Knuckle (2011)
81%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 4 nominations
Knuckle is a film that delves into the world of bare-knuckle fighting, showcasing the brutal and violent nature of this ancient tradition. While the film offers an intimate look at the Traveller culture, it falls short of truly exploring the complexities of the fights and the reasons behind them. Despite this, Knuckle is a captivating and deeply unsettling experience that sheds light on a world that many are unfamiliar with. The film’s honesty and rawness are its strengths, and while it may not be for everyone, it is a must-see for those interested in exploring the darker side of human nature.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel like you’re in a dark, brutal, black hole world of casual physical violence, then Knuckle is the perfect choice for you! This film offers an intimate look at a largely unfamiliar culture that is fascinating even if you have no interest in boxing. While it may not get as near to the heart of Traveller culture as it had the opportunity to, it’s still an extraordinarily compelling and hard-hitting portrait of two Irish families and their decades-old, bare-knuckled feud. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and prepare to be deeply unsettled!
Production Company(ies)
Lionsgate Media Rights Capital, T-Street
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violent content and language
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2012
Genre(s)
Documentary/Biography
Keyword(s)
documentary, biography, drama, bare-knuckle boxing, Irish Travellers, feuding families, violence, language, Ian Palmer, Teddy Leifer, Nick Fraser, Alan Maher, R rating, $2.6K box office, reviewed by Eric Kohn, Marc Savlov, Kyle Smith, Manohla Dargis, Betsy Sharkey, Scott Tobias, David Bax, Sarah Manvel, Sarah Boslaugh, Witney Seibold, Mike Scott, Ron Wilkinson, starring Ian Palmer, directed by Ian Palmer, written by Ian Palmer, produced by Teddy Leifer, produced by Ian Palmer, critic reviews, audience reviews, best horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, Tomatometer, Fresh Kernels
Worldwide gross: $24,655
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $32,458
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,104
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,540
US/Canada gross: $2,647
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,485
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,834
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,647
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,485
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,827
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Nick Fraser – Executive Producer
Alan Maher – Executive Producer
Teddy Leifer – Producer
Director(s)
Ian Palmer
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (3)
A deeply unsettling experience.
December 13, 2011 | Rating: B
Eric Kohn
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
As Palmer rightly shows, there’s plenty of heart and soul (rough-and-tumble though it may be) beneath the acres of scar tissue on display here.
December 9, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Palmer’s film is brutally compelling to look at, as the lads get down to face-rearranging, but it also carries a lot of tragic historical freight.
December 9, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Kyle Smith
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
While it’s frustrating that Mr. Palmer doesn’t dig deep into the complexities of the fights, one of the movie’s strengths is the honesty with which he confesses his doubts about them.
December 8, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Manohla Dargis
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Though you will wish for more polish and insight, its unruly action is hard to resist.
December 8, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Betsy Sharkey
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Knuckle largely skirts exploitation, simply by virtue of showing this conflict perpetuate itself over so many years. Clans like the Quinn McDonaghs and the Joyces seem destined to fight for generations after they’ve forgotten their rationale.
December 8, 2011
Scott Tobias
NPR
TOP CRITIC
Knuckle allows you to spend an hour and a half inside a ceaselessly captivating world you likely didn’t even know existed. That alone is worth something. It’s unfortunate that Palmer wasn’t interested in doing more with what he had, though.
February 10, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
Knuckle doesn’t get as near to the heart of Traveller culture as it had the opportunity to. It’s a golden opportunity, squandered.
August 6, 2018
Sarah Manvel
Kamera.co.uk
Knuckle offers an intimate look at a largely unfamiliar culture that is fascinating even if you have no interest in boxing
October 5, 2012 | Rating: 7/10
Sarah Boslaugh
PopMatters
A dark, brutal, black hole world of casual physical violence.
August 25, 2012 | Rating: 7.5/10
Witney Seibold
CraveOnline
An extraordinarily compelling and hard-hitting portrait of two Irish families and their decades-old, bare-knuckled feud.
January 3, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mike Scott
Times-Picayune
A time machine of ancient tradition spotlighting bloody and violent bare-knuckle fighting that is as much legend as reality. Fascinating from start to finish.
December 18, 2011 | Rating: 8/10
Ron Wilkinson
Monsters and Critics…
Plot
An epic 12-year journey into the brutal and secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle fighting. This film follows a history of violent feuding between rival clans.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Knuckle.
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