Bruiser

Henry Creedlow is a man who has spent years being pushed around, living in the shadow of colleagues and a controlling partner. One day he wakes up wearing a expressionless mask and discovers a new way of thinking that makes revenge feel almost effortless. The disguise changes not just his face but how he speaks, moves, and sees the world, turning small grievances into calculated acts of retaliation. As his alter ego grows bolder, the people around him react with confusion and fear, while Creedlow struggles to keep the fearsome impulse contained. What begins as a personal vendetta spirals into a crisis of identity, power, and control. As the mask remakes his interactions, Creedlow finds himself increasingly isolated, watched by coworkers who sense something inhuman behind his renewed poise.

George A Romero directed Bruiser, released in 2000 as a tense psychological thriller built from an original screenplay. The film carried a reported budget of five million dollars and stars Jason Flemyng in the lead. Its production faced typical constraints, with Romero driving a tight schedule and encouraging a claustrophobic mood through cramped interiors and close framing.

Box office figures for Bruiser are not widely reported, reflecting its limited release across art houses and festival circuits. The absence of a global gross figure makes it a footnote in Romero's career.

This title has a niche appeal for George A Romero fans and viewers interested in social horror. Its mask motif and emphasis on revenge echo in later discussions of identity and the consequences of unleashing suppressed anger, particularly in indie thrillers.

Critical response was mixed, with some reviewers praising the eerie premise and Jason Flemyng's restrained performance while others found the pacing uneven. The film delves into themes of oppression and the double life people present, exploring how power can corrupt even ordinary lives. It also questions whether revenge can ever be controlled or justified.