20 Best Movies Of 2024 (So Far)

Sometimes, amongst the big budget franchises and heavy social dramas, you just want to sit down and watch an embattled action hero kick some ass, which is where Dev Patel's directorial debut Monkey Man comes into play. 

To call this particular action flick a simple one would do it a disservice, however, since Patel dispenses just as much socio-political insight as he does breathtaking action sequences throughout Monkey Man's taut two-hour runtime. 

The story of a masked fighter (Patel himself, pouring everything he has into every frame both behind and in front of the camera) who seeks vengeance for his late mother's death, the film earns its R rating with bloody bouts of bone-crunching violence and brutal kills. 

Made all the more impressive by Patel, whose passion is evident throughout his character's quest for closure, Monkey Man is a powerful, gory tale of revenge that doesn't do anything particularly new, but soars high and far with what it does all the same. Your heart rate will need plenty of time to recover.