Joust
In the gritty, neon-lit world of competitive aerial combat, Joel Warren’s “Joust” thrusts viewers into the high-stakes ...
In the horror-comedy Cleanse, The, a family’s desperate attempt to find inner peace spirals into a nightmarish ordeal when they attend a mysterious wellness retreat. Directed by Bobby Miller, the film follows the fractured Kane family, led by the stressed-out father (played by Johnny Galecki), as they arrive at an isolated estate run by the charismatic but unsettling guru (portrayed by Anjelica Huston). The retreat promises a revolutionary "cleansing" program to purge emotional baggage, but the process quickly reveals a terrifyingly literal interpretation of purification. As the family members, including a skeptical mother (Anna Friel) and a rebellious son (Kyle Gallner), undergo increasingly bizarre and invasive treatments, they discover the serene facade hides a sinister, body-horror-fueled ritual. With the help of a cynical fellow guest (Oliver Platt) and a nervous staff member (Loretta Walsh), the Kanes must confront their own inner demons and escape before the cleansing consumes them entirely. Balancing sharp, dark comedy with grotesque thrills, the film delivers a satirical take on self-help culture and the lengths people will go to for a quick fix.