Knuckledust (2020) User Reviews

Wanna be Fanboy movie. Tries too hard to be Cool!

[rochfordsimon · 4/10 · 18 February 2021]

This is a hybrid of a dozen other action/black comedy movies. Pointless wanna be movie making. It has more twists than a Tornado.

Bubblegum type of entertainment if your into that. No originality at all. Watch on fast forward and you'll get through it.

checks all the boxes for sloppy film-making

[A_Different_Drummer · 5/10 · 9 December 2020]

Cannot decide if it is supposed to be an action flic or a caper flic or a self-parody. Just when the viewer almost gets to understand what a specific scene is about, the camera jerks right or jerks left and new characters appear out of nowhere to distract you. The use of color is deliberately over-done (along with garish lighting) to make you think you have a splitting headache when you actually don't. Ditto the music track. And, lest we forget, the title Knuckledust, which sort of leads one to think of this as fight film, turns out, like every other part of this script, to be only a tease with no actual payoff.

The Usual Suspects meets John Wick

[siderite · 6/10 · 7 June 2022]

Or at least this is what the writer/director was probably dreaming his movie's reviews would sound like. Unfortunately the entire film is derivative and badly made, despite a cast with fantastic potential. Maybe the story is not that terrible, but it was telegraphed since the first few minutes. Then the killeresque stylish mystique, complete with individual quirks, contrived dialogues and complicated rules that don't mean much at the end. It would have been great if it would have been accompanied by good action scenes. Alas, they were shot from odd angles, cut at wrong places and censored for PG-13. This could have been a decent film with better actor direction and good editing.

Bottom line: it's not a terrible film, but it is a failure compared with its goal and considering the untapped potential of the cast. There are other films that merit your attention more.

Really?

[djaho · 3/10 · 23 December 2020]

I must be watching a different film to the other reviewers. Poor mans Snatch. Crap acting, crap story,crap visuals. Just crap.

Fight club Vs usual suspects

[Stanlee107 · 4/10 · 11 December 2020]

My title pretty much sums up this film. It has an interesting premise but as usual you cannot borrow off classics & become one by association.

It is very watchable. It tries to be gritty & edgy & clever. It doesn't achieve all those goals.

Somewhat worth it for the twists.

[Eiriksterminator · 19 December 2020]

I don't find the humour funny, and there's much less action than I expected. What was there was also rather unimpressive. I found it pretty boring for a long part of the movie. Then it actually gets interesting later on, when the plot jumps around a bit with good twists. Somewhat worth it for that I suppose, if you're patient enough. But I wouldn't go so far as to recommend watching it. There are better things to do.

All Style, No Substance

[DesmondHees · 4/10 · 1 May 2021]

A visually impressive but shallow film.

The Lighting and fighting is impressive but unfortunately, doesn't contain enough fighting or action as the intriguing synopsis suggests.

Amongst a handful of issues, the film can't decide it if it wants to be a serious drama with action or a quirky comedy with action.

The film's ensemble story doesn't come together in the Guy Ritchie way it so desperately wants to emulate. Whatever it offers you have seen before and done better in other films -

• Corridor fight scene ala Oldboy
• Neon Character Titles ala Suicide Squad
• Nicknamed Characters ala Snatch.

Who cares about a missing veteran?

[nogodnomasters · 7/10 · 26 December 2020]

Knuckledust is a private underground fight club run by Serena (Camille Rowe). She pays off the police. She obtains fighters from homeless shelters looking for veterans who will fight to the death. Hard Eight (Moe Dunford ) is one such person. In the interest of making money, Hard Eight is instructed to die in the third round or his wife dies. Hard Eight does not take the fall.

This is an entertaining grindhouse until they go back over what has happened a few times to give us all the twists. The ending was anticlimactic.

Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity.

Ok

[big_asapper · 5/10 · 16 June 2021]

It was bad but I get it ... it's ok if your bored and have nothing to do.

Great action flick!

[thebadger · 6/10 · 10 December 2020]

Non-stop action film full of surprises. Just when you think you've worked it out, the script moves you into unforeseen territory. The fight scenes feel very real and are brilliantly directed. It's funny and thrilling, and the soundtrack is superb.

Fights Good; Rest Bad

[nixflixnpix · 3/10 · 7 June 2021]

Fights decent. Dialogue 100x softer than the music. Dialogue is 2% awesome, 98% bla. Some cast is hot; some are not. Cops dumb. Baddies dumb. Heroes dumb.

Beer and heatstroke made it no-more watchable.

It's a cracker !

[p-phil-h · 9/10 · 13 December 2020]

I enjoyed that it flipped from funny to mystery to a nice bit of good old violence. It kept me guessing until the end. Well put together and for me the balance was spot on. Engaging and great entertainment. I recommend.

Enjoyable, not a blockbuster

[zacharybrosemer · 7/10 · 15 May 2021]

Better than I expected, but not in anyone's top 10. Definitely Usual Suspects/Snatch-ish.

Simply bizarre

[crushinrussian-52248 · 6/10 · 3 May 2023]

I have read the previous reviews. While I get the hate, I have to say there was more talent on display here than is people are giving credit for. This is not cliched or low-effort. I found it to simply be strangely made.

The film has a number of good individual elements that are put at odds with one another. The story ebbs and flows between its B-movie violence and its melodramatic plot themes. The constant barrages of extreme color in the camerawork did not gel with the indie rock soundtrack that blared at times.

The actors were all committed to their roles. The problem is this does not save the film when it moves into more absurd elements.

I actually appreciate these films whether they work or not. Hollywood films are slammed for lack of originality. These movies help keep the other side of cinema alive. I look forward to the director's next effort.

A rollercoaster of a ride...

[ashtonross · 9/10 · 13 December 2020]

Had no idea what to expect from this film but it was an utter pleasure. Not normally one for violent cinema but this was clever, quirky, consistently funny and always visually arresting

There is nothing better than watching something and having no idea where it will take you. Felt like Alice in Wonderland.

Strong performances from a large ensemble cast led by brooding Moe Dunford and the always excellent Kate Dickie, with some choice cameos and some killer dialogue. Director James Kermack (who also plays a supporting role) is one to watch.

Definitely worth a look.

Very enjoyable!

[emmathreadneedle · 8/10 · 10 December 2020]

Stylish, funny and great twist at the end. Very enjoyable!

An instant classic!

[smithtsara · 10/10 · 10 December 2020]

Loved this film. Fun, witty, slick, smart. A great combination of British indieness and blockbuster fun, but is more complex than you might think. I know I'll be watching again and expect to take away even more from it next time. Great performances and fight scenes, felt gritty and real and not over choreographed. Looking forward to seeing more from this writer/director.

Great film

[bibby-david · 10/10 · 20 December 2020]

Loved this film. Great action, tempo and twists. Some great laugh out loud moments.

WOW

[dkermack · 10/10 · 14 December 2020]

What a film loved it from start to finish absolutely brilliant Amazing cast and fight scenes are good with a chuckle thrown in aswell loved it

High class satisfaction guaranteed...More please!!!

[simpsop · 10/10 · 24 December 2020]

Action packed thriller laced with with humour, suspense and slick quick fire drama dialogue. Knuckledust is a refreshing must see first class movie with great writing, production, direction and an impeccable cast. The unexpected conclusion is so satisfying that leads me to wish for a follow up or spin-off. Best movie of 2020.

Fight Club

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 1 October 2022]

No pun intended - and it is not talking about the club that will get you into trouble. No connection to the David Fincher movie - well not the way you may think. Otherwise you could call Karate Tiger movies, Bloodsport and so forth Fight Club movies ... and I don't think that would be true or fair to the movies themselves.

That all being said, the movie is something that you will either get on board with or be annoyed by. It didn't feel to me that the movie was trying to hard. It felt natural - the lead is charismatic enough, there are some jokes and the first "fight" ... well has quite the interesting twist or whatever you want to call it. I loved it - that aside the fight scenes are well choreographed. Don't expect eastern style stuff ... but still quite good to say the least. The thriller part of it works too and there a few more twists and tweaks along the way that help the movie. It doesn't feel forced cool ... it feels good cool.

Fun Movie

[justinanders-52706 · 8/10 · 21 January 2024]

I usually don't write reviews, but I think this one deserves a few words.

I went into this movie needing something mildly entertaining/zone-out time. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a generally fun movie. It was quirky and gritty. This reminded me of the style of Sin City. I think if you enjoy raw, gritty, entertaining movies, you would like this movie.

I can see how you could probably justify a lower rating but it seems those were from people who began the movie with a wrong mindset. This was not a bad movie and even has the potential to be on the list of movies you rewatch for fun, or have in the background. I wasn't disappointed in the time spent watching this flick.

Kept me guessing

[msprice-2 · 8/10 · 6 March 2022]

I went into this movie thinking it was a generic low-budget action film where some veteran/hero is forced to use his military skills to survive on the street fighting circuit. (Think Jea-Claude Van Damme or Scott Adkins.) But it's not that kind of movie. I was taken off guard from the moment our hero pulls a gun in the ring and shoots the guy he was supposed to fight in the main event.

It kept me guessing to the very end. Give this one a chance if you like an action movie with a crazy twist.

More than it seems. I can't give away more.

[dylanstaxes · 8/10 · 8 April 2022]

I watched this because I liked Camille Rowe in The Deep House. It was great how different she is in this.

This is a cool movie. A bit gritty, a bit fun, but not too much. I'm intrigued by modern British action movies, but they can get really, really gritty. So dark. This walks that edge quite well.

Not the best fights but totally worth a watch.

Great movie

[predrag-39184 · 10/10 · 29 October 2022]

A film with Tarantino charm, sharp British black humor, excellent fight scenes and a great thriller twist, which is a rarity in this genre today. The script, perhaps not the most original, but it is inventive and interesting, the duration of the film, also optimal, just as long as it should be, to keep the viewer's attention. The acting may not be up for an Oscar, but it's very good, especially the male lead (Brody). All in all, the film is a true refresher in the genre. Note: Realistically, the film is rated 8/10, but because of the haters on duty who gave a poor rating to the film without even watching it, I gave it a higher rating.