Synopsis

Danny has been raised from childhood by a Glasgow crime boss, who keeps him collared and unleashes him as a weapon in underground fights. After escaping his master, Danny is taken in by a blind piano tuner and his stepdaughter. Their kindness introduces him to family life, while his former captor works to reclaim the fighter he molded.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was released in France on February 2, 2005, under the title "Danny the Dog." The North American title was changed to "Unleashed."

• "Unleashed" is a French-British production written by Luc Besson and filmed largely in Glasgow, Scotland.

• Martial-arts choreography was handled by Yuen Woo-ping, whose work also includes "The Matrix," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and numerous Hong Kong classics.

• The soundtrack was created by Massive Attack members Robert Del Naja and Neil Davidge. It was initially issued in 2004 as "Danny the Dog" before being re-released under the film's American title in 2005.

• The 2005 reissue added two tracks connected with the RZA, including "Unleash Me." The film's end-credit song, "Aftersun," does not appear on either version of the soundtrack album.

• The production combines harsh underground-fight imagery with a quieter domestic drama, giving the film a structure that moves between martial-arts action and Danny's gradual discovery of ordinary human experiences.

• Critics often singled out the film as one of the stronger English-language showcases for its leading martial-arts performer, particularly because the role required extended stretches of physical acting and limited dialogue.