Since his breakout role in 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, Dev Patel has steadily established himself as one of cinema’s most believable and versatile actors. Now, with this allegorical feature directorial debut, he’s broken the Hollywood bonds and added director, writer, screenwriter, producer and a few other hats to his resume. 

A young man referred to only as “Kid” (Patel) makes a meager living by putting on a gorilla mask and allowing the bejesus to be beaten out of him in theatrically crooked bloody-knuckle fights. Crappy job, to be sure. But it makes you tough. 

And tough he’s got to be when, after decades of searching, he gets a lead on the identities of the corrupt political and religious leaders who murdered his mother and continue to victimize Mumbai’s poor and powerless. He seeks revenge. 

And he gets it. Patel has been paying attention during his acting career and exhibits a mastery of timing, close-ups, chop-socky, bone-crunching sound and car chases (the nitro-boosted, souped-up tuk-tuk is priceless). Even the music is spot-on. It’s kinetic, stylish, catharticand thrilling, and all tied together with relatable emotion. It is, after all, an underdog story.

But be warned: this is one bone-jarringly hyper-violent movie, and not for everyone. John Wick’s a pacifist and Rambo a teddy bear. Dev’s recipe would be: mix Wick with Rambo and stir in a little Schwa-chan, then add a tad of Hindu mythology and turn it up to 11. 

I’ve always enjoyed the films of Dev the actor. I can’t wait to see what Dev the filmmaker chooses to do next. (121 min)