Dwayne Johnson plays UFC fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, premiering at Venice
Emily Blunt co-stars as Dawn Staples, portraying the emotional turbulence of Kerr’s relationship
The film explores Kerr’s MMA dominance and personal struggles from 1997 to 2000
Directed by Benny Safdie, known for Uncut Gems, and released by A24
The Rock's performance is already drawing Oscar buzz, marking a dramatic shift from his WWE status to an acclaimed actor