'Swing Bout' Review: A Tense and Powerful Boxing Drama
- Becca Johnson
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
By Becca Johnson - September 7, 2025
Directed by Maurice O’Carroll and starring Ciara Berkeley in the leading role is Swing Bout, a sports drama/thriller set backstage at a major boxing event. Young boxer Tony is plunged into a tumultuous journey from the dressing room to her ring walk in a night of deceit, betrayal and life-altering decisions.
Competently acted and incredibly well written, edited and directed by O’Carroll, Swing Bout is a swift, engaging movie that doesn’t let the budget hold it back - it’s incredibly impressive.
Not only does Swing Bout prove what can be achieved with a modest budget, but it manages to create a compelling sports movie that doesn’t really contain any sports at all. At first glance, the premise of the movie may sound dull, given that it takes place before the fight begins backstage and inevitably means we don’t see any action. However, this should not be a deterrent, as the level of intrigue this movie emits is an absolute testament to the script - Swing Bout is an entertaining, engaging watch from start to finish. Easily compelling with particularly snappy dialogue, conversations that leave you hooked on every word and incredibly thorough theme exploration that achieves so much within the 90-minute run-time, it’s hard to believe how much it packs a punch without actually showcasing any punches. Relying solely on the talent of the actors and the weight of the dialogue pays off, as Swing Bout has just as much energy as a real boxing match.
The Reality of Swing Bout Boxing
There’s so much within the script to chew on, which is particularly impressive given the short run-time. Swing Bouts are unplanned boxing matches that are held at short notice to fill a gap in a televised event’s schedule due to cancellations, meaning fighters aren’t actually guaranteed to fight. They still must ensure they are both physically and mentally prepared, as they could be entering the ring with next to no warning. The script does a great job exploring the difficulty of being a swing bout boxer; these girls are waiting for their shot and trying to make money, neither of which are promised if they leave without a fight. Delving deep into the psyche and mental health of the characters, the movie shows the toll that not only being a swing bout boxer can take on the individual, but of being a sportsman. Anxiety about stepping into the ring, the pressure to perform and ensuring you have good ‘stage presence’ as well as the actual sporting skills are just a few of the troubles these young girls face, and the script sheds light on said troubles beautifully. Adding to this stress and anxiety is the crux of the story - match fixing.
In order to keep the audience entertained and on their toes, there are plenty of characters and plot threads bustling about backstage. Though this keeps things interesting and gives us plenty to sink our teeth into, some sub-plots are more interesting than others, and there’s perhaps one or two too many that make the short run-time feel a little jam-packed. In particular, the story surrounding the criminality behind the business is sorely underdeveloped, and not as interesting as the mentality and mindset of the boxers. Any time spent with the swing bout boxers is when the movie is at its strongest, not only due to the theme exploration this allows for but the performances, too. In the role of young boxer Tony, waiting for her shot and dealing immense pressures is Ciara Berkeley who is just fantastic.
Carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders with just one glance, she has a fiery side that comes out when her opponent antagonizes her, band Berkeley does well with this range. Starring opposite as her match opponent ‘Vicious’ Vikki is Chrissie Cronin, who wides up giving one of the most layered performances of the movie. She might be an antagonistic fighter who loves riling people up and throwing insults, but under that mask is a whirlwind of anxiety that she struggles to manage. The acting from this lesser-known cast is great.
Final Verdict: A Compelling Underdog Story
The characters do lack some development due to the here-and-now approach of the script, and there are a couple of plot threads are underdeveloped and uninteresting, but aside from that, Swing Bout is a triumph. The acting impresses, the script keeps you engaged from open to close, and jack of all trades Maurice O’Carroll proves he is a filmmaker and writer to keep an eye on. Thought-provoking and moving, Swing Bout deserves a wider audience that it’ll likely receive.
'Swing Bout' is available now on digital platforms. Buy or rent from Prime Video.
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