The Art of Self-Defense

Jul 19 2019 R 1h 44m
Action, Comedy, Crime

Casey is attacked at random on the street and enlists in a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei in an effort to learn how to defend himself. What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman fighting for her place in it.

Plot

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.

Written by

Riley Stearns

Directed by

Riley Stearns

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

End Cue

Languages

Español, Deutsch, Français, English

Awards

5 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
43,318
Average Rating
6.6 out of 10
Metascore
65
Popularity
NA