With SXSW Film Festival far behind us in the rearview window, some of the critical favorites are finally trickling into cinemas. Jordan Peele‘s riveting horror, “Us” earned great box office success earlier this spring, and the latest iteration of Stephen King‘s “Pet Sematary” certainly spooked audiences. A few other critic favorites of the festival will soon hit theaters including Olivia Wilde‘s debut “Booksmart“ and arriving soon the Jesse Eisenberg vehicle, “The Art Of Self-Defense.”
Tackling self-esteem issues and toxic masculinity, “The Art Of Self-Defense” sees Eisenberg’s Casey breaking – or karate chopping – out of his shell to face his inner demons. Taking on a ruthlessly dark tone to an otherwise simple narrative, “The Art Of Self-Defense” handles fragile masculinity and toxicity with its own brand of sardonic humor. The film costars Alessandro Nivola (“Disobedience“), Imogen Poots (“Knight of Cups“), and is directed by Riley Stearns, who directed the excellent cult-indoctrination film”Faults” starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Here’s the synopsis:
After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense of confidence for the first time in his life. But when he attends Sensei’s mysterious night classes, he discovers a sinister world of fraternity, brutality, and hyper-masculinity, presenting a journey that places him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor. Audacious and offbeat, The Art of Self-Defense is an original dark comedy that takes toxic masculinity to absurd extremes.
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Bleecker Street will release “The Art Of Self-Defense” in theaters on July 12. Watch the official trailer below.