Greetings again from the darkness. The reality of today’s world is that some folks aspire to ‘go viral’ on social media, while others struggle to imagine anything worse. There are those who dream of being famous – even if it’s for only a moment in time. Others value anonymity to the point where they can’t imagine giving that up. This first feature film from writer-director Gustavo Martin and co-writers Matt Anthony and Vishy Ayyar touches on this very topic. By drawing from Ayyar’s real life (he also stars), we see how one of the reluctant types can use unsolicited fame as an advantage … a means to an end.
The film opens on a brutal MMA fight and then flashes back seven weeks. That’s where we find Jai (the film’s co-writer Vishwanath ‘Vishy’ Ayyar) working as a janitor at Marcella’s Gym. Jai is a quiet, hard-working man – one whose recent history includes a prison stint. Cell phone video of his actions at a local market goes viral, resulting in Jai getting his 15 minutes (Warhol fame). This motivates him, as a 45-year-old, to train hard for an upcoming fight. His goal is not so much to relive the glory days of his twenty years ago fighting, but rather to re-gain self-respect and that of his estranged family. Gym owner Marcella (Veronica Falcon) agrees to support him in his unlikely comeback.
Jai tracks down Dennis (Danny Trejo), his old trainer and friend. Dennis is skeptical of the goal considering Jai’s age and the short timeline, but agrees to help. Complicating matters is the mutual attraction between Jai and Melissa (Taylor Treadwell), as well as Jai’s sister working behind the scenes to get him welcomed back into the family. These are developments that Jai needs, yet distractions that keep him from focusing on training – keeping Dennis a bit exasperated.
Stories of redemption are well-worn topics in the movie world, yet we find the character of Jai and his man of few words (and fewer smiles) to be a guy we can root for. Fans of MMA will enjoy the fight scenes and the twist to Jai’s opponent, and those who appreciate a second chance for a decent man will also find plenty to like.
Releasing in select city theaters and on-demand streaming platforms by Quiver on 29 Aug 2025.
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. A tongue-in-cheek note just prior to the closing credits provides us with one final smile: “Jose is the first migrant farmworker to have traveled to space.” This footnote encapsulates what this biopic is all about – dreams, commitment, sacrifice, and overcoming obstacles. Writer-director Alejandra Marquez Abella and co-writers Bettina Gilois and Hernan Jimenez adapted this from Jose Hernandez’s memoir, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut”, creating a wonderful (and yes, inspirational) viewing experience for the entire family. In fact, it’s the perfect selection for family movie night (other than the youngest kids who won’t understand the themes).
Movie Reviews from the Dark 