Never Back Down (2008)

Director:

Jeff Wadlow

Writer (WGA):

Chris Hauty (written by)

Release Date:

14 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Win or Lose... Everyone Has Their Fight

Plot:

At his new high school, a rebellious teen is lured into an underground fight club, where he finds a mentor in a mixed martial arts veteran.

Plot Keywords:

Fight | Mixed Martial Arts | Teen | Club | High School

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sean Faris	...	Jake Tyler
Amber Heard	...	Baja Miller
Cam Gigandet	...	Ryan McCarthy
Evan Peters	...	Max Cooperman
Leslie Hope	...	Margot Tyler
Djimon Hounsou	...	Jean Roqua
Wyatt Smith	...	Charlie Tyler
Affion Crockett	...	Beatdown DJ
Neil Brown Jr.	...	Aaron
Lauren Leech	...	Jenny
Tilky Jones	...	Eric
Steven Crowley	...	Ben
Tom Nowicki	...	Mr. Lloyd
David Zelon	...	Ryan's Dad
Chris Lindsay	...	Beat Down Referee

Also Known As:

Get Some (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving intense sequences of fighting/violence, some sexuality, partying and language - all involving teens.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44164) | Ireland:15A | South Korea:12 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG (edited version) | Norway:15 | Netherlands:12 | Germany:18 | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (theatrical rating) | France:U (with warning)

Filming Locations:

Clermont, Florida, USA

Company:

Summit Entertainment

Trivia:

Sean Faris gained 15 lbs. of muscle for his role.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Jake does the final kick to Ryan, when he turns to see Baja (camera on Baja), his face appears flawless (no cuts, no scratches). Then when the camera turns back to Jake, his face has cuts, scratches.

Quotes:

Jake Tyler: Isn't this a little stalkerish?
Max Cooperman: Yes.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Rocky (1976)

Soundtrack:

Under the Knife

Better than you heard

It's interesting how this movie seems to be a watershed for mma. Mixed martial arts really are making the transition from underground, extreme bleeding-edge expressions of combat sport to a mainstream and accepted pastime, and that shows in the commentary about this film. Those who have a clue about mma aren't saying the same things as those who don't.

I have no patience for critics, anyway. They're worse than academics, really, and nothing they say can be trusted. You want to know if a movie sucked? Listen to the people.

This movie didn't suck. Okay, it wasn't Cool Hand Luke, but is that really what you were expecting when you saw the advance poster? It went to great lengths to make a Classical reference from the Iliad significant thematically, and how often does a "teensploitation" flick do that? It even employed a little finesse in some of the on-screen relationships, and in ways that seemed to hold a little verisimilitude, even. If the filmmakers had made Jake Tyler a gay youth fighting for free speech in the school newspapers, the critics would have loved it. All they saw was scary teen violence, so they…well, less than loved it.

Truth is that the movie isn't really glorifying violence; it's glorifying the quotidian, although it does seem to consider violence an acceptable means to an end. If you like mixed martial arts and you're not too delicate to watch stylized violence, rent it when it comes out. If you'd really rather watch 27 Dresses (you know who you are) tell your boyfriend it's chick flick time.