Retro Review: Fight Club

More than 25 years after its release, Fight Club continues to punch its way through popular culture with unapologetic grit and chaos. Ramanan Balamukundan takes a look back at the movie that dared to scream, "You are not your khakis." 

The Movie: 

Part psychological thriller, part anarchist manifesto, and part dark comedy, Fight Club challenges conformity, capitalism, and the illusion of control. It is a gritty, visceral experience that messes with your mind and makes no apologies for it. 

Who's in it? 

Our primary trio consists of Edward Norton (The Narrator), Brad Pitt (Tyler Durden), and Helena Bonham Carter (Marla Singer). 

Do I know them?

Edward Norton had already gained critical acclaim for his roles in Primal Fear (1996) and American History X (1998). In Fight Club, he plays an insomniac white-collar worker who is slowly unraveling under the weight of consumerist dissatisfaction. His performance is neurotic, vulnerable, and ultimately explosive. 

Brad Pitt, as Tyler Durden, delivers what may be the most iconic role of his career. Charismatic, cryptic, and chaotic, Tyler is the shirtless rebel philosopher who invites men to let go of their material lives and embrace primal instinct. He makes soap, starts underground fight clubs, and blows up buildings. What a résumé. 

Helena Bonham Carter slinks into the film as the chain-smoking, chaos-embracing Marla Singer. Equal parts tragic and magnetic, her character is a walking contradiction, and Carter nails every sardonic line. 

What is it about? 

The film follows a disenchanted office worker suffering from chronic insomnia and existential boredom. He attends support groups for illnesses he does not have just to feel something. Then he meets Tyler Durden, a soap maker with a philosophy: freedom comes from self-destruction. 

Together, they start Fight Club, a secret society where men beat each other senseless to escape their meaningless lives. But what begins as a violent support group soon spirals into something much darker an anti-capitalist terrorist organisation known as Project Mayhem. 

As the Narrator loses control, the film descends into madness, leading to one of the most shocking third-act twists in modern cinema. 

Why did it work then?

Released in 1999, Fight Club hit a nerve. The late 90s were marked by a sense of disillusionment: the promise of the American Dream was being overshadowed by IKEA catalogues, Starbucks loyalty cards, and 40-hour work weeks that led to nowhere. 

The film tapped into that angst with brutal honesty and visual flair. David Fincher’s direction was stylish and dark, while the script (adapted by Jim Uhls) gave audiences a mix of philosophical depth and street-level rage. The use of visual metaphors, gritty narration, and fourth wall-breaking added a layer of cleverness rarely seen in mainstream cinema at the time. 

Though critics were initially divided, audiences found themselves quoting it, debating it, and yes forming actual underground fight clubs. Irony, it seems, was lost on some viewers. 

Does it work now?

Yes, but differently. Viewed through a modern lens, Fight Club is both prophetic and problematic. Its takedown of consumer culture and identity crisis feels even more relevant in the age of influencers and online branding. However, its misinterpretation by certain corners of internet culture has turned Tyler Durden into a dangerously misunderstood hero. 

Today, Fight Club is often revisited not just as a brilliant film, but also as a cautionary tale about masculinity, mental illness, and what happens when people mistake chaos for freedom. 

Still, the craftsmanship holds up: Fincher’s direction remains flawless, the cinematography is sharp, the performances are outstanding, and the twist still hits like a gut punch. Also, the score by The Dust Brothers? Iconic. 

Do I need to see it?

Yes, preferably with an open mind and a strong grasp of metaphor. Fight Club is essential cinema. Whether you are dissecting it for its layered themes or just there for the mayhem, it demands to be watched, rewatched, and discussed. 

Just remember the first rule of Fight Club: do not talk about Fight Club.

Except, obviously, you absolutely should. 

RATING: 9/10 

(Anarchy, soap, and one of the greatest plot twists in film history. What more do you want?)