Gritty, Dramatic Zach Braff Makes No Sense, But Weirdly Just Might Work

Zach Braff has been JD from Scrubs and that guy from Garden State for so long that even when he plays other characters, he’s still JD from Scrubs and that guy from Garden State. I’ve seen him a few lightly dramatic roles, but he always brings some levity, if only by appearance.

Clean Hands is different. If feels like one of those indie projects that needed a familiar name, and the director had a friend who agreed to make it as a favor. But I’ve watched the trailer several times now, and the more times I watch, the more it begins to make sense. Zach Braff as a cop with a drug-addicted kid who goes after all the town’s drug dealers as a sort of revenge mission? That’s not really Braff terrain, but I’m buying it. It feels wrong, but the wrongness is also what makes it so compelling, you know? A little bit like watching the guy from Malcolm in the Middle cook meth in Breaking Bad.

I’m genuinely intrigued, rooting for the film, and kind of impressed with Braff for the big swing, even if he ultimately falls on his face.

Clean Hands hits PVOD (and select theaters) on October 16th.