The Cleansing (2019): cast, story & where to watch
2019 · Film · ★ 4.7
Released in 2019, The Cleansing is a thriller, drama and horror film directed by Antony Smith, running about 94 minutes.
What it’s about. Set in a small isolated village in 14th century Wales, Alice is a sixteen year old girl who is accused of being a witch and causing the plague that has ravaged the village, taking the lives of many, including Alice's own father. When it is revealed that Alice has been hiding her mother's infection, she is forced to watch The Cleanser, an ominous masked figure, brutally dispatch her mother. The town preacher and de-facto leader Tom has eyes for Alice, and subjects her to five torturous trials after she spurns his advances. Escaping the night before her execution, with the help of her mother's friend Mary, she flees into the forest and discovers the secluded hut of a mysterious healer, with his own troubled past and demons to face. He nurses her back to health, and teaches her how to exact revenge upon those that persecuted her.
Who’s in it. The Cleansing stars Rebecca Acock as Alice, Rhys Meredith as Tom, Simon Nehan as The Cleanser and Luke Bailey as The Wanderer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.7/10, The Cleansing has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Cleansing page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Cleansing tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Cleansing (2019)?
- In US, The Cleansing is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Cleansing worth watching?
- The Cleansing holds an audience score of 4.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Cleansing?
- The Cleansing stars Rebecca Acock, Rhys Meredith, Simon Nehan, Luke Bailey and Alison Lenihan.
- When was The Cleansing released?
- The Cleansing was released in 2019, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.