• Latest
  • Trending
Manodrome Review

Manodrome Review: An Unsettling if Uneven Portrait of Male Rage

Eye for an Eye Review

Eye for an Eye Review: Florida Gothic Done Right

Alma and the Wolf Review

Alma and the Wolf Review: Ethan Embry Shines in a Flawed Fever Dream

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review: The Detective Who Couldn’t Investigate

Hi-Five Review

Hi-Five Review: An Origin Story on Fast-Forward

28 Years Later Review

28 Years Later Review: A Saga Begun, Not Ended

Soul Reaper Review

Soul Reaper Review: Indonesian Folk Horror That Haunts Your Dreams

Mindhunter

David Fincher Weighs Mindhunter Revival as Film Trilogy

5 hours ago
How to Train Your Dragon

‘Elio’ Lands With a Thud as Pixar Records Its Worst Opening Weekend

5 hours ago
Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen Courts Vin Diesel for ‘The Studio’ Season 2

5 hours ago
Jack Betts

Jack Betts, Spaghetti-Western Export and Spider-Man Board Chief, Dies at 96

5 hours ago
Amanda Seyfried

Here We Go Again? Seyfried, Craymer Push Mamma Mia 3 Forward

5 hours ago
Lynn Hamilton

Lynn Hamilton, Steady Star of ‘Sanford and Son,’ Dies at 95

6 hours ago
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Gazettely Review Guidelines
Sunday, June 22, 2025
GAZETTELY
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Mindhunter

    David Fincher Weighs Mindhunter Revival as Film Trilogy

    How to Train Your Dragon

    ‘Elio’ Lands With a Thud as Pixar Records Its Worst Opening Weekend

    Seth Rogen

    Seth Rogen Courts Vin Diesel for ‘The Studio’ Season 2

    Jack Betts

    Jack Betts, Spaghetti-Western Export and Spider-Man Board Chief, Dies at 96

    Amanda Seyfried

    Here We Go Again? Seyfried, Craymer Push Mamma Mia 3 Forward

    Lynn Hamilton

    Lynn Hamilton, Steady Star of ‘Sanford and Son,’ Dies at 95

    Owen Wilson

    Owen Wilson Rejoins Stiller and De Niro as ‘Meet the Parents 4’ Sets 2026 Release

    Pretty Little Liars Stars

    After Reboot’s Demise, Pretty Little Liars Cast Plots Big-Screen Return

    jackie chan and bruce lee

    Bruce Lee Returns—Digitally—as Beijing Launches $14 M Restoration Drive

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    Eye for an Eye Review

    Eye for an Eye Review: Florida Gothic Done Right

    Alma and the Wolf Review

    Alma and the Wolf Review: Ethan Embry Shines in a Flawed Fever Dream

    Hi-Five Review

    Hi-Five Review: An Origin Story on Fast-Forward

    28 Years Later Review

    28 Years Later Review: A Saga Begun, Not Ended

    Soul Reaper Review

    Soul Reaper Review: Indonesian Folk Horror That Haunts Your Dreams

    Promised Hearts Review

    Promised Hearts Review: Melodrama Meets Existential Yearning

    Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade Review

    Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade Review – Conversations in the Dakota Shadows

    America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 Review

    America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 Review — From Tryouts to Takeover

    Pinch Review

    Pinch Review: Sharp Humor Meets Social Reckoning

  • Game Reviews
    RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review

    RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review: The Detective Who Couldn’t Investigate

    Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest Review

    Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest Review – Revisiting a Sunken Legacy

    TRON: Catalyst Review

    TRON: Catalyst Review: More Style Than Substance

    FBC: Firebreak Review

    FBC: Firebreak Review: Corporate Chaos and Cooperative Action

    Date Everything Review 1

    Date Everything! Review: You’ll Never Look at Your Toaster the Same Way

    Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Review

    Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Review: All Style, Less Story

    Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review

    Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review: A Dialogue With Tradition

    Yakuza 0 Director's Cut Review

    Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Review: Neon Lights and Brutal Fights

    Trident's Tale Review

    Trident’s Tale Review: Buried Treasure or Fool’s Gold?

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movie and TV News
    Mindhunter

    David Fincher Weighs Mindhunter Revival as Film Trilogy

    How to Train Your Dragon

    ‘Elio’ Lands With a Thud as Pixar Records Its Worst Opening Weekend

    Seth Rogen

    Seth Rogen Courts Vin Diesel for ‘The Studio’ Season 2

    Jack Betts

    Jack Betts, Spaghetti-Western Export and Spider-Man Board Chief, Dies at 96

    Amanda Seyfried

    Here We Go Again? Seyfried, Craymer Push Mamma Mia 3 Forward

    Lynn Hamilton

    Lynn Hamilton, Steady Star of ‘Sanford and Son,’ Dies at 95

    Owen Wilson

    Owen Wilson Rejoins Stiller and De Niro as ‘Meet the Parents 4’ Sets 2026 Release

    Pretty Little Liars Stars

    After Reboot’s Demise, Pretty Little Liars Cast Plots Big-Screen Return

    jackie chan and bruce lee

    Bruce Lee Returns—Digitally—as Beijing Launches $14 M Restoration Drive

  • Movie and TV Reviews
    Eye for an Eye Review

    Eye for an Eye Review: Florida Gothic Done Right

    Alma and the Wolf Review

    Alma and the Wolf Review: Ethan Embry Shines in a Flawed Fever Dream

    Hi-Five Review

    Hi-Five Review: An Origin Story on Fast-Forward

    28 Years Later Review

    28 Years Later Review: A Saga Begun, Not Ended

    Soul Reaper Review

    Soul Reaper Review: Indonesian Folk Horror That Haunts Your Dreams

    Promised Hearts Review

    Promised Hearts Review: Melodrama Meets Existential Yearning

    Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade Review

    Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade Review – Conversations in the Dakota Shadows

    America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 Review

    America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 Review — From Tryouts to Takeover

    Pinch Review

    Pinch Review: Sharp Humor Meets Social Reckoning

  • Game Reviews
    RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review

    RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review: The Detective Who Couldn’t Investigate

    Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest Review

    Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest Review – Revisiting a Sunken Legacy

    TRON: Catalyst Review

    TRON: Catalyst Review: More Style Than Substance

    FBC: Firebreak Review

    FBC: Firebreak Review: Corporate Chaos and Cooperative Action

    Date Everything Review 1

    Date Everything! Review: You’ll Never Look at Your Toaster the Same Way

    Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Review

    Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Review: All Style, Less Story

    Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review

    Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review: A Dialogue With Tradition

    Yakuza 0 Director's Cut Review

    Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut Review: Neon Lights and Brutal Fights

    Trident's Tale Review

    Trident’s Tale Review: Buried Treasure or Fool’s Gold?

  • The Bests
No Result
View All Result
GAZETTELY
No Result
View All Result
Manodrome Review

Clues Point to a TMNT Collaboration in Fortnite's Latest Chapter

Air Twister Review: A Nostalgic Treat for Devoted Fans

Home Entertainment Movies

Manodrome Review: An Unsettling if Uneven Portrait of Male Rage

With its gritty visual language and confident direction, Manodrome crafts a potent atmosphere of masculine unease, though its larger message never fully materializes.

Arash Nahandian by Arash Nahandian
2 years ago
in Entertainment, Movies, Reviews
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

The new film Manodrome marks an ambitious step into darker territory for director John Trengove. Featuring Jesse Eisenberg as Ralphie, a down-on-his-luck Uber driver, and Adrien Brody as the charismatic leader of a men’s group called Dad Dan, the psychological thriller explores the radicalization of disenfranchised men.

When Ralphie joins Dad Dan’s band of disaffected followers preaching male separatism and primal masculinity, he finds purpose in their chilling ideology. But his new “family” empowers Ralphie’s worst impulses, sending him spiraling into violence.

Manodrome has drawn understandable comparisons to Fight Club with its stark depiction of insecure men driven by misogyny and homophobia. But while both films shine a light on toxic masculinity, Manodrome aims to serve as a modern warning about online radicalization.

In this review, we’ll examine the performances, direction, and technical elements that bring this unsettling story to life. Does Manodrome offer an impactful exploration of gender issues and extremism relevant to our current moment? Or does it miss the mark despite captivating lead actors? Read on to see if this psychological drama is worth a trip down the manodrome.

A Driver’s Dark Spiral into Extremism

As Manodrome opens, we’re introduced to Ralphie, played compellingly against type by Jesse Eisenberg. Ralphie is an Uber driver struggling to support his pregnant girlfriend Sal (Odessa Young) after being laid off from his industrial job. Feelings of failure and abandonment already simmer within Ralphie, who was left by his father as a child one Christmas Day.

Sal’s inconvenient pregnancy and need for financial help feel like confinement closing in on Ralphie. He seeks escape through intense weightlifting sessions at a gritty underground gym. There he befriends Jason (Philip Ettinger), who supplies him with drugs and validation.

When Jason suggests a men’s group to help guys like them, Ralphie meets the charismatic Dad Dan, portrayed with dangerous warmth by Adrien Brody. Dan invites the adrift Ralphie to ditch domestic life and move into his commune, where the men empower each other through primal rituals.

At first, their rhetoric resonates with Ralphie’s sense of abandonment and thwarted masculinity. He throws himself into the group, while ignoring Sal’s needs despite her approaching due date.

Intoxicated by the feeling of belonging with Dad Dan’s band, Ralphie’s latent violence steadily rises to the surface. He commits hate crimes against effeminate men to gain the family’s approval, with Dad Dan stoking his anger at the emasculating outside world.

As Ralphie descends into their extremist ideology, ceasing all communication with Sal, it becomes clear the only path forward is one of appalling destruction. Driven by this insidious new purpose, he fully surrenders himself to the manodrome’s underground current.

  • Also Read: Cuisineer Review: An Adorable Recipe You’ll Want to Cook Again

Plumbing the Depths of Masculine Anger and Radicalization

Manodrome employs the tense spiraling of its protagonist to explore several penetrating themes surrounding the vulnerable state of modern masculinity. While thought-provoking, the film struggles to steer these weighty ideas into the type of resonant statement achieved by its clear inspiration, Fight Club.

Manodrome Review

At the story’s fore is a portrayal of toxic masculinity taken to its most violent ends. Ralphie’s insecurities surrounding his manhood initially manifest in homophobia, a self-destructive exercise regimen, and emotional unavailability toward his pregnant girlfriend. By embracing the retrograde rhetoric of Dad Dan’s group, Ralphie gains permission to fully unleash his most bigoted and savage impulses.

This hugbox of hypermasculinity represents the repressive worldview of male separatists who feel emasculated by society. By encouraging men to abandon their families, the group provides the acceptance Ralphie craves. The irony is that for all Ralphie’s complaints about domestic life neutering his manhood, it’s the coddling groupthink of the cult that truly infantilizes him.

Most chilling is the film’s examination of online radicalization and how regular men can transform into unhinged attackers. Through Manodrome’s cult indoctrination, we witness the dynamics of how extremist movements groom new recruits through validation. By steadily escalating rhetoric and conditioning violent behavior, they funnel directionless rage into ideological extremism.

Ralphie himself evokes modern incels in his entitled hatred of women and society, along with his seemly ambiguous sexuality. Manodrome provides an unsettling character study that echoes current events, even if Ralphie’s motivations don’t feel wholly authentic.

Though Manodrome seeks to update Fight Club’s disaffected masculinity for the internet age, Trengrove’s film lacks the artistic impact to match its aspiration. But the themes alone make Manodrome worth examining as both a character study and a dire warning sign of online radicalization.

Witness the Ethical Chaos of a Post-Apocalyptic World in Concrete Utopia: “Get captivated by the intense narrative and moral ambiguity in ‘Concrete Utopia.’ Check out our comprehensive Concrete Utopia review to learn about the film’s exploration of totalitarian rule, societal breakdown, and the haunting performances that transport viewers into a world of ethical chaos.”

Captivating Lead Turns Anchored by Adrien Brody

Anchoring this rigorous character study is a transformative lead performance from Jesse Eisenberg. Shedding his reputation for snarky, cerebral characters, Eisenberg physically fills out the role of the insecure Ralphie.

Manodrome Review

Through tense silences and blistering outbursts, he evokes a man whose sense of masculine inadequacy curdles into resentment and buried rage. Eisenberg’s characterization echoes current events, providing an intimate portrait of how average men can turn into unmoored attackers when radicalized.

As cult leader Dad Dan, Adrien Brody mesmerizes in the most compelling supporting turn. Exuding a Zen charisma, Brody portrays Dan as equal partsPredator and nurturer. His pseudo-intellectual rhetoric carries just enough persuasive power to explain Ralphie’s seduction.

Brody brings an empathy to Dan that Ralphie lacks, deepening the character beyond a simple Tyler Durden copy. It’s a performance that draws you into the film even when the script falters.

Less developed is Odessa Young’s role as the pregnant girlfriend Sal. While Young turns in strong work, the thin characterization fails to fully establish Sal beyond her function as a domestic obligation binding Ralphie. Her sparse screen time makes Ralphie’s ultimate choices feel more theoretical than emotionally urgent.

Between Eisenberg’s committed pivot to rage-fueled masculinity and Brody’s hypnotic turn as a shepherd of disenfranchised men, the lead acting provides Manodrome’s greatest strengths. Their performances hold attention even when the larger themes lack dimension.

“Explore the Genius of Werner Herzog in Film”: Step into the captivating universe of a filmmaking legend. Read our comprehensive review of ‘Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer’ to experience the compelling story of Herzog’s groundbreaking career.

Crafting an Atmosphere of Male Anxiety

Helming Manodrome, director John Trengove displays a firm command of atmospheric tension as Ralphie’s grip spirals. Through claustrophobic framing and unnerving environments, he constructs a palpable mood of masculine unease and radicalization.

Manodrome Review

Cinematographer Wyatt Garfield employs a gritty, shadowy aesthetic reminiscent of Taxi Driver. Shooting in the dilapidated gym, the grimy streets, and the commune’s wood-paneled rooms, Garfield’s framing suggests the world closing in on Ralphie.

Trengove himself scripts the screenplay which thoughtfully investigates potent themes. But at times the pacing drags momentum as the runtime stretches past two hours. Events build slowly to the unsurprising finish, sapping urgency from Ralphie’s breakdown.

The most glaring weakness of the script is underdeveloping supporting characters like Sal and the communard men. We never fully understand Sal beyond her pregnancy, making Ralphie’s choices land less powerfully. The commune itself feels vaguely sketched, more a plot device than an organic community.

Where Manodrome succeeds most is in crafting an evocative atmosphere around its central character. Through production design, framing, and sound, it constructs a tangible world of masculine confusion and anger from which Ralphie struggles in vain to escape. But the film often feels more resonant in its details than its overarching ideas.

A Compelling Atmosphere, But Themes Lack Resonance

In the end, Manodrome aims to provide an impactful modern exploration of gender extremism and radicalization online. But despite strong lead performances and crafting a disturbing mood, the film struggles to fully draw the deeper themes into clear relief.

Manodrome Review

While more provocative on paper, Manodrome lacks the lasting statement of a true cultural touchstone like Fight Club. Trengrove succeeds more in testing Jesse Eisenberg’s range and creating immediate atmosphere than resonating commentary.

Where the film works best is as a character study of insecure masculinity curdling into extremism when stoked by validation. Manodrome provides an up-close examination of how apparently average men can violently unravel when swayed by dark influences.

But undercooked supporting roles muddy the larger message. While Eisenberg and Brody captivate, the themes too often feel theoretical.

Still, Manodrome offers an unsettling if imperfect lens on the volatile state of modern manhood and the threat of online radicalization. Viewers will find it a challenging glimpse at how social alienation can prime men for extremist rhetoric. Even if the film misses the mark, its vision remains discomfitingly relevant.

The Review

Manodrome

6 Score

Manodrome aims admirably high but lacks the resonance to fully deliver on its lofty goals. While worth seeing for captivating lead performances and an atmosphere thick with dread, the larger themes too often feel undercooked. Still, the film provides an unsettling character study and warning sign of online radicalization worthy of discussion.

PROS

  • Jesse Eisenberg delivers an impressive performance against type as the insecure Ralphie
  • Adrien Brody is captivating as the charismatic cult leader Dad Dan
  • The film creates an effectively unnerving and tense atmosphere
  • Raises thought-provoking themes surrounding toxic masculinity, radicalization, and extremist groups
  • Provides a relevant modern lens on gender issues and incel culture

CONS

  • Supporting characters like Sal are underdeveloped
  • The plot builds slowly, sapping momentum at times
  • Never fully delivers resonance or impact promised by the themes
  • Lacks the artistic achievement of a film like Fight Club which it invokes
  • Ralphie's motivations are not wholly fleshed out or authentic feeling

Review Breakdown

  • Overall 0
Tags: Adrien BrodyDramaFeaturedJesse EisenbergJohn TrengoveManodrome (2023)Odessa YoungThriller
Previous Post

Clues Point to a TMNT Collaboration in Fortnite’s Latest Chapter

Next Post

Air Twister Review: A Nostalgic Treat for Devoted Fans

Try AI Movie Recommender

Gazettely AI Movie Recommender

This Week's Top Reads

  • Marshmallow Review

    Marshmallow Review: These Woods Hide Unexpected Secrets

    4 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • We Were Liars Season 1 Review: Paradise Lost on Beechwood Island

    6 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Art Detectives Review: The Case of the Brilliant Man and the Underwritten Woman

    166 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boglands Review: Shadows and Whispers in the Irish Mist

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mix Tape Review: A Story Told on Two Sides of a Cassette

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Librarians: The Next Chapter Season 1 Review – Bridging Eras with Spellbinding Charm

    44 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 7 Biggest Station Wagons on the Market

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Must Read Articles

28 Years Later Review
Movies

28 Years Later Review: A Saga Begun, Not Ended

4 hours ago
F1: The Movie Review
Movies

F1: The Movie Review: An Engineered Ecstasy That Sputters at the Finish

4 days ago
Elio Review
Movies

Elio Review: Lost in a Beautiful Cosmos

4 days ago
K.O. Review
Movies

K.O. Review: This Heavyweight Contender Lands Solid, If Predictable, Blows

4 days ago
The Chelsea Detective Season 3 Review
Entertainment

The Chelsea Detective Season 3 Review: The Moral Topography of a Postal Code

5 days ago
Loading poll ...
Coming Soon
Who is the best director in the horror thriller genre?

Gazettely is your go-to destination for all things gaming, movies, and TV. With fresh reviews, trending articles, and editor picks, we help you stay informed and entertained.

© 2021-2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

What’s Inside

  • Movie & TV Reviews
  • Game Reviews
  • Featured Articles
  • Latest News
  • Editorial Picks

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About US
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Review Guidelines

Follow Us

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Instagram
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • Entertainment News
  • Movie and TV Reviews
  • TV Shows
  • Game News
  • Game Reviews
  • Contact Us

© 2024 All Rights Reserved for Gazettely

Go to mobile version