Originally published May 23, 2019. Updated May 22, 2019.
A new trailer has been released for writer-director Riley Stearns’ dark comedy The Art of Self-Defense which stars Jesse Eisenberg as a timid bookkeeper who takes up Karate to defend himself after being attacked by a motorcycle gang; watch it here…
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.
The Art of Self-Defense is set for release on July 12th.
