Salvable Review – Palpable, Emotional, Strikes with the Power of a Thunderbolt

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Category: UK A&E, Lifestyle, Culture

Published on Monday, 14 July 2025 12:23

Written by Janet Walker

Salvable, from Vertical, presents, a heartbreaking story of a down-on-his luck boxer, who is being squeezed by circumstances, a messy divorce, a nowhere job where he confronts daily the future, and a resonating sense of failure.

We meet Sal, played by Toby Kebbell, as the film begins, on his morning run, even from his clothes we can tell he is a boxer, in training. He runs until he is exhausted, along the ocean. His routine is the same, up early for a run, at the gym to be the sparring partner for up and comings, the next round of talent hitting the boxing circuit, and then off to work at an assisted facility home, where his aggression is replaced with gentleness. He seems to genuinely care for the seniors, but in reality, each day is gnawing at his soul.

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Welly, the gym manager, played by James Cosmo, continues to train Sal, who was once known as "The Bull," a heavy fisted fighter who could knock out his opponents early. Those days were interrupted by his wayward boyhood friend, Vince, played by Shia LeBouf, who is dedicated to trouble.

On this day, Vince has returned from a stint in prison and shows up at the gym. Welly is scheduling sparring matches, and he reminds Sal, the last time he got involved with Vince, he nearly lost everything.

Sal's messy divorce and custody battle is tearing him apart. His daughter, Molly, played by Kila Lord Cassidy, is acting out and his ex-wife, Elaine, played by Elaine Cassidy, has reached the point of no return. And when Sal shows up unexpectedly, violating his court-ordered visiting schedule, his wife threatens to call the police.

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As he spirals, he decides to meet up with his Vince who is arranging street fights for big purses. It is just some quick cash, and all he really wants is Sal to referee the fights. So, he agrees, the first fight goes well, the second fight spins out of control from the beginning, with the pair in debt to an Irish mob crew.

Welly schedules the biggest comeback fight of his career, with a purse large enough to payoff the Irish, and maybe find his way back. When his daughter has trouble in school, she calls him, and this one bright spot feels like they can slowly rebuild the life that was lost through the messy divorce.

Now in debt, Vince, who made decisions years ago led him to a life of highs and lows, the adrenaline rush of the score, and the desperation when the cell doors lock behind him. Owing the Irish has pushed him over the edge, and he comes up with a plan. Sal agrees to go along.

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Salvable is an emotionally jolting and raw examination of the crossroads of life. Toby Kebbell and Shia LaBeouf deliver dynamic performances, which culminate with a climatic palpable ending.

The ensemble cast deliver strong character driven performances, so much so, that some moments feel abrasive as the scenes sting with authentic delivery. The story, which is an everyman, (or woman) person story, but more as it examines the midlife moment of men, who see their surroundings, career, life success or failures, as the pronouncement of their worth.

Salvable, an expressively dramatic film, strikes with the power of a thunderbolt, is available on UK digital On Demand platforms. It is a must see.

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Country: UK.

Language: English.

Runtime: 100 minutes.

Directed By: Bjorn Franklin, Johnny Marchetta.

Produced By: Jamie Gamache, Connor O'Hara, Julien Loeffler, James Kermack.

Written By: Bjorn Franklin.

Cast: Toby Kebbell, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Socha, James Cosmo, Elaine Cassidy, Aiysha Hart, Barry Ward, Nell Hudson, Michelle Bonnard, Gavin Lee Lewis, Kila Lord Cassidy, Sam Shoubber, Joel Morris, Alina Allison, Charlie Williams, Tom Leigh, Gail Kemp, Jermaine Liburd, Laurence Saunders, Renu Brindle, Mikey Fantham.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays, "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has completed the non-fiction narrative, "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and is available on Amazon. "Days, Times, Seasons, Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," will be available by August 1, 2025. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a former member of the International Federation of Journalists.