Boyfighter (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2025 HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Boyfighter follows Diego (Michael Mando), a grieving father, as he relives what little time he had with his son. As he contemplates the role he played in his young son’s death, a wave of dark, harrowing memories flood his mind, crippling him and forcing him into a dark expanse of no return. 

Boyfighter opens to the sound of a buzzing phone–the endless buzzing of Diego’s phone (as he’s mentally incapable of answering). The repeated noise fills the screen, drowning out nearly everything else present in the moment. These opening moments are incredibly frustrating–but there’s something to the antagonistic sound design at the start of Boyfighter. This provides insight into the mental state of our protagonist Diego, effectively mirroring the hardship that he’s experienced and setting the tone for the remainder of the film. 

Furthermore, Boyfighter spends nearly every second attempting to set and develop a dark tone. Writer-Director Julia Weisberg succeeds in this regard, as the aforementioned sound design works in favor of this venture–as does the immersive and invasive cinematography. Nearly every scene in which Diego exists alone is presented to viewers via tight, close-up shots. These instances personify Diego’s grief and help to bridge any gap that may have existed between Diego and viewers. Again, Boyfighter is incredibly intimate, but Weisberg and Director of Photography Matheus Bastos make the decision to juxtapose those intimate shots with long shots–often used during flashbacks that include both Diego and his son. However, these moments reflect the same, dark sentiment as the aforementioned intimacy, expressing to viewers the extreme separation that now exists between this father and son.

Weisberg uses everything she has available to her in order to bring out the emotion in Boyfighter. It’s clear her prowess and understanding of cinema–and her expertise translates well here in this short, dramatic film. Diego easily resonates with viewers, as his tragic character arc is grounded and accessible–often mirroring real-life sentiments and struggles that we all face at one point or another in our lives. Furthermore, Mando’s performance helps to develop a multidimensional character–when it’s clear that he could have easily remained one note throughout the duration of Boyfighter. His performance is honest, raw, and downright powerful–personifying what this film is meant to express. 

Boyfighter is brilliantly effective, and while it often remains heavy and emotional throughout–it’s easy to notice the nuances present in Mando’s performance that extend beyond Diego, adding depth to the film as a whole and making it more accessible. Boyfighter flies by, giving viewers just enough, without ever becoming overzealous.

Written & Directed by Julia Weisberg. 

Starring Michael Mando, Chase Robin, Nicole Acosta, Tameka Bob, Daniel E. K. Huihui, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING