If you miss John Wick and the action of the series, fortunately, there are many alternatives. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes has a special movie recommendation that you can currently watch on Amazon Prime Video.
What movie is it about? If you’re looking for action like in John Wick, there are many movies to choose from. A pretty good alternative premiered in 2024 with Monkey Man, which you can now watch with your Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Monkey Man offers many elements that I love about John Wick, but mixes them with aspects of Hindu mythology.
You can watch the trailer for Monkey Man here:
A Dirty Film with Brutal Action
What makes Monkey Man so good? The most important point is true in Monkey Man, and that is the action. It is brutal, bloody at times, and above all, creative. The many fight sequences work with various weapons, locations, and also opponent configurations.
Dev Patel, who also directs the film, makes a good impression as the lead actor. You may know him best from Slumdog Millionaire. His motivation is as familiar as it is effective. He wants to find the murderers of his mother and those responsible for taking everything from him.
He honed his fighting skills in illegal fights, through which he earns his money. Accordingly, he fights less perfectly
than a John Wick. The fights are not only bloody; they are also particularly dirty. This gives the fights in the film a slightly different look and will especially please fans of The Raid.
In addition to the main character’s fights, there is also his plan, which is often thwarted. This creates a certain spontaneity that often leads to fights. It is also very pleasant that the film, despite the dark themes, incorporates situational comedy that lightens the whole thing up.
Another aspect that gives Monkey Man a certain independence is the Hindu mythology.
A Hero of the Oppressed
What mythological elements are in the film? In the film, the main character wears a monkey mask in many fights. This is based on the Hindu deity Hanuman. The deity is half human and half monkey and comes from the epic Ramayana (Source: Smithsonian magazine).
In the film, the connection to Hanuman is only symbolic. While mythological imagery is played with, the fights are all kept realistic
. In an interview with Jimmy Fallon (via YouTube), Dev Patel compares Hanuman to Superman. He says:
He stands for nobility, strength, and courage. He is very similar to Superman when he splits his chest and flies with the iconography. And for me, he was also a hero who lost faith in himself. At some point, he lost his courage and had to be reminded of who he was.
This is also a nice change from John Wick, as Dev Patel fights not only for his revenge but also for the oppressed. However, one should not expect a superhero movie
despite the description. Monkey Man is a tough fight movie that impresses mainly through its choreography.
If you have a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, you can watch the film on the platform. Fans of good action and John Wick should definitely check it out, as Monkey Man was an action highlight in 2024. You can find more action movies here: 5 Action movies rated 18 for hardcore film fans
