Grappling with a broken bond with his teenage daughter, an aging fighter tries to break free from the confines of his hometown.
Directed by Bjorn Franklin & Johnny Marchetta and written by Bjorn Franklin, this drama is not what you might expect from a boxing film.
Starring Toby Kebbell and Shia LaBeouf Salvable is a bruising, intimate character study about pain, pride, and redemption. It’s a film that walks into familiar territory, the broken-down boxer looking for one last shot, but walks out with its own distinct voice. Anchored by a raw, vulnerable performance from Toby Kebbell and a volatile turn from Shia LaBeouf, Salvable explores masculinity, regret, and second chances with a quiet intensity that leaves a mark.
Set in a weary, working-class town that feels just as tired as its lead character, Salvable introduces us to Sal (Kebbell), a once-promising prizefighter now reduced to working at a retirement home by day and training in rundown gyms by night. He’s not just fighting the younger guys in the ring, he’s battling the slow erosion of his hope, the weight of his past, and the fragile connection he’s barely holding onto with his teenage daughter.
Kebbell, who we know from The Severant plays Sal with aching authenticity. There’s a stillness to his portrayal that speaks volumes. He wears his guilt in every slowed movement and sidelong glance. Whether he’s tucking in one of the residents at work or standing outside his daughter’s school unsure if he’s welcome, you feel the deep internal struggle of a man who wants to do right but keeps falling short. It’s the kind of performance that doesn’t scream for attention, it earns it.
LaBeouf, best known for Transformers, meanwhile, brings chaos to the calm. As Vince, Sal’s long-time toxic friend turned underground fight promoter, LaBeouf taps into a manipulative charisma that’s hard to look away from. Vince is charming, dangerous, and always one step away from dragging Sal back into trouble. There’s years of shared history in every scene, but also a tension that hints at how easily friendship can turn into manipulation. LaBeouf’s performance is sharp, emotionally layered, and tinged with menace; a reminder of his ability to sink into roles that toe the line between loyalty and destruction.
Franklin and Marchetta’s direction leans into the personal over the spectacle. The fight scenes are gritty and effective, but they never overpower the emotional core. Much of the film plays out in small moments, father-daughter silences, shared glances, quiet heartbreak. The cinematography uses color and shadow with intention: cold blues dominate scenes of isolation, while moments of warmth peek through in the most unexpected places, like a shared meal or a stolen laugh. The frequent use of close-up shots pulls us in, capturing the details of strained expressions and wordless regret.
The narrative is straightforward but emotionally resonant. Salvable isn’t interested in reinventing the redemption, but more concerned with the cost of poor choices. Can a man who’s spent so long throwing punches learn how to reach out instead? Can forgiveness be earned through action, or is it already too late?
Despite the heavy subject matter, there’s a heartbeat of hope running through the film. It never feels bleak for the sake of it. There’s a tenderness in how it treats its characters, especially in the nuanced depiction of fatherhood, vulnerability, and aging out of your dreams. Even when the stakes rise and Sal is pulled into dangerous territory, the emotional throughline remains clear, this is about a man trying to find himself before he loses everything.
Salvable may not have the flashiest premise, but it makes up for it with emotional depth, stellar performances, and grounded storytelling. It’s a film that lingers, not because of what it shows in the ring, but because of what it dares to say about what happens after the lights go out. For fans of intimate, character-driven drama, Salvable earns its title and then some. You will not be ready for how this story unfolds.