A dark comedy set in the world of karate. The film centers on Casey (Jesse Eisenberg), who is attacked at random on the street and enlists in a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), in an effort to learn how to defend himself. What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman (Imogen Poots) fighting for her place in it. Casey undertakes a journey, both frightening and darkly funny, that will place him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor.

MOVIE REVIEW

Move over Yorgos Lanthimos, there’s a new wizard of dark, literal comedy. Riley Stearns’ second feature film, The Art of Self-Defense, is an utterly entertaining and sharply written dark comedy that draws you in and karate chops you upside the head.
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