true movie star — one who can direct the hell out of his own fight scenes. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/GY6rdkcfpE
— Cat Cardenas (@catrcardenas) March 12, 2024
Monkey Man: Dev Patel’s got rocket fuel in his veins as an action director and an action star. One of the most assured, kinetic debuts I’ve seen: gorgeous, crunchy, and relentless. What a blast. #SXSW2024 pic.twitter.com/m6gBpnRL1i
— Jeff Zhang 张佶润 (@strangeharbors) March 12, 2024
Here’s the official synopsis:
After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.
Monkey Man hits theaters on April 5.