REVIEW: The Workout (2025) — James Cullen Bressack’s Found-Footage Fury

Peter Jae fights through grief and blood in James Cullen Bressack’s found-footage action thriller The Workout.

Independent filmmaker James Cullen Bressack has always been about hustle. Whether working within horror, thriller, or action, his films consistently push to prove what’s possible when creativity outruns budget. With The Workout, co-written by David Lawrence, Bressack takes a bold swing at bringing the adrenaline back to independent action filmmaking—merging POV intensity, raw emotion, and physical storytelling into something that feels as immediate as it does experimental.

The film stars Peter Jae as Wyatt Park, a disciplined ex–Army Ranger who co-owns a local gym with his wife Becca (Galadriel Stineman) and his stepbrother Levi (Joshua Kelly). Alongside their trusted friend and fellow Ranger Tank (Ashlee Evans-Smith), the group records a series of fitness tutorials and training sessions—a normal day in the life of high-energy, post-service entrepreneurship. But when a violent gang attack leaves Becca dead, Wyatt spirals into a vengeance-fueled rampage that unfolds entirely through the lens of the gym’s security system, GoPros, and handheld devices.

This found-footage approach gives The Workout its pulse. Bressack and Lawrence don’t shy away from the grit; instead, they make it the heartbeat of the film. The chaos is claustrophobic, the hits feel personal, and the camera’s proximity to violence turns every punch and scream into something uncomfortably tangible. It’s not about glossy choreography or big-budget spectacle—it’s about weight, rhythm, and impact.

Peter Jae delivers a magnetic performance, equal parts grief and fury. He’s not a superhero—he’s a broken man grasping for control in a world that’s already stripped it away. His military precision clashes with emotional volatility, and Jae sells both sides convincingly. Galadriel Stineman makes the most of her screen time as Becca, grounding Wyatt’s motivations with warmth and realism that lingers long after her absence. Joshua Kelly brings quiet conflict to Levi, the brother caught between loyalty and conscience, while Ashlee Evans-Smith, in a standout turn as Tank, channels her real-life MMA pedigree into a fierce yet disciplined force of nature.

While The Workout nails its kinetic momentum, its final act veers into chaotic bravado that slightly undercuts the emotional buildup. Still, the film’s energy never falters, and Bressack’s commitment to showing what independent action can look like in 2025 is admirable. It’s rough, it’s fast, and it’s proudly DIY—but it never stops swinging.

For fans of Hardcore Henry, The Raid, or indie fight cinema with grit and guts, The Workout delivers exactly what it promises: a reminder that action doesn’t need a cape—it just needs a pulse.

Verdict: 3 out of 5

In Theaters (Los Angeles Premiere): October 28, 2025

Available: Los Angeles Premiere — October 28, 2025

Directed by: James Cullen Bressack

Written by: James Cullen Bressack & David Lawrence

Cast: Peter Jae, Galadriel Stineman, Joshua Kelly, Ashlee Evans-Smith, Augie Duke, David Lawrence, Kristos Andrews