Cleanskin
Year: 2012
Runtime: 108 mins
Language: English
Director: Hadi Hajaig
While working undercover as a bodyguard for arms dealer Harry, former soldier Ewan finds himself caught in a violent shootout. A member of an Islamic terrorist cell escapes with Harry’s briefcase containing Semtex explosives. Now, Ewan is tasked by his superiors to track down the cell members and recover the stolen explosives, leading him on a dangerous mission filled with peril.
Cleanskin (2012) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview
Get a spoiler-free look at Cleanskin (2012) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the shadowed streets of London, a world of clandestine deals and whispered threats pulses beneath the city’s ordinary façade. An arms dealer named Harry moves through this underworld with a casual confidence that belies the danger that constantly circles him, while the ever‑watchful intelligence services keep a discreet, uneasy eye on the transactions that could tip the balance of power. The atmosphere is one of muted tension, where every conversation could be a covert negotiation and every ordinary day might erupt into chaos.
Ewan, a former soldier turned professional bodyguard, is the film’s steady centre amidst the turbulence. His military past has forged a blend of toughness and discipline, yet his role forces him to navigate a morally grey landscape where loyalty, survival and duty constantly intersect. When a sudden, violent shootout throws his routine into disarray, the stakes rise dramatically, thrusting him into a precarious mission that tests not only his combat skills but also his resolve to protect and to uncover hidden threats.
The intelligence service’s senior figures, Charlotte and Scott, recognize the delicate nature of the crisis and pull Ewan into an off‑records operation. Paired with a fledgling operative named Mark, the team must trace a shadowy terrorist cell that has slipped through conventional channels. Their collaboration is marked by a clash of experience and inexperience, creating a dynamic that is as much about mentorship and trust as it is about the relentless pursuit of a dangerous objective.
Tone‑wise, the film drifts between gritty realism and a suspense‑laden thriller, painting a picture of a city where the line between law and lawlessness blurs. The narrative’s pulse is set by the constant undercurrent of danger, the quiet desperation of those who operate in the margins, and the lingering question of how far a man will go when the very structures meant to protect begin to crumble.
Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:30
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Bleak Operative Thrillers like Cleanskin
Thrillers where morally compromised agents discover the enemy is within.If you liked the grim counter-terrorism and moral collapse in Cleanskin, explore more movies like it. This thread gathers fast-paced, high-intensity thrillers featuring covert agents navigating worlds of betrayal, where victory comes at a heavy personal and ethical cost.
Narrative Summary
The narrative typically follows a highly capable operative on a critical mission that unravels into a conspiracy. As they proceed, they discover the true threat is not the external enemy but the corrupt institution they serve, culminating in a bleak realization and a pyrrhic victory that leaves them scarred.
Why These Movies?
These movies are grouped by their shared dark tone, high intensity, and complex plots of institutional betrayal. They deliver a specific, cynical viewing experience centered on the psychological toll of operating in a morally bankrupt system, resulting in a bleak and heavy emotional weight.
Morally Gray Terrorism Dramas similar to Cleanskin
Stories that explore the grim, complex realities of counter-terrorism.For viewers seeking movies like Cleanskin that delve into the complex and dark world of terrorism. These similar stories are characterized by their heavy emotional weight, fast pacing, and unflinching look at radicalization, betrayal, and the high personal cost of violence.
Narrative Summary
These narratives often use a dual perspective, alternating between the operative hunting the terrorists and the terrorists themselves, revealing their motivations. This structure builds a complex web where revenge, ideology, and personal tragedy collide, leading to an inevitable and destructive confrontation with no true winners.
Why These Movies?
They are united by their central theme of terrorism explored with moral ambiguity and a dark, serious tone. The shared experience is one of high tension and heavy emotional impact, driven by a fast pace and a focus on the devastating human consequences of ideological violence.
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Cleanskin Summary
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