Harsh Times is a 2005 American action crime film written and directed by David Ayer in his directorial debut.

Set in South Central Los Angeles, the film stars Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez.

Ayer says that the film's characters are largely based on the people he knew when he lived in South Central Los Angeles.

Jim has a Mexican girlfriend, Marta, whom he is determined to marry and bring into the United States to start a life together.

Jim manages to get the upper hand and when Mike produces a gun, they subdue the men and rob them of their possessions, including marijuana and a handgun which they decide to sell.

Jim later leaves messages on Mike's answering machine with different voices, pretending to be companies responding to his resume.

Impatient, Jim goes inside and tells Sylvia that Mike is coming to Mexico with him for the weekend, as it is their last chance to hang out.

In Mexico, the trio attends a big party where Marta reveals she is pregnant, and Jim responds violently, threatening to punch her in the stomach and shoot her in the head.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Despite a dedicated performance by Christian Bale, Harsh Times suffers from a heavy-handed and overly bleak plot.