'Salvable' Review: A Gritty Crime Drama that Doesn't Pack the Punch it Intends to
- Becca Johnson
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Becca Johnson - May 1, 2025
Co-directed by Johnny Marchetta and Bjorn Franklin and starring Toby Kebbell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) and Shia LaBeouf (Fury) amongst a slew of talent, Salvable is a character-driven drama set in Wales. It follows Sal (Kebbell), a battered boxer past his prime who finds both his dreams and relationship on the ropes. Falling in with the wrong crowd, Sal has to take the biggest swing of his life to reclaim his hope and his family.
Competently acted with commendable filmmaking on display, Salvable is a gritty crime drama that doesn’t pack the punch it tries to due to a weak storyline.
Within the first few minutes of the run-time, the scene of Salvable is set. A moody soundtrack, rain-soaked visuals and a bleak colour palette engulf you in what seems to be a depressing affair. This is emphasized further when we meet our main character Sal, quickly learning that he’s past his prime in his sport, has split from his wife and is struggling to maintain a bond with his fourteen-year-old daughter. Living in a caravan and working a rewarding but monotonous job as a carer, Sal is only just holding it all together. Although a rather sombre tone is created here, it manages to capture you regardless. The dark cinematography paired with the dreary yet great music supervision creates an immersive experience from the get-go. We’re placed right alongside Sal as he struggles through, and the filmmaking and setting really compliment the tone of the story. It’s expert in making you feel a certain way, even if it often feels like a depressing watch.
Despite the overall feeling of sadness that Salvable exhumes, there is a lot of heart inside it - this is mainly thanks to Toby Kebbell. Delivering a layered, nuanced and emotional performance as Sal, Kebbell puts so much into his turn that even though his character makes poor decisions, he’s hard not to root for regardless. Touching moments with his daughter, passion for his sport and a genuine desire to be a better father and overall person are very apparent in Kebbell’s performance, and he creates a really complex character in Sal.
Starring opposite as old friend Vince is Shia Labeouf, who also acts well despite minimal screen-time. Hooking Sal up in a criminal world that is probably best avoided, he’s the bad influence that both gives Sal an opportunity whilst threatening to completely upend his life. James Cosmo (Trainspotting) and Barry Ward (Dating Amber) are also notable in their supporting roles. The cast deliver.
Not only does Vince’s proclivity for crime threaten to upend Sal’s life, but the entire movie itself. Despite a strong start with intriguing themes and an interesting lead character, the further the run-time progresses, the more of a mess this storyline becomes. Though LaBeouf gives a good performance, the crime storyline that Vince drags along with him feels out of place here. Not only does it unnecessarily convolute the plot, but it takes attention away from what is really interesting here. Sal’s boxing, living situation, relationship breakdown and complex relationship provides plenty to sink your teeth into, so it’s hard to see why writer Bjorn Franklin felt this was needed. It is a very slow-moving affair, so perhaps the crime element adds a layer of urgency that would otherwise be missing. However, it’s hard not to picture how Sal’s story would’ve gone without this hindrance.
Salvable is a well made flick that is at its strongest when developing the lead character. Toby Kebbell puts his all into this performance, creating a broken man that is easy to root for. The side performances are good, and the overall aesthetic emits the mood the story is going for with ease. However, the storyline feeling overly bleak and convoluted at times makes for a frustrating watch. Better when more simplistic and playing with less ideas, Salvable introduces an entire sub-plot that takes away from the story rather than adding to it. This results in a slightly disappointing film.
Salvable releases on digital platforms May 2
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