Trashtacular

The release of Cleaner, a British action thriller directed by Martin Campbell, is a compelling reminder of why we should be wary of cinema that showcases an all-star cast splashed across a muddled plot. Marketed as a high-octane, edge-of-your-seat adventure, this film often feels more like a laboriously constructed thesis on how to squander a riveting premise. With Daisy Ridley in the lead role as Joanna "Joey" Locke, a former soldier turned window cleaner—who takes her autistic brother to her workplace amidst a hostage situation—you can almost hear the collective groan of the audience when they realize their cinematic experience is about to take a nosedive.

This action thriller graces our screens full of ambition but leaves behind an air of disappointment thicker than a teenager's layer of acne cream. I approached this film with the hope of seeing something fresh from Alba after a five-year hiatus—but I swear, the only thing I found refreshing was the air outside my living room—thankfully, my window was open or I might have suffocated in the fumes of disappointment.