Director Martin Campbell delivers another female-led action film in Cleaner from Lionsgate. Matthew Orton, Simon Uttley, and Paul Andrew Williams pen the film’s screenplay. Set in present-day London, a group of radical activists led by Marcus (Clive Owen) takes over an energy company’s annual gala, seizing 300 hostages to expose the hosts’ corruption.
Their noble cause is compromised by an extremist within their ranks who is willing to murder everyone in the building to deliver his anarchic message to the world. It falls to an ex-soldier turned window cleaner, Joey Locke (Daisy Ridley), who is suspended 50 stories outside the building to save those trapped inside, including her younger brother Michael (Matthew Tuck).
While I didn’t particularly care for Campbell’s last film, Dirty Angels, I have always been fond of the director, since 1994’s No Escape. That said, since Campbell hits more often than he misses, I approached “Cleaner” with an open mind. Similarly, while Daisy Ridley hasn’t experienced the same box office success as her appearances in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, she’s constantly engaging on screen.
Cleaner primarily relies on Ridley’s strong performance to carry the film to its conclusion. We are introduced to her character as a child and learn about the trauma she experienced, which she tries to alleviate through climbing. The story then shifts to Joey, two decades later, where she now cares for her autistic brother and is on the verge of losing her job.
The creative team quickly sets up the situation, and we even meet her co-worker Noah (Taz Sklyer), who may be sweet on Joey. Featuring a short run time, Cleaner follows the Die Hard template to a T but wisely chooses not to keep Joey outside too long. Once she gets inside, the film gives Ridley a chance to show off her action heroine skills, where she does her best to sell the material. Sadly, the supporting cast remains uninvolved mainly in most of the film, delivering autopilot performances.
Martin Campbell demonstrates his directorial prowess in this low-budget film with claustrophobic shots that intensify the gala’s horror and contrast with the expansive heights of London’s skyline. Sound design functions as both a repellent and driving force by moving from the ballroom’s intense atmosphere to the whistling winds outside that mirror Ridley’s ongoing battle for survival.
The film delivers strong execution but sometimes relies on conventional elements typical of hostage thriller narratives. Character decisions seem artificial as time runs short before a significant revelation. The ending delivers usual action tropes but may divide audiences because traditionalists expect clear conclusions.
Nevertheless, with a short run time and a solid performance by Daisy Ridley, Cleaner is a harmless one-time watch.
Final Grade: B-
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