The Sensei

Set in 1980s Colorado, this action drama follows McClain, a gay teenager who faces isolation and violence from his peers in a conservative community. After being brutally beaten at school, he begins secret martial arts training under the guidance of Karen O'Neil to learn self-defense. The situation escalates into a series of disasters once the town discovers their clandestine arrangement.

Written and directed by Diana Lee Inosanto, who also produced the film and starred as Karen O'Neil, the project was developed over seven years. The cast includes Michael O'Laskey II as McClain Evans, along with Keith David, Mark McGraw, Kerry Knuppe, and Jeff Liu.

Produced by Heitmann Entertainment and Zen Mountain on a budget of 1 million USD, the film has received mixed reactions from viewers. It holds a moderate rating of 6.4/10 on IMDb based on 506 votes, while it has a lower score of 4.2/10 on TMDB from 14 votes.