Vastly psychological and haunting, Faceless is a hypnotic blend of thriller and classic horror–harkening to the riveting visuals of the original Invisible Man and the famous “Eye of the Beholder” episode of The Twilight Zone. Stunning makeup effects blend seamlessly with visual effects in one of the most successful marriages of two often-battling mediums I’ve seen in recent years. No wonder, really, as the makeup team has credits from the MCU to Hunger Games under their collective belts with visual effects steeped deeply in the horror genre.

Waking up alone and confused in a hospital bed, a man named George (Brendan Sexton III) has been the recipient of a full face transplant. A donor face has been almost haphazardly attached to his musculature, causing him discomfort, pain, and more importantly–total panic. His identity is completely lost to him, as is his truth. When a mysterious and beautiful woman (Alex Essoe) walks into his life, his questioning terror only multiplies as he searches for his identity, his truth, and a cure to all that plagues him. Stares and snickers plague his waking hours and nightmares and visions haunt his sleep. Fighting the clock and reality, George is faced with obstacle after obstacle in his quest for truth, as his ever failing new face betrays him.

Faceless doesn’t shy from the psychological terrors of being a face transplant recipient or from the impact this would have on every moment of your life. Not for the squeamish, the visceral body horror of this film seeps through even the quieter moments, never letting George or the audience forget he’s racing against a ticking time bomb of terror. If medical imagery disturbs you I would steer clear of Faceless as very little is left to the imagination. In an almost Cronenberg-esque turn George’s continually degenerating and degrading face creates an aspect of body horror that will grab onto your subconscious for a long time to come.

Faceless is happily helped along by a unique, almost anti-melodic score by Nick Byron Campbell and Kevin Theodore. The hum of their synthesized backing tracks creates a physical reaction in us in the audience, amping our anxiety and creating a drone in our minds that echoes against the disturbing visuals and the thrill of the chase. Overall, brilliant acting and a thrilling plot help Faceless grab a foothold in amongst the modern psychological thrillers all while paying beautiful homage to the horror greats before it.

7 out of 10