The Underground Never Looked This Raw
The trailer for Gladiator Underground doesn’t waste time. It comes swinging with the sweaty, neon-lit madness of a tournament where men bleed for honor—or cash, depending on who’s betting. Two brothers, Max (Andy Le) and Wu (D.Y. Sao), are thrust into the pit, each punch carrying the weight of estrangement, survival, and a system designed to chew them up. Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the movie direct-to-VOD on October 17, 2025.
That date matters. We’re not talking about a festival darling making its cautious debut—no Sundance whispers, no midnight slot in Toronto. This is a straight-to-home release, which tells you everything about how the industry is positioning it: pure genre fuel, unfiltered, no prestige veneer.
Mortal Kombat Echoes, with a Twist
Let’s not dance around it. The DNA here screams Mortal Kombat. Underground arenas, crimelords pulling strings, impossible odds. We’ve seen it before—too many times, maybe. But here’s the hook: the Le brothers (Andy, Brian, and their crew) were behind fight choreography for Everything Everywhere All At Once. That Oscar-winning chaos had balletic absurdity; this? More blunt force trauma. Less googly eyes, more broken jaws.
There’s a scrappy honesty to it. No glossy Hollywood sheen, no Marvel quips. Just sweat, fists, and the faint smell of cigarettes lingering in the background. The camera practically sticks to the fighters’ skin, like it’s afraid to miss a drop of blood.
Who’s Behind the Mayhe
Chaya Supannarat directs—a Thai-American filmmaker whose resume includes shorts and the indie Bangkok Dog. Screenwriter Ariel Bleiberg (yes, of Jiu Jitsu infamy) penned this screenplay. Producers include Ehud and Ariel Bleiberg, Charlie LaHie, and lead actor D.Y. Sao. It’s a family affair of sorts, with a cast peppered by martial arts lifers and cult character actors: Brian Le, Craig Ng, Apasiri Kulthanan, Selina Wiesmann, Geoffrey Giuliano, Bear Williams, Elliott Allison, Ron Smoorenburg, Sahajak Boonthanakit, and Byron Bishop.
Everyone looks like they’ve lived a thousand fights already—creases, scars, the tired eyes of people who know the world isn’t fair. That’s the visual energy carrying the trailer.
My Gut Reaction?
Honestly—mixed. The fight choreography pops, no question. Andy Le knows how to land a blow that makes your teeth ache. But the narrative thread, the brotherhood redemption arc? It feels recycled, like a VHS tape played one too many times. Gorgeous. Grating. Gorgeous again.
And yet. I can’t dismiss it. There’s something cathartic about a film that knows it’s not here to win awards. It’s here to make you wince, pump adrenaline, and maybe—just maybe—remind you that sometimes the rules are only there to be broken.
Why This Matters in 2025
We’re living in an era where genre films either explode into A24-level artistry or sink into obscurity. Gladiator Underground isn’t pretending to be the former. But in a year dominated by billion-dollar tentpoles and awards bait, there’s a place for sweaty, low-budget martial arts flicks that just want to throw you against the wall.
It’s escapism—rough, unpolished, and loud. And for some of us, that’s exactly the point.
5 Things You Should Know Before Watching the Gladiator Underground Trailer
Confirmed Release Date – Hits VOD via Samuel Goldwyn Films on October 17, 2025.
Director’s Background – Chaya Supannarat, a Thai-American filmmaker known for Bangkok Dog.
Fight Choreography Roots – The Le brothers, behind the wild stunts of Everything Everywhere All At Once, shape the combat.
No Festival Run – This one bypasses Sundance, TIFF, or Cannes—straight to your screen.
Family at War – Core story follows estranged brothers Max and Wu forced into a bloodsport system.
