After watching Eron Eckhart’s Muzzle, I thought the actor was done and wouldn’t get any good movies like he used to get in his prime. However, after watching Rumble Through the Dark, I fell in love with his craft again. Eckhart had done action movies, but nothing came even close to his latest film. The film is raw and convincing, and you can’t help but feel his pain and the things he’s going through. Eckhart stepped into the shoes of Jack Boucher, a man drowning in debt. Jack did whatever odd jobs he could find to earn some extra green. When he wasn’t earning, you could find him in the casino, trying to double whatever he had walked in with. As already established, Jack owed a huge sum to the bank, which, if not paid in time, would risk the foreclosure of his house. However, the bank trying to seize his house was the least of his worries. Jack also owed thousands of dollars to Big Momma (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a loan shark who often sends goons to extract her money. However, Jack had managed to evade her so far.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Jack Lose His Money?
Skelly (Joe Hursley) recognized Jack when he was getting gas. Skelly also owed money to Big Momma and thought he could make a deal. He offered to bring Jack to her, and in return, she would cancel his loan. Big Momma agreed as she wanted Jack more than anything. Skelly gave Jack some money and asked for a ride to the next town over. However, on the way, Skelly placed a knife on Jack’s throat, asking him to drive straight towards the river. However, Jack fought back and crashed his truck in the field. Unfortunately, he was badly wounded in the crash and somehow dragged himself to a nearby pub. Baron (Ritchie Coster) and his crew saw the crash and stopped to help. Annette (Bella Thorne), one of Baron’s crew, found an envelope filled with cash on the crash site. The money belonged to Jack, and he’d worked hard for it. The next morning, Jack scanned his truck for the envelope but couldn’t find it.
Why Did Jack Visit Big Momma?
Jack returned home and found his house’s door plastered with a foreclosure notice. This was where Jack spent his entire childhood. Jack’s parents died when he was young, and thus, he went to live with his foster mother, who raised Jack like he was her own blood. She was the one who taught him to stand up to bullies and fight for what’s right. The bad news was that she had reached a stage in her life where she had forgotten her own name, much alone Jack’s. Jack was tired of always looking over his shoulder. Thus, he decided to confront Big Momma. He showed up at her house and told Big Momma that he had no money to pay her. In reality, Jack and Big Momma had a history, and the former used to fight in underground battles for her. Unfortunately, during one of the fights, Jack got severely hurt and took an early retirement. Now, he has a huge bounty on his head, and to survive, he needs to do one of two things. Either he pays Big Momma in full with the interest or once again starts fighting for her. With no choice left, Jack agreed to fight again, knowing it could kill him.
Who Is Annette? Is She Jack’s Daughter?
Ricky Joe (Mike McColl), one of Baron’s men, found out about the money. He was a convicted felon and tried threatening Baron but had to leave when the latter aimed a gun at him. Ricky wanted to steal that money and was willing to do anything for it. When he found Annette alone at the gas station, he jumped her. Fortunately, Jack was nearby, and he saved her. Annette asked about him and learned that Jack used to be a famous fighter. Annette wanted to find her father, but her mother had only two things to go on: first, that he was a fighter, and second, that his nickname was the Butcher. People called Jack the Butcher when he was in his prime. Sadly, due to his injury, he’d started to forget things. This was why he couldn’t remember Clark’s sister, Ginny Gunner. So, it was possible that Jack had a relationship with Sally at some point but couldn’t recall her because of his memory loss. Annette also suspected that Jack might be her father. During their conversation, Annette learned that Jack was the man who lost his money in the cornfield and returned everything she found.
Did Jack Defeat Ax In The Final Fight?
Jack returned the money to Big Momma, but she had other plans. She tried to convince Jack to fight, and when he refused, she tried to use his house and mother against him. She told Jack that she would give him the money he needed to save his house if he fought with her best fighter, Ax (Derek Russo). To save his mother’s house, Jack agreed to step into the arena one last time. The fighter on the other side was a beast, almost double Jack’s size. Ax was confident that he would end the fight in minutes, given that Jack was an old, retired fighter. However, Ax couldn’t have been more wrong. The battle ensued, and as expected, Jack gave him hell. Even though Jack was old, Ax was no match for his speed and techniques. Ax eventually gained footing and incapacitated Jack.
Ax was motivated by people cheering his name, but Jack’s reason to enter the ring ran deep. Jack had made many mistakes. He worked for Big Momma and gambled away everything his mother left him. This was why he couldn’t lose. Ax tried to end the match, but Jack killed him with a strong punch. In the final seconds of the movie, we see Jack sitting on the jamb of his house, reminiscing about the hearty conversations he used to share with his mother.
So, did Jack keep his house in the end? Yes. The movie never revealed it, but since Jack kept his word and won the fight, Big Momma would’ve had no problem giving him the money. Big Momma knew Jack better than anyone and was confident that he would emerge victorious. So, it was possible that rather than putting her money on Ax, she gambled on Jack winning the fight. If things were the other way around, Big Momma would’ve never let Jack leave the ring alive. Jack knew he wasn’t a good son, but after meeting Annette, he decided to change himself, become a great father to her, and give her the love she never received.
Final Verdict
Rumble Through the Dark is a fantastic movie, and Aaron Eckhart gives a career-best performance in it. The story, characters, and cinematography are all well-written and directed. Jack, the character Eckhart plays, is masterfully written. He has a troubled past, but he has learned to accept and maybe even enjoy his violent personality. His character is complex and multi-dimensional. On the one hand, you’ll feel sorry for him, and on the other, you’ll be impressed by his violent nature.
