‘Rumble Through The Dark’ Review – Aaron Eckhart Shows He Has A Lot Of Fight Left In Him

Even when the work is subpar – Aaron Eckhart continuously turns in mesmerizing performances. He manages to elevate any project, no matter the subject. Rumble Through The Dark is a case of Ekchart doing some heavy lifting in part, but fortunately, he is given a story and a character worthy of his talents. The movie tells the story of a bare-knuckle brawler with little fight left him. With his money run out and his hope nearly depleted, this broken man must decide if he has one fight left, even though the odds are against him.

In Rumble Through The Dark, based on the book The Fighter, Eckhart plays Jack Boucher, a man beaten in body and spirit. This is arguably his best film to date, and while there are some cliched elements in the story, Eckhart softens the blow. His performance drips with melancholy, but enough grit is peppered in to make him a classic anti-hero. Set in the Deep South, Eckhart is believable as a bare-knuckle brawler who has spent his life fighting. Jack is front and center to the story and thus makes this a fascinating character study, particularly as a man desperate to cling to hope. 

The added backstory for Jack plays a central part in understanding his character. There is an emphasis on flashbacks to his time as a child. In addition, his relationship with his foster mother is the basis for the film. In these tender moments, Eckhart reminds the audience why he remains an underrated actor. Even in a scene without dialogue, his silent expression and quiet contemplations are revealing.  

While melodrama would be an easy route, the movie keeps an even hand by focusing on the character. In addition to Eckhart, Bella Thorne plays Annette. She is a dancer for a traveling carnival who inadvertently crosses paths with Eckhart’s Jack. There is a second act reveal that gives her a connection to Jack. Undramatic and entirely expected, Thorne still brings a harrowing element to the story. She plays well off Eckhart as a woman wiser than her years. She has little in terms of characterization, as the focus is rightly on Eckhart’s journey. However, what she has to work with in the film is impressive. She brings a sense of beauty and optimism to a story tattered with scars and darkness. 

The story unwinds slowly. Clocking in at almost two hours, a lot of plot stretching might otherwise have been left on the cutting room floor. Ultimately, the brawl is what audiences are expecting in the third act. Jack needs to save his family’s house and to do so, he must win a fight, except in doing so, it may cost him his life. The story builds to this and is worth the pay-off: Eckhart shows his mettle as a bare-knuckle fighter in the brawl of a lifetime. 

The movie is wise to wait to show Jack in his element until the end. The film is not about fighting or any particular brawl, but a look at man weathered by harsh conditions and lifestyle. This story is about having no hope and believing it when needed at the most desperate hour. The focus on Jack and his struggles makes the fight even more brutal. It is a graphic one, but also essential to the story. The audience will feel every punch and revel at every kick. The stakes are raw and thrilling, thanks to the emphasis on watching Jack’s journey unfold. 

Ultimately, Rumble Through The Dark is a superb vehicle for Eckhart to showcase his talents. The film packs a punch that balances the cynicism of the age with a soft flicker of hope. 

Rumble Through The Dark is currently playing in select theaters and is available On Demand courtesy of Lionsgate. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtmxg3QgW5s]