Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- bleak
- paranoid
- serious thriller night
- political cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film competently acted, especially by Sean Bean and Abhin Galeya, but considered its familiar political-thriller structure uneven and reliant on broad generalizations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ash's journey from British student to terrorist is shown alongside the consequences of his indoctrination.
Ewan's mandate to eliminate Ash is paired with retaliatory and ethically compromised methods.
The film intercuts Ewan's pursuit with Ash's earlier life and progression toward terrorism.
The plot centers on a British security operation against a suicide bomber and his cell in the aftermath of the War on Terror.
Films like Cleanskin, and why
Four Lions
shared british political thriller framework, terrorism subject, and morally conflicted pursuit
The Siege
shared counterterrorism investigation, bleak tension, and ethical ambiguity
Body of Lies
shared paranoia thriller elements, state violence, and divided perspectives on political extremism
Movie Details
- Director
- Hadi Hajaig
- Release Date
- 2012-03-08
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (370)
Cast
- Sean Bean
- Abhin Galeya
- Charlotte Rampling
- Peter Polycarpou
- Tuppence Middleton
- Tom Burke
- Sam Douglas
- Michelle Ryan
- James Fox
- Shivani Ghai
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cleanskin about?
- A British agent hunts a homegrown suicide bomber while the bomber’s path to extremism exposes a brutal cycle of grievance, indoctrination, and state retaliation.
- What is Cleanskin like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cleanskin as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Cleanskin violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Cleanskin as graphic.
- What did critics think of Cleanskin?
- Critics found the film competently acted, especially by Sean Bean and Abhin Galeya, but considered its familiar political-thriller structure uneven and reliant on broad generalizations.
- Which films are like Cleanskin?
- Films with a similar feel include Four Lions, The Siege, and Body of Lies.
- How long is Cleanskin?
- Cleanskin runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cleanskin?
- In United States, Cleanskin streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel.
