Manodrome 2023

As Ralphie’s life spirals into chaos, he is compelled to take up the mundane job of a rideshare driver to support both himself and his pregnant girlfriend, Sal. In an attempt to maintain his fitness, he hits the gym regularly alongside his friend Jason, who has a sideline in selling prescription pills. Despite his efforts, Ralphie feels bogged down by a sense of stagnation, which leads to an unexpected introduction to the magnetic Dad Dan, a charismatic figure who effortlessly rallies a group of like-minded men around him.

Fate intervenes when Ralphie receives an invitation to join Dad Dan and his eclectic circle at an upscale restaurant, where he meets a group of men adorned with a strange tattoo depicting a triangle with a horizontal line. As the night progresses, Dad Dan approaches Ralphie in his sleek vehicle, offering him insightful advice and empathetic support. The following day, Jason surprises Ralphie with a present—a pair of stylish sneakers from the group—believed to be a gesture of gratitude for the impression Ralphie has made.

As Ralphie finds himself increasingly entangled in Dad Dan’s world, he is drawn to an expansive estate located on the outskirts of town. This new environment reveals a legion of “Sons” and “Dads,” each with their own narratives of struggling to escape the confines of traditional relationships. While Ralphie observes the group’s unabashed disdain for women, his apprehension escalates when he discovers a gun hidden within Dad Dan’s office drawer.

Ralphie’s discomfort fades temporarily when he pawns a lost phone for cash, stirring dissatisfaction in Sal. Yet, he inevitably returns to the group’s compound, where he faces a grueling initiation rite imposed by Dad Dan, which strips him of his emotional barriers. The group’s recommendation for him to abandon his pregnant girlfriend only heightens Ralphie’s tenuous hold on sanity.

Just as darkness envelops him, Ralphie takes to the streets, recklessly driving in response to a troubling encounter with a gay couple that doesn’t go as planned. Amidst wandering through the intricate paths of a local mall, Ralphie (nicknamed Ralph) asserts his independence by rejecting Dad Dan’s indulgent offer to buy an expensive shirt, opting instead to rely on his scant savings. However, this fleeting victory is overshadowed by an encounter with Brad’s estranged spouse, whose scathing words about her ex-husband leave Ralphie deeply unsettled. In this tumultuous moment, Dad Dan urges him to reclaim his sense of power.

Ralphie’s emotional turmoil reaches a breaking point in a mall restroom, where he erupts in a violent rage against an innocent stranger. Concerned, Sal attempts to reason with him, leading to a fierce argument that culminates in Ralphie’s dramatic exit from the scene. As he distances himself from the group, Ralphie endures a branding initiation, with Dad Dan presenting him a gun, triggering painful flashbacks to his father’s abandonment on Christmas Day. This unsettling revelation only intensifies his emotional spiral, as Dad Dan taunts him with the chilling mantra, > “There is no god but Ralph.”

In a moment of defiance, Ralphie retaliates against Dad Dan, asserting his autonomy before swiftly departing from the compound. His next encounter with Ahmet, a muscular bodybuilder, leads him to a grim rendezvous in an industrial facility that ends tragically. Overcome by grief and fury, Ralphie lashes out at Ahmet’s lifeless form, taking his vehicle and possessions.

As Ralphie attempts to navigate this moral abyss, he finds temporary solace with Sal at the hospital, where their son, Jayce, has just been born. However, his fragile sense of security shatters upon returning home to a note from Sal, who has decided to leave him, writing “Forgive me.” In his desperation for connection, Ralphie is drawn back to Dad Dan’s compound, this time with his infant son in tow.

With the police closing in on him for the murder of Ahmet, Ralphie rounds up the group for assistance. They retreat upstairs, where he leads them in a chant before turning his weapon on Dad Dan. The situation escalates as Ralphie shoots a police officer, leading to a chaotic escape from the compound. As he flees into the woods, he stumbles into a senior living community, breaking into the kitchen in search of food.

When a compassionate worker finds him and extends a helping hand, Ralphie’s reaction is telling—he raises his gun to his own head, but it fails to discharge. In a moment of despair, he collapses, finding unexpected kindness from the worker, who shares a touching story and comforts him as police sirens draw nearer.