The Cage Review: Franck Gastambide Brings Exciting MMA Fight Scenes

Netflix’s The Cage (La Cage) is a new French sports drama that follows the journey of a young amateur MMA fighter whose wish to be seen lands him an unexpected match. The plot follows his struggle as he goes pro through a stroke of luck along with some great talents who help him on the way. The film brings his journey that includes some luck, some stupidity, trauma, and even a betrayal that changes the whole tone of the show.

-No Spoilers-

The Cage Review

The show follows an amateur MMA fighter Taylor who is confident that he is ready for a more professional journey after continuous wins in recent competitions. However, his coach, Boss, doesn’t think so and clearly tells him that not everyone can go professional in this field. Facing such words, Taylor is ready to quit his dream but when an old opponent of the gym- Ibrahim, shows up at the door, everything changes.

There begins Taylor’s journey as he first goes viral due to his fight against Ibrahim. As he calls out to him for a proper match, other well-known fighters in the field come up to guide his journey while Boss becomes one of his biggest supporters. However, this journey also has its downs as he faces trauma, betrayal, jealousy, and more.

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The story is definitely of a young man making his way to the big stage, which means that there is steady growth happening for most of the show. Yes, he does face a hurdle before another victory, but this is quite expected of shows in the sports genre. It is the way that this growth is seen throughout the story that truly captures our attention.

Every episode brings a new learning phase for Taylor along with challenges that truly intrigue you. He slowly matures through his youthful impulsions and begins to learn the ways of the world. His growth is interesting, but what really touches your heart is the way he is helped out by some big names in the field. He is never left alone by these people, which is a big relief from the way he is thrown off by his family.

Moving on to the fight scenes in the show which is the true highlight. If you are interested in MMA fights, then this is the show for you. These scenes are truly exciting and will keep you glued to the screen. The scenes have the right twists and turns, which can be enjoyed by you even if you are not a fan of MMA fights. With how beautifully these scenes are filmed, there is no doubt that they are basically carrying the show.

Then there is the performance of the cast which is smooth and blends in well with the overall look of the show. Melvin Boomer surely takes over the screen as the main character and manages to capture his emotions both as a fighter and as a young man with dreams. Even when no one believes in him or when his family abandons him, he shows strength like no other and finally finds himself free inside the cage. But if there’s someone who steals the spotlight from him, it has to be the guest appearances on the show.

While the show runs smoothly for most of the part, the real game changer is at the end. A sly character who comes to him with a smile, he is the real villain of the show as he leaves the door open to another season of the show. Yes, there is someone worse than the one waiting for him on stage.

Summing Up

Overall, the show was interesting, exciting and entertaining for viewers, especially MMA fans. If you are sensitive to second-hand embarrassment, well here’s a warning but this is only for certain scenes in the beginning. Other than that, the show is enjoyable, and intriguing for most of the parts and will leave a lasting impression due to the plot twist at the end.

Watch The Cage on Netflix.

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