| Rumble Through the Dark | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Written by | Michael Farris Smith |
| Based on | The Fighter by Michael Farris Smith |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | David J. Myrick |
| Edited by | Ned Thorne |
| Music by | Brad Smith |
| Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Rumble Through the Dark is a 2023 American action thriller film directed by Graham Phillips and Parker Phillips, and written by Michael Farris Smith, based on his novel The Fighter. It stars Aaron Eckhart and Bella Thorne.
Plot
Jack Boucher is an orphan who is adopted by a woman named Mary Anne and gives him a happy life. As an adult, Jack becomes an underground pit fighter called the Slayer with unbeatable track record to win big money to pay off his debt to a crime lady named Big Momma Sweet after borrowing her money for his mother's medical treatment. After a fight, he realizes that his pit fighting earning is not enough to pay for the loan, so he takes his chance in gambling and wins big to finally pay off his debt. However, problem arises when he discovers that the bank will foreclose his adopted mother's house. To save his mother's house, he decides to use his gambling winnings to pay the debt to the bank and going as far as to kill the money collector who is sent by Big Momma to retrieve his debt.
On his way back to his house, he gets into a scuffle with Big Momma's man and crashes his car in the corn field. He stumps his way to the nearby bar and passes out. Meanwhile, a group of vehicles passes through the corn field and a woman named Annette who works for the carnival retrieves the money from the corn field. Jack makes it back to the cornfield only to find his money gone. Desperate, he goes to Big Momma and asks her to extend his debt payment. Big Momma agrees but on the condition that if he fails, he will have to become a pit fighter for her again to pay off his debt. As he passes through the gas station, he rescues Annette from a rapist and Annette asks him for a ride. During the ride, he visits his adoptive mother and apologizes to her for failing to keep the house. Annette stumbles upon Jack's diary and realizes that Jack is her long lost father. Jack and Annette reconcile and Jack takes the money to Big Momma to finally clear off his debt. Big Momma, aware of his financial strain, convinces him to fight for a last time to win a huge sum of money to buy back the house.
The fight is fierce since Big Momma drives up the odds against Jack by pitting him against an opponent bigger than his size but Jack prevails in the end for the sake of his daughter and adoptive mother. With the money, Jack manages to redeem the house and lives happily with his daughter and adoptive mother.
Cast
- Aaron Eckhart as Jack Boucher
- Bella Thorne as Annette
- Ritchie Coster as Baron
- Amanda Saunders as Young Maryann
- Joe Hursley as Skelly
- Mike McColl as Ricky Joe
- Derek Russo as Ax
- Christopher Winchester as Ern
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Big Momma Sweet
- Liz Fenning as Curvy Luck
- Ritchie Montgomery as Rhett
Production
Aaron Eckhart signed on in June 2021 to star in the film. Principal photography took place from late July to September 2021 in Natchez, Mississippi and the surrounding delta region. Production was shut down for two days due to Hurricane Ida's rainfall.
Release
Rumble Through the Dark was released by Lionsgate on digital formats and in limited theaters on November 3, 2023.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 64% of 11 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10.
References
- "Rumble Through the Dark (15)". British Board of Film Classification. May 12, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 10, 2021). "Aaron Eckhart To Rumble Through The Dark For Foresight Unlimited – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- Wagmeister, Elizabeth (September 24, 2021). "Bella Thorne to Star Opposite Aaron Eckhart in Action Thriller Rumble Through the Dark (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- Coen, Davis (June 4, 2021). "Mississippi film Rumble Through the Dark won't have to fake the Delta". The Panolian. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- Chang, Tom (November 5, 2023). "Rumble Through the Dark: Directors on Adapting The Fighter to Film". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- Hullender, Tatiana (October 2, 2023). "Aaron Eckhart's New Thriller Rumble Through The Dark Reveals Key Art [Exclusive]". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- "Rumble Through the Dark". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
