The Cut
Orlando Bloom stars as an unnamed, retired boxer in Sean Ellis’s sports drama The Cut. After having victory snatched from him during a pivotal championship fight, the Irish fighter operates a gym with his wife and former trainer, Caitlin (Caitríona Balfe), where they teach children’s classes. Despite being seen as a local celebrity, the fighter is still hungry for his chance at the top. When sleazy Las Vegas promoter Donny (Gary Beadle) presents him with an offer to replace another fighter in an upcoming title fight, he jumps at the opportunity. However, he has to lose over 30 pounds in a few days to be eligible to fight.
Unlike most underdog sports flicks, where the protagonist would shed the weight via an inspirational training montage before getting their shot at redemption, The Cut takes a different approach. It leans more into psychological thriller territory as the severe dehydration and physical exertion of his weight-loss regime begin to take their toll on him. It’s an interesting spin on the genre that’s carried by excellent performances. However, the script is undercooked.
The performances are this film’s strongest asset. Balfe is exceptional here: although her role is limited to being the loving partner, the actor brings so much emotion to the role that viewers feel every ounce of devotion and pain Caitlin experiences as she supports her husband through this ordeal. John Turturro is also a noteworthy addition to the cast as the no-nonsense trainer Boz, who steps in with more extreme methods to help the fighter lose the final few pounds. His scenery-chewing presence brings a welcome intensity to proceedings, which gradually escalate as events spiral out of control. Bloom, too, gives a commendable physical performance.
Flashbacks to the character’s childhood and lingering trauma of his career-ending fight are used to reflect his fracturing psyche. However, their inclusion is largely superficial and provides no real exploration of the character’s mental health or his motivations for enduring the body horror that occurs during the third act.
The Cut is a unique spin on an underdog tale. Despite boasting some impressive performances, its lacklustre character study culminates in an underwhelming finale.
Andrew Murray
The Cut is released nationwide on 5th September 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Cut here:
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