The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine

A Grit-and-Prosthetics Pivot for The Rock

★★★½☆

A somber, challenging character study of a benign warrior.

Dwayne Johnson turns in a revelatory performance as Mark Kerr in the engrossing film The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie. The movie takes an unconventional look at former Mixed Martial Arts fighter Mark Kerr, focusing on a turbulent few years in his life as he battles addiction and a toxic co-dependent relationship.

"He manages to go deep here without overdoing it, killing the audience with kindness as a benign warrior who suffers from one scene to the next."

— The Hollywood Reporter

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director/Writer: Benny Safdie
• Starring: Dwayne Johnson (Mark Kerr), Emily Blunt (Dawn Staples)
• Supporting: Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, Bas Rutten
• Cinematography: Maceo Bishop

The Director's Vision

The movie has a documentary-type feel, presenting both dramatic and everyday moments to give the audience a backstage look at the early days of MMA. This is not a Rocky-type tale; it is a movie about perseverance, not redemption, capturing unflinching realism through 16mm and VHS aesthetic choices.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Prosthetic Transformation: Dwayne Johnson spent hours in the makeup chair with legend Kazu Hiro to become the "unrecognizable" Mark Kerr.
• Real World Ties: The film features real MMA legends like Bas Rutten playing themselves.
• A24 Pivot: Johnson's lowest-budget film in decades ($50M), signaling a shift toward serious drama.

✅ Pros

• Johnson's career-best dramatic performance.
• Benny Safdie’s gritty, naturalistic direction.

❌ Cons

• May feel too bleak for fans of typical sports movies.
• Deliberately slow pacing.