Official THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE Trailer Witness the official THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE trailer! The film, written and directed by Riley Stearns (Faults), stars Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots, and Phillip Andre Botello. THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE will be released in theaters on July 12. After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense of confidence for the first time in his life. But when he attends Sensei’s mysterious night classes, he discovers a sinister world of fraternity, brutality and hyper-masculinity, presenting a journey that places him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor.