Written and directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine is a biographical sports drama that tells the tragic rise and fall of mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr, played by Johnson. The story zeroes in on the late 1990s, showcasing Kerr’s dominance in the ring, his subsequent struggles with opioid addiction, and his turbulent relationship with his wife, Dawn Staples (portrayed by Emily Blunt).

Interestingly, the film is a scripted adaptation of HBO’s 2002 documentary of the same name, which chronicled the same pivotal chapter in Kerr’s life. It’s another example of Hollywood leaning into the “true story” formula – a recipe that, when done well, often connects deeply with audiences.

The movie admittedly starts off slow, even with the fight scenes sprinkled in, and the pacing may test your patience at first. Some sequences feel oddly put together, almost disjointed, but as the narrative unfolds, the pieces begin to align, pulling you deeper into Kerr’s world.

For Johnson, this is arguably the most demanding role of his career. It required a massive physical transformation (he looks even more like a monster of an athlete than ever before), cosmetic alterations to his appearance, and, perhaps most importantly, a willingness to push his emotional range further than we’ve seen from him. One scene in particular, where Johnson breaks down in tears, is a standout moment that reminds us he’s more than just muscle and charm.

While the film doesn’t fully live up to its potential, it’s uneven in parts and some key moments feel rushed, it does eventually win you over. By the end, it lands with an emotional punch that sticks.

The performances are where the film shines brightest. Johnson delivers a career-best turn, while Emily Blunt gives a powerful and layered performance as Kerr’s wife. Together, they bring real humanity to a story that could have easily been overshadowed by the brutality of the sport. Credit also goes to the casting team for putting together a lineup that feels authentic and compelling.

At its heart, The Smashing Machine is an ode to an underappreciated MMA pioneer. Kerr’s sacrifices, resilience, and raw humanity are on full display. He comes across as a kind, humble man who became an unstoppable force once the cage doors closed. It’s a story that not only inspires but also highlights just how much Kerr contributed to shaping modern MMA.

For Johnson, this role marks an important turning point. It elevates his career to new heights and shows he’s capable of far more than the blockbuster archetypes he’s known for. Here’s hoping this is the first of many roles that challenge him to dig deeper into his craft.

Verdict: Not perfect, but powerful where it counts. The Smashing Machine delivers Dwayne Johnson’s finest performance yet and pays fitting tribute to an MMA legend who deserves the spotlight.

Cast – Cade Woodward, Doris McCarthy, Emily Blunt, Evangelina Cavoli, Ezekiel Cavoli, John Krasinski, Leon Russom, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe

Director – John Krasinski

Genre – Drama/Thriller film

Running Time – 1h 35m

Anyway, enough of all that. Let’s get to the point. Currently sitting on a very impressive score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes amongst critics, A Quiet Place is described as artfully playing on elemental fears with a ruthlessly intelligent creature feature that’s as original as it is scary — and establishes director John Krasinski as a rising talent. That is just a piece of the high praise the movie has been getting and that’s part of the reason why I decided to check it out. So, is it worth all this hype?

The Plot

A Quiet Place is a 2018 American horror film directed by John Krasinski, who also stars in the film with Emily Blunt, his wife in real life. The screenplay was written by Krasinski, Bryan Woods, and Scott Beck based on a story by Woods and Beck. The plot follows a family of four who must live life in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.

The plot is simple and intriguing which makes it an easier watch from a contextual point of view. This however doesn’t mean that you won’t find yourself on the edge of your seat whilst watching. Despite its lack of spoken word, for most parts of the movie, it does a great job of using other elements designed to play with your emotions and make sure you are not bored whilst watching. I was especially impressed by this, I mean how can a movie that barely has any sort of spoken word and is quiet keep you interested and in suspense? The answer to this is the clever use of musical effects and the narrative all designed to keep you watching.

A good friend of mine explained it as being one of the most creative uses of sound in a horror/thriller in a while…and I couldn’t agree more. In addition, the evident chemistry between Emily Blunt and John Krasinski as they should, considering their real life story, plays a crucial role in the whole movie and what it is. Both, together with their onscreen children (Regan and Marcus played by Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe respectively) do a great job of bringing what could have been a very dull movie to life.  

It may not be for everyone, but A Quiet Place is worth a watch. It has some scary, disturbing and gruesome moments but strangely that’s part of its charm. A brilliant concept driven by the clever use of sound and the quality of acting, the movie is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. With barely no spoken word and the use of sign language as a form of communication, you are either not going to like this one or you are (like I did). A Quiet Place gets a solid 7 out of 10 rating from me. Like I said its worth a watch.

Shout out to Ster Kinekor for the screening and doing so in Cine Prestige style, classy as always!