Monkey Man: The Legend Behind the Mask

Grab your popcorn, everyone, because the surprise trailer for the Dev Patel and Jordan Peele film Monkey Man dropped recently, and it’s a smash. The movie hits theaters on April 5, but until then, we’re breaking down all the references in the trailer to iconic action cinema and epic cultural legends – all to give you the story behind that ugly gorilla mask.

Up until now, Peele and his Monkeypaw production company have mostly been attached to horror, but the Get Out filmmaker was so impressed after a test screening of Monkey Man that he helped to clinch it theatrical distribution instead of the originally intended streaming release on Netflix. Patel directs and stars in this action thriller, inspired by the legend of the divine monkey-like Hanuman, a Hindu icon symbolizing strength, courage, and defiance against oppression.

Patel’s directorial debut centers around Kid, an anonymous young man who makes his living in an underground fighting ring, earning cash by fixing the odds in favor of more popular fighters. After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the city’s sinister elite, who systemically victimize the poor and powerless – and also murdered his mother. So, of course, he’s going to unleash a violent campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.

Monkey See, Monkey DoAside from the title’s direct tribute, many visual references to the Hindu monkey god Hanuman appear throughout the admittedly long but electrifying three-minute-plus trailer. In the ancient Indian epic poem Ramayana, Hanuman is a central figure who joins a war in support of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, who embodies chivalry and virtue. Hanuman gathers an army of Vanara – or the forest people also known as monkeys – against the demon king, who has abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. Gathering his resources to fight the good fight, the monkey god epitomizes the fusion of strength, vindication, and heroic initiative through martial arts. Or as the trailer puts it: he’s the protector of the people.

The mask will likely serve as a visual representation of the character’s evolution from the shadows of anonymity to fully embodying the symbol of the people’s protector.

In the trailer, disembodied voices tell the protagonist “You are a beast” and “The rich don’t see us as people,” catalyzing Kid’s rebellion against the current state of affairs. Kid’s monkey mask, which starts off as dark and dingy, is lightened to the White Monkey status in a mysterious bath, evoking imagery of a baptism, or ceremonial cleansing. In ancient literature, Hanuman is revered as an exemplar of faith, self-control, and commitment to a good cause, ultimately allowing him to transcend his outward Vanara appearance. Thus, the mask will likely serve as a visual representation of the character’s evolution from the shadows of anonymity to fully embodying the symbol of the people’s protector. Kid is coming for the top.

Dev Patel gets ready to don the mask!Traditionally, Hanuman is recognized as a perennial celibate, embodying the virtues of chastity. Based on the fusion of these traditional storylines of selflessness, righteousness, and war, one can safely assume that this will be a tale of heroic pursuits, of possible romantic interest, and of vengeance. Lots of vengeance.

It is often suggested that the tale of Hanuman inspired the character of the Monkey King, or Sun Wukong, in the 16th century Chinese legend Journey to the West. In this story, as king of the monkeys it is Sun Wukong’s duty to oversee and protect all monkeys. Naturally, Sun Wukong is a skilled and powerful fighter, capable of defeating the best warriors of heaven, who puts these skills to use while aiding the monk Tang Sanzang on his journey to gather all Buddhist sutras from the West. There’s a moment in the trailer that can be seen as a fun nod to this tale, where Kid says, “Don’t call me son.” The “son” or “sun” mentioned here could be interpreted as a reference to Sun Wukong if you’re feeling feisty.

Beware of the BoysWhile we may not be on that particular journey to the West, the film itself is representative of another fusion of East meeting West, as Asian cinema makes its way to the mainstream United States. Monkey Man may not have large-scale musical numbers or an epic three-hour runtime like RRR, but it does seem like a prime example of a Bollywood film delivered through a Western lens, a la Slumdog Millionaire, which was, coincidentally or not, Patel’s breakthrough acting role.

The song that we hear as a throughline in the trailer is one of the few Indian songs that has left a lasting impression on the American public, signaling that Monkey Man is bringing a traditional Indian influence into the mainstream. “Mundian to Bach Ke,” or “Beware of the Boys,” by Punjabi MC and Jay-Z, is a fusion of Eastern and Western styles with traditional Punjabi elements – the immediately recognizable clang of the tumbi with traditional bhangra beats, the Punjabi language juxtaposed against Jay-Z’s rap vocals and a sample from the theme song of David Hasselhoff’s TV series, Knight Rider. While it’s arguably an obvious choice – and low-hanging fruit as one of the most overplayed Indian songs according to some Redditors – that doesn’t make it a bad one.

Big bumper, nice headlights!Besides the general beauty in cultural juxtaposition, this blend of modern Western and Indian aesthetics also carves out the opportunity for a little humor. As Kid prepares for his quest, he and his sidekick walk through a garage full of expensive cars, only to approach a small but customized three-wheeled vehicle, colloquially known as a tuk-tuk. The sidekick jokes that the “big bumper, nice headlights” are a nod to Nicki Minaj, which is fitting as another popular reference, and it lets us know we’re in for a good time.

Homages to Iconic ActionIt’s always entertaining to see an action movie that’s not afraid to make fun of itself while upping the ante on the violence. For decades, Jackie Chan has held the crown for this type of slapstick action comedy in films like Supercop, Rumble in the Bronx, and the Rush Hour franchise. But by the looks of the trailer, Patel is successfully dabbling in the genre, playing with action tropes such as smashing through a window to land a 30-foot drop with no injuries – only with Kid bouncing awkwardly off the glass, making for a cheeky comedy beat during a high-stakes moment.

It’s safe to say this is not your average Marvel green screen action flick, and the trailer differentiates itself by leaning into the practical effects of hand-to-hand combat. While Patel’s role in 2010’s The Last Airbender was action-heavy, we’ve never seen his real-life martial arts skills shine like this before. It behooves me to note that he is actually a black belt in Taekwondo, linking him to the action heroes of yore: Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme, and more. With guidance by veteran stuntman Brahim Chab as fight choreographer – who has actually worked with Chan, Van Damme, and others – we’ve got ourselves a combination that can’t be beat.

Additionally, though Monkey Man wrapped production before the last chapter’s release, the trailer makes it hard not to draw parallels with the John Wick franchise – especially Donny Yen’s amusing kitchen grapple. With the help of a quick cameo from everyone’s favorite eccentric character actor Sharlto Copley introducing the f-ing fight, the fast-paced violence is perfectly punctuated by Kid smashing a rival’s face into the door of a microwave. It’s the perfect little zinger. And while we’re talking about cooking up an ass-whooping, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the markedly less funny but equally badass kitchen scene in The Raid 2. In that cult favorite fight, the violence gets exponentially more gruesome with each minute that passes (and there are seven of them), with bottle-smashing and head banging to boot. In both cases, you’ll be checking if you’re bleeding by the end.

Oldboy meets Ong Bak and everything in between. 

Of course, there are some more obvious references that can’t be ignored – any action film set in a ring will automatically garner comparisons to Rocky, and the Monkey Man trailer kicks things off with a blow on a punching bag that would fit right into any iteration of the longstanding franchise. We’ve got our classic James Bond suited standoff. The stacks of endless henchmen piling into a room that can be found in Kill Bill, which in and of itself is referential to kung fu films of the 1970s. Oldboy meets Ong Bak and everything in between.

Peele as ProducerThough having the Monkeypaw moniker attached to the film in this case seems to be more of a stamp of approval than a strictly creative influence, Peele is widely known for putting his own twist on classic film tropes. Monkey Man doesn’t have the same genre appeal of Get Out, Us, or Nope, but Peele putting his name on the project is a big show of support. Similar to the collection of Quentin Tarantino Presents, the Monkeypaw label provides a reputation that people know and trust.

As an original action film with a unique cultural perspective, the movie looks pretty impressive for Patel’s directorial debut. An action thriller about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders in the seedy underbelly of Mumbai has the potential to make for an inspiring Indian vigilante story packed with impressive martial arts and amusing comic relief. Can Peele’s name assure Monkey Man box office success? Or does Indian John Wick even need his help? Let us know in the comments!