Salvable has strong visuals and boxing scenes, but thin writing and surface-level drama keep it from being a knockout.
Directors: Bjorn Franklin & Johnny Marchetta
Genre: Crime Drama
Run Time: 101′
Rated: R
U.S. Release: May 2, 2025
U.K. Release: TBA
Where to Watch: In select theaters, on digital & VOD
There’s an aching sadness in the opening moments of Salvable, as Sal (Toby Kebbell, of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) jogs alone through the grey, narrow streets of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. It’s a promising start, one that hints at introspection, character, and maybe even a fresh take on the well-worn genre of washed-up boxer dramas. But as the film unfolds, it becomes clear that Salvable is more style than substance, a story that jabs at emotional depth without ever landing a clean blow.
The film follows Sal, a battered boxer long past his prime, trying to patch together a fractured life. He’s drifting, physically worn and emotionally closed off, struggling to connect with his daughter and facing unresolved tensions with his ex-wife. When he crosses paths again with Vince (Shia LaBeouf, of Megalopolis), an old friend tangled up with a dangerous crowd, Sal sees an opportunity, not just to fight again, but to redeem himself. The setup practically writes itself. Unfortunately, so does most of the movie.
To its credit, Salvable looks great. The cinematography by Simon Plunket captures the gritty, lived-in textures of working-class Wales with an unpretentious beauty. The boxing/fist fighting scenes are particularly well-executed, tight, focused, and kinetic, avoiding the over-stylized flashiness that bogs down so many modern fight scenes.
But while the film looks and sounds the part, the writing lacks the same muscle. The screenplay, by Björn Franklin, too often feels like it’s just going through the motions. The central conflict between Sal and his family is treated with frustrating superficiality. His estranged daughter shows up, they exchange a few stiff words, and the film moves on without ever digging into what actually tore them apart or what’s really at stake if they don’t reconnect. Similarly, the ex-wife subplot simmers in the background but never quite boils. These are characters who should feel haunted by their past choices, but they end up feeling more like sketches than people.
The pacing doesn’t help. While the film never fully drags, it frequently lingers in scenes that don’t add much to the story. There’s a lot of brooding, a lot of slow walks, a lot of silence that seems to aim for profundity but settles for emptiness. You get the sense that something is supposed to be happening beneath the surface but that surface never cracks. For a movie about a man on the brink of emotional collapse, there’s surprisingly little raw emotion on display.
Shia LaBeouf’s turn as Vince adds some energy to the proceedings, though his character mostly exists to nudge Sal toward a predictable climactic decision. The stakes, both personal and physical, are clear from the beginning, and the film never deviates from that expected trajectory. When the final fight rolls around meant to symbolize Sal’s fight for his future it feels more like a box being checked than a moment of catharsis.
Ultimately, Salvable wants to be a story of redemption and emotional reckoning. But with thin writing, underdeveloped relationships, and a sluggish middle stretch, it never quite earns the emotional payoff it’s aiming for. Despite a strong visual identity and well-shot boxing sequences, the film leaves you with the feeling that it could’ve hit harder.
Salvable: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
In Salvable, a retired boxer named Sal struggles to repair his fractured family and reclaim his sense of purpose. When he reconnects with Vince, an old friend with dangerous ties, Sal is forced to confront his past and fight for one last shot at redemption.
Pros:
- Beautiful cinematography of Wales
- Well-shot, grounded boxing scenes
- Solid performance from Toby Kebbell
Cons:
- Emotionally flat, underwritten drama
- Slow pacing in the middle act
- Predictable and surface-level storytelling
Salvable will be released in select US theatres, on digital and on demand from May 2, 2025.
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