A very powerful and well meaning story . It's about abuse and abusive relationships and families and how they cope. Very well acted and directed. Real characters. Very good fight scenes and sub stories. A highly recommended film.
63 Reviews
Movie with a lot of heart
micglou23 November 2020
Pleasantly surprised by this movie, strong performances all around... especially Stephen Dorff hit a real homerun with this one. His character is very obviously based on a famous MMA fighter, but he has put his own twist on it and he doesn't miss a beat. Even though the story is great, it could've been fleshed out a little bit more concerning the history and relationships... but despite that it still has a lot of heart and a lot to offer. Absolutely recommended to watch.
Stephen Dorff at his best
msgigi789 December 2020
This was a great father son story. It almost seemed like even Stephen Dorff who is always great at playing villains had trouble grappling with the disgusting choices his character makes as a father in this film. The son played by Darren Mann does an excellent job playing a stoic son and I always love seeing Elizabeth Reaser and Donald Faison on screen. Shout-out to Karruche who also did an excellent job. This is a great movie to watch if you liked the show Kingdom with Frank Grillo.
Darker Side of MMA
kevinod-9647726 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Good movie. Shows the darker side of MMA. A lot of abuse depicted. Stephen Dorf does a great job playing the abusive dad/champion fighter. Definitely worth checking out.
I'm guessing this movie was lost during Covid 2020. Too bad.
I'm guessing this movie was lost during Covid 2020. Too bad.
Completely surprised
otnememento-220 December 2020
This is an incredibly well done movie. I was expecting something cheap and nonsense but it was the opposite. Dorff is really good and the script is way, way better than expected. I don't know why it has such a low profile, it is a complete surprise.
Follow your own dreams
wjosephjorob21 November 2020
What could have been another corny fight themed movie , turn quite compelling and sensitive because of the actors performances, A world famous MMA fighter with a extreme ego and lifestyle trains his teenage son to follow in his footsteps, but his abusive ways towards previous life gets in the way of progress, his former family suffered and continue to pick up the pieces and takes it's toll on his son, a altercation gets leaked from a family event, causes a rift between father and son, it's turns into a big MMA event pitting father against son, the battle turns into two individuals that have to battle their personal demons in the public and in the ring, the fight scenes were well put together , but the quiet moments between the cast and their interactions make this movie interesting and more watchable, you root for the son to mature and follow his own dream and guide his life in a more stable way, you applaud him also for being a loving brother to his special needs brother and loyal son to his mother and help her keep their lives from falling apart, his father is a monster , person who soul is tormented by abuse and all the success in the world, don't cure that , the conclusion of the film that did not have a real resolution, and that to me was the only real problem, I had with this film, overall watchable movie that touches on a real sensitive issue of domestic violence from a different point of view.
A Good film let down by the sports scenes
valleyjohn2 August 2021
Embattled is a well acted , nuts and bolts , fight film that although, very watchable, is ultimately let down by the final act .
Stephen Dorff is excellent as the greedy , selfish MMA champion , who treats both of his families really bad because of his own upbringing. Darren Mann who plays his son Jett is great too but here is where lies the big problem with the film .
The father and son may have a history together that is tainted and they are at both ends of the fighting scale so what makes you think that they are ready to fight each other ??
It wouldn't happen and that's what makes this film just a little bit unbelievable.
I like the whole background story of how Cash behaved with his first family and how he is repeating it with his new family and that's the glue that holds the film together, it's just the fight scenes that make this film a little baggy .
The scenes where we see Cash as a younger man and treating Jett badly as an 8 year old are badly done. The make up department made him look 10 years older and it looked strange.
Overall i found it entertaining and I nearly gave it four stars but because of the predictable ending ( or unpredictable, which ever way you look at it) , it just fell short .
Stephen Dorff is excellent as the greedy , selfish MMA champion , who treats both of his families really bad because of his own upbringing. Darren Mann who plays his son Jett is great too but here is where lies the big problem with the film .
The father and son may have a history together that is tainted and they are at both ends of the fighting scale so what makes you think that they are ready to fight each other ??
It wouldn't happen and that's what makes this film just a little bit unbelievable.
I like the whole background story of how Cash behaved with his first family and how he is repeating it with his new family and that's the glue that holds the film together, it's just the fight scenes that make this film a little baggy .
The scenes where we see Cash as a younger man and treating Jett badly as an 8 year old are badly done. The make up department made him look 10 years older and it looked strange.
Overall i found it entertaining and I nearly gave it four stars but because of the predictable ending ( or unpredictable, which ever way you look at it) , it just fell short .
A film that throws all the punches 👊 and then some
Top_Dawg_Critic21 November 2020
Well, this film was not what I was expecting - and that's a good thing.
Firstly, outstanding casting and performances, especially Darren Mann, and, I'd say an Oscar worthy performance by Stephen Dorff who channeled his inner Conor McGregor, and a drunk deadbeat father and ex, like a champ.
At the start, I was a little lost in the story and it's characters. But then came to realize that even without the MMA storyline, this would've still been an outstanding film about a single mom due to an abusive past relationship, raising her kids on her own - one being in the autistic spectrum. Then add the story of her eldest son who's been manifesting the abusive past relationship with his father. Now how do we mix in some action into this story MMA style? Behold, Embattled.
This is writer David McKenna's only 11th writing credit, and he nailed it like a seasoned screenwriter. This film is a different kind of fighter story, one where the consequences of the fight are more important than the win-loss records of its fighters. It's an unforgettable family dynamics drama, that merely uses MMA as a jumping off point to far more interesting realms about emotional catharsis, both for the characters and for the viewer. The emotional heft of this story makes this one of the best sports films I've seen in a long time.
The cinematography was great and the score very fitting. The 117 min runtime felt a little long with the sometimes slow pacing, and I felt there were a little too many slow-mo shots. But considering this is amateur director Nick Sarkisov's 2nd ever dabble in filmmaking as producer and director, I'm going to be forgiving, because his directing otherwise, was on par with seasoned filmmakers, and for that, mad props and respect.
I can finally say during these times of isolation, this is a must-see film, and I will certainly be watching it again. It's a well deserved 9/10 from me. To see my review and rating system, or more of my 1000+ reviews, simply click on my username.
Firstly, outstanding casting and performances, especially Darren Mann, and, I'd say an Oscar worthy performance by Stephen Dorff who channeled his inner Conor McGregor, and a drunk deadbeat father and ex, like a champ.
At the start, I was a little lost in the story and it's characters. But then came to realize that even without the MMA storyline, this would've still been an outstanding film about a single mom due to an abusive past relationship, raising her kids on her own - one being in the autistic spectrum. Then add the story of her eldest son who's been manifesting the abusive past relationship with his father. Now how do we mix in some action into this story MMA style? Behold, Embattled.
This is writer David McKenna's only 11th writing credit, and he nailed it like a seasoned screenwriter. This film is a different kind of fighter story, one where the consequences of the fight are more important than the win-loss records of its fighters. It's an unforgettable family dynamics drama, that merely uses MMA as a jumping off point to far more interesting realms about emotional catharsis, both for the characters and for the viewer. The emotional heft of this story makes this one of the best sports films I've seen in a long time.
The cinematography was great and the score very fitting. The 117 min runtime felt a little long with the sometimes slow pacing, and I felt there were a little too many slow-mo shots. But considering this is amateur director Nick Sarkisov's 2nd ever dabble in filmmaking as producer and director, I'm going to be forgiving, because his directing otherwise, was on par with seasoned filmmakers, and for that, mad props and respect.
I can finally say during these times of isolation, this is a must-see film, and I will certainly be watching it again. It's a well deserved 9/10 from me. To see my review and rating system, or more of my 1000+ reviews, simply click on my username.
I am surprised by how attached I feel to the characters
Gordon-1122 January 2021
I don't really like boxing, but this film is very engaging. It tells a complex story of right or wrong, father-and-son relationship and domestic violence. This film is not just about fights, but about how you can be a good person. I am surprised by how attached I feel to the characters.
A Decent Film That Is More About Abuse Than It Is MMA
larrycosgrove-4542223 August 2021
It was almost predictable that Stephen Dorff would be playing another unlikeable character. He seems to have largely copied Conor McGregor in terms of appearance and fighting style, while adding an incredible "anger energy" in his scenes with Starkey. Scene stealer is Brian Scheid, portraying the younger brother afflicted with Williams' Syndrome. Worth a watch, but you will not really feel the sports perspective much.
Oh hell nah !!!
BiggaHD21 November 2020
As a true MMA fan, this is not what I expected. The scenes are very poorly done, unrealistic, and the whole film is a missed opportunity to create something great. I understand what they tried to do but they completely missed it. Those fighting scenes are extremely stupid. If you want to watch a great MMA movie, do yourself a favor by skipping this one and choosing Warrior (2011) with Tom Hardy.
Excellent Film
lyssamc-5690524 December 2020
Wonderful performances from everyone involved, especially the leads. Not the ending I was expecting, however, it was still satisfying. Points for the obvious training that the actors went through to create realistic fight scenes. Highly suggested.
Potentially great, then lost
nmfsd17 August 2021
The characters and dynamics were great. Excellent story telling. It paints a great story of a monster and his wake. Stephen Dorff is fantastic. As the story continues it gets a bit ridiculous, but I was still into it. The fight scenes were extremely hard to follow due to the sliced up, close shots, and unnecessary slow motion. Overall, it would've been great if the ending was done better and not so abrupt.
Fight to get though it...
KoolUhl115 July 2021
Hearth and soul
danielcereto27 November 2020
I think this movie is more than an MMA one. In some way remembered me the show Kingdom. This movie have a great heart and a soul too.
First, Stephen. D is great here, probably his best perfomance in years, he is authentic, raw, brutal and cruel. Second, the script is good enough even you have seen similar stories before like the mentioned Kingdom show. Predictable but enjoyable. Last, all the cast including special actors are great making overall a great job.
To sum up, if you like shows like Kingdom, this one is for you. Enjoy.
Strong movie with a good plot
DezmoTheMovieMan19 December 2020
From the start of this movie, you learn to hate Stephen Dorff, not as a person, but you at least hate his character. This is a good sign of good acting. From this point the movie takes you on a journey with a clear view of both the protagonist and antagonist, and it's a fun ride.
OK, OK, I'll go ahead and say it, Stephen Dorff's character feels a lot like Conner McGregor. That's not a bad thing, just a quaint similarity that helps carry the movie.
The MMA portion of the movie was great as it showed a lot of the behind the scenes of the possible social and dysfunctional side of a fighter.
The ending was good as well, but there were pieces I didn't understand. I'd watch this film again just for the sheer entertainment.
OK, OK, I'll go ahead and say it, Stephen Dorff's character feels a lot like Conner McGregor. That's not a bad thing, just a quaint similarity that helps carry the movie.
The MMA portion of the movie was great as it showed a lot of the behind the scenes of the possible social and dysfunctional side of a fighter.
The ending was good as well, but there were pieces I didn't understand. I'd watch this film again just for the sheer entertainment.
Could have been great...
ds-schulz8228 November 2021
Don't be fooled by the title or first impression - it's worth of your time!
peter-laganis2 January 2021
This is definitely one of the most hidden and underrated gems of 2020.
It's a perfect blend of drama, action and introspection.
MMA fighting plays just a minor role as the main purpose of the story is the depiction of the emotional decay of an incredibly successful athlete.
Some plot improvements could have been done, but overall the story is fluent and feels a little bit short - I would have appreciated 30 minutes more focused on the side characters.
Nevertheless - Stephen Dorff's performance as a villain is sublime and Darren Mann knows how to penetrate the screen.
A 6,5 rating for this movie is absolutely unfair, especially considering the rating of some other titles like Creed II (2018).
A 6,5 rating for this movie is absolutely unfair, especially considering the rating of some other titles like Creed II (2018).
Stephen D is back - big time!
McCannL8 May 2022
Stephen Dorffs performance is 100% brilliant. Great stuff - from both him and the writers. Kudos. The rest, both characters and story is is standard 1-A formula. Ends when it gets most interesting. A 6 rating at best. Adding +1.5 for Dorff.
Warrior it will never be
francargeric5 December 2020
The plot is ok, although predictable, but the actual fighting is terrible, they had Woodley in the cast why didn't they ask him for some pointers? It also had zero flow. Besides this very annoying bit the acting is good across the board. You like MMA movies and shows? There are better options out there, Warrior, Kingdom, even the corny Never Back Down series.
First good movie of 2020
klauslaw29 November 2020
Decent performance.
cruise0128 November 2021
More than you bargained for
biochem-6321621 July 2021
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
