Clean Hands

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Clean Hands

Oct 2026

1h 48m

Crime

Drama

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5 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Based on an unbelievable true story, Sergeant Kevin Simmers (Zach Braff) leads a taskforce waging war on drugs in Hagerstown, Maryland, a major stop on the "Heroin Highway." At home, he's a desperate father grappling with his 19-year-old daughter Brooke's (Esther McGregor) escalating addiction from pain meds to heroin. As Kevin is forced to confront the failures of the system he dedicated his life to defending, together father and daughter fight for recovery, redemption, and hope.

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Todd Gilchrist

Variety

1 day ago

Allyn is entirely too interested in Simmers’ police work, meaning high-pitched chases and strong-arm interrogations, to strike the right balance between his day job and his earnest efforts to help his daughter.

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Mark Dujsik

Mark Reviews Movies

11 hrs ago

2/4

It's an easy thing to say that a documentary about the same fictional version of a story would surely be more worthwhile, but that doesn't make it any less true.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

20 hrs ago

Anchored by a stunning performance from Esther McGregor as Brooke...Clean Hands is a story full of humanity, heartbreak, and hope. Unfortunately, it is also a film whose central character proves increasingly difficult to embrace.

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Joey Magidson

Awards Radar

3 days ago

3/4

Clean Hands gives Zach Braff a chance to stretch and Esther McGregor a real showcase.

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Cole Groth

FandomWire

Jun 10, 2026

4/10

While Zach Braff delivers a genuinely solid dramatic performance, Clean Hands suffers from a meandering, cliché-ridden script that feels entirely out of touch with the modern indie film landscape.

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Jeff M

@RT38520934 50 min ago

This film hits me because I’ve seen it firsthand with a relative. The acting is phenomenal and this story pulls me right along with it. I can almost envision my own child struggling as I watch this and cannot imagine what it must have been like for the real Kevin to go through such a thing. To have to tell such a big story in such a short time, I’m sure presents a challenge but I personally think it gave me all the feelings I was meant to have. From deep sadness to moments of laughter, this film has it all and I would watch it again!

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Rose R

@rosereid 11 hrs ago

WARNING: You will be deeply affected by this film. There are very few films I would watch over and over again, but this is one of them. It isn't just a cop movie―it's a gripping and emotional true story about a father and a daughter. Set against the backdrop of a deeply drug-affected city and a police force operating within it, CLEAN HANDS follows Kevin and Brooke Simmers. It is honest, gut-wrenching, and yet will have you in stitches laughing at times, thanks to Braff's delivery. Allyn doesn't flinch. There's a dedication to getting it right that you can feel as you watch―the nuances of law enforcement and the men serving, the impact of substance abuse on families and often the devastating reactions from those family members to the sufferer. Esther McGregor's portrayal is heartbreaking and human, Braff's portrayal is sharp, honest, and impactful. This could have been a very dark film, and yet I walked away with a bit more faith in humanity. An absolute must see.

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Jake A

@snakeplisken 11 hrs ago

I can honestly say I've never seen Zach Braff like this. What a dramatic gritty performance, and the chemistry and father-daughter bond he has with Esther McGregor is electric. The movie is really hard hitting, gripping, and emotionally raw. While it's an important story, it also delivered on the funny moments you expect and love from a good movie night with Zach Braff.

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Jake Allyn

Director

Zach Braff

Actor

Esther McGregor

Actor

Abigail Spencer

Actor

Holt McCallany

Actor

Lucas Till

Actor

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Synopsis

Based on an unbelievable true story, Sergeant Kevin Simmers (Zach Braff) leads a taskforce waging war on drugs in Hagerstown, Maryland, a major stop on the "Heroin Highway." At home, he's a desperate father grappling with his 19-year-old daughter Brooke's (Esther McGregor) escalating addiction from pain meds to heroin. As Kevin is forced to confront the failures of the system he dedicated his life to defending, together father and daughter fight for recovery, redemption, and hope.

Director: Jake Allyn
Producer: Jake Allyn, Brian A. Loschiavo, James Suttles, Jason Winn, JR Rappaport, Conor Allyn
Screenwriter: Jake Allyn
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: Glasshouse Pictures, Margate House Films, WW SF Entertainment, Riverside Entertainment
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 16, 2026
Runtime: 1h 48m

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