Benny Safdie's first solo directorial effort proves to be a surprisingly tender and introspective examination of masculinity, addiction, and vulnerability. This Action, Drama, and Sport 2025 film from A24 defies conventional sports movie review expectations, delivering instead an intimate character study that reveals Dwayne Johnson in a transformative light we've never witnessed before.
The Smashing Machine tells the true story of Mark Kerr, a pioneering mixed martial arts fighter who dominated the late 1990s UFC scene. Directed by Benny Safdie in his first solo outing after years of collaboration with his brother Josh, the film covers the period from 1997 to 2000, chronicling Kerr's undefeated championship run, his battle with opioid addiction, and his volatile relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples. Rather than following the typical underdog-to-champion trajectory, Safdie crafts a documentary-like drama that focuses on the human cost of violence and the fragility hidden beneath a fighter's imposing exterior.
Story and Screenplay
The narrative deliberately avoids the triumphant arc audiences expect from sports biopics. Instead, we follow Kerr during a crucial period when his physical dominance in the ring contrasts sharply with his emotional vulnerability outside it. The script explores his painkiller dependency with matter-of-fact honesty, showing how sobriety doesn't automatically resolve deeper issues. The storytelling emphasizes intimate moments over grand spectacle, finding drama in domestic arguments and quiet desperation rather than exclusively in the octagon.
The pacing feels intentionally measured, almost meditative at times, which may frustrate viewers expecting constant adrenaline. However, this deliberate rhythm serves the character study, allowing us to sit with Mark's discomfort and witness his internal struggles. The structure cleverly subverts sports movie conventions, particularly in the climactic third act which refuses to deliver the expected cathartic triumph.
The originality lies not in the story itself but in Safdie's approach to familiar material. By treating the fights as background to the real battle happening within Mark's psyche, the film carves out fresh territory in the overcrowded sports biopic genre.
Acting and Characters
Dwayne Johnson delivers a revelation of a performance, physically transforming himself with prosthetics and a deliberately hunched, bulky physique that makes him look uncomfortable in his own skin. He strips away the charisma that typically defines his screen presence, revealing instead a soft-spoken, gentle giant haunted by contradictions. Johnson's Mark is simultaneously a demolition machine in the ring and a man who tenderly checks on opponents after brutalizing them, someone who talks about his "tummy" getting upset on amusement park rides.
The performance works because Johnson leans into the absurdity of Mark's constructed persona while finding genuine pathos in his struggles. His moments of defeat carry tremendous weight precisely because we see an actor known for invincibility allowing himself to completely crumble on screen.
Emily Blunt brings fierce energy to Dawn Staples, playing her as both devoted partner and volatile presence. While the character feels somewhat underwritten, Blunt infuses Dawn with a whiplash spontaneity that makes her simultaneously sympathetic and frustrating. Her chemistry with Johnson feels authentic, particularly in their domestic sparring scenes which crackle with the same intensity as the fight sequences.
The supporting cast includes actual MMA fighters, most notably Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, Kerr's friend and fellow fighter. While Bader's inexperience occasionally shows, his earnestness brings authenticity to the fraternal bond between the two men. Other fighters including Oleksandr Usyk and Bas Rutten (playing himself) add legitimate credibility to the world.
Direction and Technical Aspects
Safdie's direction favors a grungy, naturalistic aesthetic that evokes documentary realism. Cinematographer Maceo Bishop employs handheld cameras throughout, creating an intimate, observational quality. The visual approach deliberately keeps audiences at a distance during fight scenes, shooting from outside the ring looking in, while getting uncomfortably close during personal moments.
The cinematography captures fascinating details: the amplified thud of Mark's footsteps, the scars visible on his pores in extreme close-ups, the way his massive frame still manages to convey vulnerability through posture and body language. Interiors are darkly lit, contributing to the overall sense of claustrophobia and internal struggle.
The editing, handled by Safdie himself, maintains the documentary feel while occasionally deploying poetic flourishes. A training montage set to Elvis Presley's "My Way" serves as a deliberately low-key, almost tongue-in-cheek version of the inspirational sequences typical to the genre. The fights themselves are viscerally staged but never glorified, emphasizing the brutal reality of early MMA when rules were minimal.
Soundtrack and Atmosphere
Nala Sinephro's ambient jazz score works antithetically to the violence on screen, creating an unexpected gentleness that mirrors Mark's inner sensitivity. The music often makes the film feel contemplative, even dreamlike, particularly during Mark's drug-induced states which are portrayed as emotional lows rather than euphoric highs.
The sound design amplifies physical presence in meaningful ways, from the heavy footfalls to the sickening thuds of bodies hitting canvas. However, the overall atmosphere cultivated by Safdie feels surprisingly tender for a film about cage fighting. This juxtaposition between brutal subject matter and gentle treatment becomes the film's defining characteristic.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The film's greatest strength is Johnson's courageous, career-redefining performance. He commits fully to exposing vulnerability in ways his typical blockbuster roles never permit. The relationship between Mark and Dawn, despite some underwriting, provides genuine emotional stakes that transcend the fighting.
Safdie's subversion of genre expectations proves refreshing, offering a sports movie that's more interested in examining toxic masculinity and emotional repression than delivering crowd-pleasing victories. The naturalistic style and casting of real fighters adds authenticity that glossier productions lack.
However, the treatment of Mark's addiction feels somewhat surface-level, perhaps because Safdie remains too close to his subject to fully explore the ugliness of chemical dependency. Dawn's character, while energetically portrayed by Blunt, lacks the depth and dimensionality that Mark receives, making her feel at times like a archetype rather than a fully realized person.
The deliberately downbeat tone and rejection of conventional payoffs may alienate viewers expecting traditional sports movie thrills. Some fight sequences lose specificity as the film progresses, and the pacing occasionally drags during extended domestic sequences.
Final Verdict
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
The Smashing Machine succeeds as both a intimate character study and a statement of artistic ambition from Benny Safdie. While it may not satisfy audiences seeking conventional sports movie heroics, it offers something more valuable: a genuinely moving examination of the costs of violence and the courage required to embrace vulnerability.
This film represents a genuine turning point for Dwayne Johnson as an actor. By choosing a role that demands he strip away his carefully constructed star persona, he proves himself capable of the kind of raw, affecting work that earns serious consideration during awards season. The Smashing Machine may not be the rousing crowd-pleaser some expect, but it's a far more honest and ultimately more affecting film because of that choice.
Recommendation: Best suited for viewers who appreciate character-driven dramas over traditional sports narratives, fans of Benny Safdie's previous work, and anyone curious to see Dwayne Johnson genuinely stretch himself as an actor. Those expecting Fast & Furious-style action or Rocky-esque triumph should adjust expectations accordingly.
The Smashing Machine is a surprisingly gentle giant of a film—much like its protagonist—that proves there's profound strength in admitting weakness.
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