For the second in our Pretty Ugly series, we collaborated with NOWNESS on a film by Amy Gwatkin about the satisfyingly sensual nature of slime. "We wanted to steer away from Nickelodeon-style sliming, and towards a more close up—but not too serious—exploration of a physical sensation that skirts between disgust and ecstasy," explains the London-based director.

In order to achieve this sublime result, Gwatkin recruited Ami Evelyn Hughes, editor of GUT Magazine, to immerse herself in a sloppy and unlit vat—where the act of being slimed is transformed into a gratifying visual and sonic experience that edges between grossness and greatness.

"Casting Ami was really important because she went that extra mile to actually be fully submerged," explains Gwatkin. "Slime has associations with procreation, protection, putrefaction and the alien, so it was good to work with a palette of greys and beiges as well as pink and green slimes.

"I’m a fan of messy things," Gwatkin continues. "But I came up against my own boundaries shooting this: even the smallest shift towards the ‘wrong’ colour or texture, and the associations become more strongly disgusting than alluring. But disgust can be exciting too."

Pretty Ugly is a film series dedicated to the beautiful and the gross, a celebration of what is sublime in the ordinary. You can watch more here.

Director Amy Gwatkin
Talent Ami Evelyn Hughes
DOP James Wreford
Art director Daisy Moseley
Sound Tommie Introna
Editor Toby Heard
Sound Design and Music Henry Law
Make-up Crystabel Riley using Axiology Beauty
Nails Sylvie Macmillan using Essie