[9][10] The Dark Horse is based on the real-life story of Genesis Potini, a brilliant New Zealand chess player who suffered from severe bipolar disorder.

The mother of one of the members of Eastern Knights finds out that Genesis is homeless, and refuses to let her son participate, sending him into another mental breakdown.

By teaching local youth to play chess, he hoped to give them a positive focus in life and dissuade them from getting involved in gangs and crime.

[13] At the request of director James Napier Robertson, Curtis gained close to 27 kg (60 pounds) in weight and stayed in character for the entirety of the shoot to play Genesis.

[14] Napier Robertson also had Curtis study chess with some of Potini's erstwhile friends, including FIDE Master Ewen Green.

The site's critical consensus reads, "Led by an outstanding performance from Cliff Curtis, The Dark Horse tackles complex themes with a richly layered, unpredictable, and deeply affecting story.

[8] The film went on to become a New Zealand box office hit, grossing $2 million and receiving unanimously strong reviews.

The New Zealand Herald rated it 5 stars, calling it "a great, deeply affecting movie", praising the "brave, assured and layered directing" and the "towering performance of Cliff Curtis".

The Australian called it "outstanding ... a Kiwi – and largely Maori – work of the highest artistic excellence";[20] the Sydney Morning Herald praised it as "possibly the best movie to come out of New Zealand since Once Were Warriors in 1994".

[22] Variety calling it "exceptional...the most deserving cinematic export to emerge from New Zealand in years",[23] The Hollywood Reporter announcing it "certain to attract awards attention",[24] and Indiewire grading it an 'A', praising it as "moving and incredibly humanistic.