You’ve probably seen the thumbnails on a streaming service or caught a grainy trailer on YouTube. A dirt-streaked Bella Thorne clutching a hatchet, looking like she’s about to dismantle someone’s entire life. Beside her name? Mickey Rourke. It’s a pairing that feels like a glitch in the Hollywood matrix.
The movie is called Girl. Simple name. Brutal premise.
Released in late 2020, it didn’t exactly set the box office on fire—partly because the world was still hiding from a pandemic, but mostly because it was a gritty, low-budget Canadian thriller that relied on raw atmosphere rather than CGI explosions. But if you’re looking into the Bella Thorne Mickey Rourke movie now, you’re likely finding more than just a plot summary. There’s a messy, real-world backstory involving allegations of misconduct that emerged long after the cameras stopped rolling.
The Plot: More Than Just a Revenge Flick
Honestly, the setup for Girl is a classic "Western" trope relocated to the soggy, grey woods of the Pacific Northwest (though it was actually filmed in Ontario).
Bella Thorne plays a character known only as "Girl." She’s returning to her hometown of Golden with one goal: kill her abusive father. She’s even got her daddy’s old hatchet ready for the job.
But there’s a twist.
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When she gets there, she finds out someone already beat her to it. Her father has been tortured and murdered. Instead of a simple revenge mission, she’s sucked into a local conspiracy involving a pair of brothers who basically run the town like a personal fiefdom. One is the "Charmer" (played by the film's director, Chad Faust) and the other is the local Sheriff.
Enter Mickey Rourke.
Rourke plays the Sheriff, and he does it with that weathered, sandpaper-voiced intensity he’s known for. He’s the antagonist who isn't just a "bad guy"—he’s a symbol of the town's rotting core. The movie tries to be a "Southern Gothic" noir, even though it’s clearly not set in the South. It’s about family legacies, hidden money, and the cycles of abuse that people can’t seem to escape.
The Bella Thorne Mickey Rourke Movie Misconduct Allegations
While the film itself got mixed reviews—some called it a "compelling noir" while others labeled it "lazy exploitation"—the real drama exploded in April 2025.
Bella Thorne took to social media to drop a bombshell. She described the filming of Girl as one of the "all-time worst experiences" of her career.
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It wasn't just about creative differences. Thorne alleged that Mickey Rourke acted inappropriately and aggressively during a specific scene where she was zip-tied and kneeling. According to Thorne, Rourke was supposed to use a prop metal grinder on her kneecap for a torture scene. Instead, she claimed he repeatedly hit her in the pelvic area with the prop through her jeans, leaving her physically bruised.
A Toxic Set Environment?
Thorne’s claims didn’t stop at physical misconduct. She painted a picture of a production held hostage by an aging star's whims.
- The Humiliation: She alleged Rourke would rev his car engine specifically to spray her with dirt during a scene, seemingly just to see her reaction.
- The Trailer Meetings: Thorne claimed she had to go into Rourke’s trailer alone to "beg" him to come out and finish his scenes because he refused to talk to the director or producers.
- The Silence: As of early 2026, Rourke has largely remained silent on these specific allegations, though he’s been embroiled in other controversies, including a formal warning from Celebrity Big Brother UK for homophobic remarks.
It changes how you watch the movie. When you see Thorne’s character looking genuinely distressed or "beaten down" on screen, you have to wonder how much of that was acting and how much was a 22-year-old actress (at the time) trying to survive a nightmare set.
Why Does This Movie Still Get Searched?
People are fascinated by the "rebranding" of Bella Thorne.
She’s spent years trying to shed the Disney Channel skin. Girl was a massive part of that. She’s actually good in it. Even the harshest critics of the film usually admit that Thorne carries the weight of the story. She’s believable as a "white trash" kid who had to grow up way too fast.
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Then you have Mickey Rourke. He’s an Oscar nominee. He’s a legend. Seeing him in a small-scale indie thriller like this is always a draw for cinephiles who want to see if the "old lion" still has his teeth.
The Technical Side of Things
If you’re a gearhead or a film student, the movie is worth a look just for the cinematography. It’s got a very specific, desaturated look. Everything is grey, brown, or blood-red.
Chad Faust, making his directorial debut, clearly wanted this to feel like Winter’s Bone. It doesn’t quite hit those heights because the script feels a little thin in the middle, but the "vibe" is undeniably heavy. The score is atonal and moody, which helps distract from some of the more "clunky" dialogue.
Actionable Takeaways for Viewers
If you’re planning on watching the Bella Thorne Mickey Rourke movie, here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Lower Your Expectations for Action: This isn't John Wick. It’s a slow-burn thriller. There are moments of violence, but it’s more about the psychological dread.
- Watch the Performances, Not the Plot: The plot has some holes you could drive a truck through. Focus on Thorne’s physicality and Rourke’s screen presence.
- Context Matters: Knowing about the 2025 allegations adds a layer of "meta-horror" to the scenes between the two leads.
- Where to Stream: As of now, it’s floating around on various VOD platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and sometimes Tubi or Kanopy.
The movie serves as a grim reminder of the power dynamics that often exist on independent film sets. It’s a 90-minute slice of gritty Americana that might have been forgotten if it weren’t for the star power and the subsequent controversy. It isn't a "fun" watch, but for those interested in the darker side of Hollywood and the evolution of a former child star, it’s a significant piece of the puzzle.
Check the content warnings before diving in—this one deals heavily with themes of domestic abuse and graphic violence. If you're looking for a deep dive into Thorne's career transition, compare this to her work in Assassination Nation or The Babysitter to see just how much range she was trying to prove.