Rumble Through the Dark is a 2023 American action thriller directed by Graham Phillips and Parker Phillips, based on Michael Farris Smith’s novel The Fighter. The film stars Aaron Eckhart as a desperate bare-knuckle cage fighter trying to save his dying foster mother’s home, with Bella Thorne and Marianne Jean-Baptiste co-starring. Lionsgate released the film in select theaters and on digital/on-demand on November 3, 2023.
Quick Facts
| Title | Rumble Through the Dark |
| Directors | Graham Phillips, Parker Phillips |
| Writer | Michael Farris Smith |
| Based On | The Fighter (novel by Michael Farris Smith) |
| Composer | Brad Smith |
| Starring | Aaron Eckhart, Bella Thorne, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Ritchie Coster |
| Distributor | Lionsgate |
| Release Date | November 3, 2023 (theatrical & digital) |
| Runtime | 116 minutes |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Thriller |
Jack Boucher (Eckhart) is an orphan raised by his foster mother, Mary Anne. To cover her medical bills, he borrows money from a local criminal known as Big Momma Sweet (Jean-Baptiste) and becomes a bare-knuckle pit fighter, “the Butcher,” to repay the debt. When foreclosure threatens Mary Anne’s house, Jack has to choose between the bank and Big Momma, setting off the film’s final chain of fights and reckonings. The movie was shot around Natchez, Mississippi, and the Mississippi Delta in mid-2021.
Who Composed the Rumble Through the Dark Score?
Brad Smith wrote the score. Smith is a Mississippi-born musician best known as a founding member and bassist of the rock band Blind Melon, who has spent the past two decades composing music for film and television. He has scored every project directors Graham and Parker Phillips have made together since their first short film, and he wrote Rumble Through the Dark‘s title theme, “Brass Knuckles,” roughly a year and a half before shooting began. According to the directors, Smith wrote around 60 pieces of music for the film, about 30 of which made the final cut, and he built custom instruments for the score — including a slide- and antler-played instrument made from an oil drum, hide, and two double-bass strings — to give the music a raw, mournful tone that matches Eckhart’s performance. No official track-by-track soundtrack album has been released yet; a “movie score suite” sampler is available on YouTube, and the score is expected to reach Spotify and Apple Music.
Where to Stream Rumble Through the Dark
Rumble Through the Dark is available to stream free with ads on Tubi, and to rent, buy, or stream with a subscription on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Cast
- Aaron Eckhart as Jack Boucher
- Bella Thorne as Annette
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Big Momma Sweet
- Ritchie Coster as Baron
- Joe Hursley as Skelly
- Mike McColl as Ricky Joe
- Derek Russo as Ax
- Christopher Winchester as Ern
- Amanda Saunders as Young Maryann
- Liz Fenning as Curvy Luck
- Ritchie Montgomery as Rhett
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Rumble Through the Dark?
Brothers Graham Phillips and Parker Phillips co-directed the film, adapting Michael Farris Smith’s novel The Fighter together.
Is Rumble Through the Dark based on a true story?
No. It’s a fictional drama based on the 2018 novel The Fighter by Michael Farris Smith, though it draws on the real underground bare-knuckle fighting scene of the Mississippi Delta for its setting.
Who composed the Rumble Through the Dark soundtrack?
Brad Smith, the former Blind Melon bassist turned film composer, wrote the score, including custom instruments built specifically for the film.
Where can I watch Rumble Through the Dark?
It’s streaming free with ads on Tubi, and available to rent, buy, or stream on Prime Video and Apple TV.
When was Rumble Through the Dark released?
Lionsgate released it in select theaters and on digital/on-demand on November 3, 2023.
Related reading: Movie Soundtrack Hub | Prime Video | Streaming Guide