martial arts,sports,psychopath,dark comedy,karate,crematorium,sexism,cult,satire,murder,dojo,motorcycle gang,dog,german shepherd,misogyny,mugging,death of pet,black belt,masculinity,accountant,deadpan,toxic masculinity,traumatized man,ambiguous

The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

Poster for The Art of Self-Defense

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.

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Cast & Crew

Director
Riley Stearns
  • Profile picture of Jesse Eisenberg
    Casey Jesse Eisenberg
  • Profile picture of Alessandro Nivola
    Sensei Alessandro Nivola
  • Profile picture of Imogen Poots
    Anna Imogen Poots
  • Profile picture of Steve Terada
    Thomas Steve Terada
  • Profile picture of David Zellner
    Henry David Zellner
  • Profile picture of Phillip Andre Botello
    Kennith Phillip Andre Botello
  • Profile picture of Jason Burkey
    Alex Jason Burkey
  • Profile picture of C.J. Rush
    Other Steve C.J. Rush

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Keywords

  • martial arts
  • sports
  • psychopath
  • dark comedy
  • karate
  • crematorium
  • sexism
  • cult
  • satire
  • murder
  • dojo
  • motorcycle gang
  • dog
  • german shepherd
  • misogyny
  • mugging
  • death of pet
  • black belt
  • masculinity
  • accountant
  • deadpan
  • toxic masculinity
  • traumatized man
  • ambiguous