Fighting Fear

Editorial

Macario de Souza co-directed Bra Boys and, with his second feature film, he returns to familiar ground. The focus here is upon the relationship between big-wave surfer Mark Mathews and MMA fighter/surfer Richie Vaculik (both are Bra Boys). Narrated (somewhat sleepily) by Joel Edgerton, Fighting Fear has similar themes to Bra Boys — guys from the wrong side of the tracks making all the mistakes of youth but, thanks to friendship, rising above the hardships and to the top of their fields — but it doesn’t share its mainstream appeal. Great big-wave surfing footage and brutal fight scenes will please fans of both, but others will wonder why this story deserves a big-screen home; it fails to ignite passion or interest.

Simon Jones