I Watched Cleaner on HBO Max—You Won’t Believe Who Dies in the First 40 Minutes!

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Caution: The following information may reveal significant plot details about the movie “Cleaner.” If you haven’t watched this action thriller yet, kindly return once you have. Enjoy your viewing!

It’s surprising that despite being an avid fan of new action movies, especially those directed by Martin Campbell (who made my beloved James Bond films like Goldeneye and Casino Royale), I somehow overlooked the release of Cleaner on the 2025 movie schedule initially. Given how much I was looking forward to it, you’d expect I would have seized the chance immediately. Unfortunately, I only discovered the Daisy Ridley film about a band of eco-terrorists occupying a London skyscraper when it became accessible through HBO Max subscription.

Despite having reservations about the film and not considering it the top movie of the year, there’s one particular scene in “Cleaner” that truly left me stunned, and I simply must discuss it. Now, let’s delve into the details.

Again, major spoilers ahead…

With free trials mostly eliminated, the most effective method to cut costs on subscriptions today is by pre-paying for an entire year in advance. This is also applicable to Max, offering discounts of up to 16% across its range of three plans. If you prefer, their least expensive plan begins at $9.99 per month. I’d suggest considering Max as part of the package deal with Disney Plus and Hulu, priced from $16.99 monthly. Check out the offer here.

Killing The Main Villain (And An Actor All Over The Poster) Less Than An Hour In Is A Wild Choice

After discussing all the important details, let’s delve into a scene that left me quite stirred. It was just 40 minutes into the film when Marcus Blake (played by Clive Owen), who had been presented as the leader of the environmental group Earth Revolution mere 15 minutes earlier, met an untimely end. Tragically, he was gunned down by Noah Santos (portrayed by Taz Skylar), one of his fellow activists.

As a film lover, let me say, it wasn’t exactly what I anticipated with Clive Owen’s visage prominently displayed in the promotional materials (particularly on HBO Max alongside Daisy Ridley). The sudden and unexpected demise of his character left me taken aback. I was hoping for a performance akin to his memorable villain role in Inside Man, where he would captivate us with his acting prowess. However, the plot twist took an unexpected turn as he was eliminated by one of his own at a crucial point when we were just beginning to understand his character.

I Honestly Had To Go Back And Make Sure This Actually Happened

Frankly speaking, I had to double-check the part in “Cleaner” where Marcus Blake is fatally shot. At first glance, it appeared to be another character getting hit instead of our primary antagonist being eliminated so early in Act 2. To me, it seemed illogical and out of place, didn’t it?

After the confusion cleared up, I eventually found myself appreciating the decision since it portrayed Noah as an unspeakable villain, determined to execute his objectives at any cost. Adding to this, his betrayal of Daisy Ridley’s character, Joanna Locke, only served to enhance his villainous image. However, I miss Clive dearly.

OR

Once everything became clear, I grew fond of the decision as it showcased Noah as an unforgivable villain who would stop at nothing to accomplish his mission. Moreover, his betrayal of Daisy Ridley’s character, Joanna Locke, made him even more formidable as a villain. Nevertheless, I truly miss Clive.

I Wasn’t The Biggest Fan Of This Movie, But This Twist Was Pretty Cool

I wouldn’t include “Cleaner” among Clive Owen’s top films, yet I must admit the twist was quite intriguing. The movie, brimming with thrilling action scenes, particularly those featuring Daisy Ridley’s strong female protagonist, seemed predictable at times and struggled with rhythm, despite its compact 90-minute length. However, the surprising and entertaining twist gave it an edge, making me expect the unexpected afterwards.

All in all, Cleaner is a middle-of-the-road movie, but that twist is just too good to pass up.

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2025-06-22 18:09