Clean Hands, a new crime drama based on the true story of a Hagerstown narcotics officer whose daughter struggled with opioid addiction, is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 16.
The film stars Zach Braff as Sergeant Kevin Simmers, a veteran narcotics officer who spent his career fighting drug trafficking in Hagerstown while facing a much more personal battle at home. Simmers’ 19-year-old daughter, Brooke, played by Esther McGregor, became addicted to prescription pain medication and later heroin. The film follows Simmers as the experience challenges his approach to drug enforcement and his views on addiction and treatment.
The film also has a Montgomery County connection. Holt McCallany, known for his role as Bill Tench in Netflix’s Mindhunter, portrays David Trone. The character is based on the Potomac resident, entrepreneur and former U.S. Congressman who represented Maryland’s 6th Congressional District from 2019 through 2025. Trone is the co-founder of Total Wine & More and made addiction and substance use disorder policy a major focus during his time in Congress. McCallany is officially credited as David Trone in the film.
Brooke Simmers died from an overdose in 2015 at age 19. Following her death, Kevin Simmers was determined to establish the type of residential treatment facility for women that he had struggled to find for his daughter. That effort eventually led to Brooke’s House, a Hagerstown recovery facility for women battling substance use disorders.
Brooke’s House also played a role in the production of Clean Hands. Graduates of the program were cast in the film, while women in recovery were trained to work alongside the production crew. According to Brooke’s House, one-third of the film’s profits will go to the organization.
Written and directed by Jake Allyn, Clean Hands also stars Abigail Spencer and Lucas Till. The 108-minute film made its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 7 before Vertical acquired North American distribution rights. The film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on October 16. Before its wider release, a hometown premiere is scheduled for September 17 at the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, with screenings at 2pm and 6:30pm.
