A crime thriller about a former police officer whose job cleaning crime scenes draws him into a murder investigation, Cleaner opens with an intriguing premise and strong sense of mystery, but becomes increasingly convoluted and flat as it unfolds.
One of the things I find exciting about movies is that there always seem to be new ones to discover. You may have a favorite actor, but if they’ve had any length to their career, there’s sure to be something you’ve never heard of before. That doesn’t mean that it’ll necessarily be good, but it might be one more opportunity to spend time with your friend on screen.
Cleaner centers on Tom Cutler, a crime scene cleaner whose job is to meticulously scrub away blood and mess so that there is no trace of the event afterward. Sent by Detective Jones to clean a home one day, he enters using the directed key under the plant, does his job, and leaves, never having seen anyone. Realizing he had pocketed the key by accident, he returns the next day and meets Ann Norcut, purportedly the owner of the home, who has no idea he had been there. Tom begins to feel he may be part of a cover-up and sets out to get to the bottom of it.
This movie started out fantastically. It is visually appealing, well-paced, and piques your curiosity. Based on the first half hour, I was shocked that I’d never heard of this movie. But over time, it became clearer why this never made a big mark on cinema.
The second half of the film lacks any momentum. What you began to feel in the first part fades as the story grows more convoluted and confusing. There are very few characters, which starts to feel a little odd, and I found myself scratching my head in confusion more than investing in anyone.
The cast is stacked with talent, including Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes, Keke Palmer, and Luis Guzmán, and they all deliver suitable performances. This vehicle is so restrained that even they feel limited by what they can give.
This is an understated procedural cop thriller that never becomes gripping. It’s not a bad film, but I am disappointed because, between the opening, the premise, and the cast, I expected much more.
Runtime: 88 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Netflix, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
One of the things I find exciting about movies is that there always seem to be new ones to discover. You may have a favorite actor, but if they’ve had any length to their career, there’s sure to be something you’ve never heard of before. That doesn’t mean that it’ll necessarily be good, but it might be one more opportunity to spend time with your friend on screen.
