A James Bond director’s brand new action thriller film that has been compared to Die Hard is already dividing fans days after release.
The film, titled Cleaner, has recently joined the ever-evolving catalogue of Sky Cinema and is also accessible to members on the streaming platform NOW.
Daisy Ridley, celebrated for her role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy—comprising Force Awakens, Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker—features in the cast.
Fans can also look forward to seeing her reprise her iconic role in the George Lucas universe in the not-too-distant future.
Joining Ridley in Cleaner are Boiling Point actor Taz Skylar and Clive Owen. The plot revolves around a group of activists who infiltrate an energy company’s annual gala to expose its corruption.
However, their noble mission is commandeered by an extremist ready to kill everyone present to broadcast his anarchic message, reports Surrey Live.
The responsibility of saving those trapped inside falls on an ex-soldier turned window cleaner, portrayed by Ridley, who finds herself dangling 50 storeys high on the exterior of a London skyscraper. Among those inside is her younger brother.
Martin Campbell, known for directing James Bond films ‘Goldeneye’ with Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s ‘Casino Royale’, as well as ‘Green Lantern’ featuring Ryan Reynolds and ‘The Foreigner’ starring Jackie Chan, helms this thrilling ride.
The freshly released thriller on NOW has become the most-watched film on the platform in less than a week. Despite its 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes as of the last update, it has clinched the top spot.
Viewer opinions have been varied, with many spotting similarities between the movie’s theme and the iconic Die Hard, renown for Bruce Willis’s action-hero prowess.
A critic declared: “Cleaner starts off as a promising thriller that’s obviously inspired by Die Hard, with a hero battling office-invading terrorists. But as the movie goes along, it becomes too ridiculous to take. Everything devolves into corny dreck with uneven acting.”
Yet another critique acknowledged its effort despite less lavish funding: “Regardless, and despite its obvious budget constraints, Cleaner is a certainly entertaining, action-packed romp that’s also well-shot.”
Daisy Ridley’s portrayal in Cleaner won plaudits for adding nuance to the archetypal ‘disillusioned-therefore-reluctant-hero’, illustrated in one review: “What makes Martin Campbell’s Cleaner such an entertaining ride is the central performance by Daisy Ridley…Yes, it’s the usual ‘disillusioned-therefore-reluctant-hero’ role but she gives it more depth than usual.”
Nonetheless, fans couldn’t overlook how reminiscent the film was of Die Hard, with one commenting online: “Very entertaining. Great fight sequences. Die Hard comes to London.”
Despite the appeal of the Die Hard-esque action flick with a British twist, opinions among viewers have been divided. One critic pointed out on social media: “Female Die Hard with British accents. It’s not awful if you enjoy the genre, but it lacks any real excitement. The plot holes are painful. One watch was enough.”
Meanwhile, another commenter offered a more optimistic take on the same platform, hinting at the forthcoming release of John Wick’s spin-off.
They suggested: “Ballerina will be in cinemas soon so you can call this a palate cleanser if you want.”
Cleaner is streaming on Sky Cinema and NOW.