# C.L.E.A.N.

C.L.E.A.N. is a 2020 Croatian horror-thriller from Vjekoslav Katusin. Costas Mandylor and Tom Sizemore take part in supporting roles. The film was published by Dream Team Pictures under the name Čistilište, together with the Austrian cinema chain Cineplexx. It was released in Serbia, Montenegro,and Bosnia for several weeks starting in October 2020.

## Plot

C.L.E.A.N. is about four patients who all suffer from various addictions, such as addiction to alcohol, drugs, and sex. In his sanatorium, Dr. Sutter offers a cure in which he uses the C.L.E.A.N. (Cerebral Lateralization Enforcement and Neuroactivation) program that he practices modifying the behavioral patterns of the brain in order to heal his patients. What looks like hope at first glance turns into chaos, which is ultimately about pure survival. Only the patient Alice, who has been plagued by fear and visions from a very young age, especially because she has witnessed the gruesome murder of her own mother, realizes that something is wrong and is ultimately in the clutches of a perfidious pact.

## Cast

* Costas Mandylor as Dr. Sutter
* Tom Sizemore as Mr. Wilkens
* Jenny Paris as Alice
* Fred Lobin as Noah Bishop
* Maik van Epple as Joe
* Lou Cefair as Luzifer

## Production

In 2016, the screenwriter Axel Melzner, who works for the film production company Dream Team Pictures, recommended the renowned author Konstantin Georgiou, who studied at the New York Film Academy, for the development of the C.L.E.A.N. script. The plot was inspired by films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers, in which the credits refer to an antagonist who is supposed to occupy a leading role in future film productions. C.L.E.A.N. is similarly intended as a prequel for the upcoming film The Vultures Are Waiting, which is set to be a modern Desperado-style western.
As Location for the shooting of C.L.E.A.N. an urban villa in the Croatian coastal town of Pula on the Istrian peninsula was selected. The Bunker Studios in Serbia were jointly responsible for the computer-generated effects.

## Reception

On October 18, 2020, C.L.E.A.N. presented at the 14th Festival of Serbian Fantastic Film (FSFF) in Belgrade. Subsequently, the film received several awards from various international film festivals.
| year | award | category | winner | result |
| 2021 | Vegas Movie Awards | Best Horror | Vjekoslav Katusin | Won |
| 2021 | Vegas Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Tom Sizemore | Won |
| 2020 | Dreamachine International Film Festival | Best Supernatural Horror | Vjekoslav Katusin | Won |
| 2020 | Dreamachine International Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Costas Mandylor | Won |
| 2020 | Dreamachine International Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Konstantin Georgiou | Won |
| 2020 | Festival of Serbian Fantastic Film (FSFF) | Best Horror Film | Vjekoslav Katusin | Won |
| 2020 | Festival of Serbian Fantastic Film (FSFF) | Best Supporting Actor | Costas Mandylor | Won |
| 2020 | New York Movie Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Konstantin Georgiou | Won |
| 2020 | New York Movie Awards | Best Actress | Jenny Paris | Won |
| 2020 | New York Movie Awards | Best Original Score | Sakis Petropoulos & Mirko Rizello | Won |
| 2020 | Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Dragan Šiša | Won |
| 2020 | Oniros Film Awards New York | Best Editing | Ivica Peric | Won |
| 2020 | Oniros Film Awards New York | Best Screenplay | Konstantin Georgiou | Won |
| 2020 | Oniros Film Awards New York | Best Thriller | Vjekoslav Katusin | Won |
| 2020 | Paris Film Festival | Best Horror | Vjekoslav Katusin | Nominated |
| 2020 | Paris Film Festival | Best Editing | Ivica Perić | Nominated |