Novocaine, an motion comedy now streaming on Showmax, is about in San Diego, however was filmed in South Africa over eight weeks. Scenes vary from financial institution theft sequences shot in Paarl’s CBD to moments filmed in Sea Point’s Kleinsky’s Deli, with the prosthetics and make up crew together with native expertise.
Novocaine follows a mild-mannered financial institution worker who can not really feel ache and is drawn right into a violent battle to outlive when a routine day spirals uncontrolled. The film, which launched in cinemas earlier this 12 months, is streaming on Showmax from in the present day (1 December 2025). It aired as M-Net’s Sunday night time film yesterday on DStv Channel 101.
Squeamish viewers ought to be warned, this one just isn’t for the faint hearted. From ripping off nails to having his hand boiled in scorching water, Nathan Caine’s situation, known as Congenital Insensitivity to Pain, turns the motion right into a sequence of ugly set items as he fights his method by way of escalating hazard.
While lead actor Jack Quaid’s job was to play Nate’s lack of bodily response, the design crew needed to make accidents painfully actual. Novocaine shot extra in sequence than ordinary due to the in depth and evolving blood stains wanted on Nate’s clothes.
South African costume designer Danielle Knox tracked 35 distinct accidents, from a punched-out tooth to what Quaid says is his favorite impact: the “crispy hotdog hand”.
Two extra South Africans additionally helped form the movie’s look. Clinton Aiden Smith, a prosthetics designer from an area firm known as Cosmesis, and Christa Schoeman, head of make-up and hair, aimed to maintain the injuries life like. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen say they had been impressed and barely alarmed by Smith’s dedication to accuracy, as he confirmed them actual crime scene pictures as an instance how the accidents ought to look.
To pace issues up as soon as Quaid arrived, Smith had a 3D scan of the actor made prematurely and printed about 12 life sized busts. This let the crew prebuild the wound prosthetics in order that they fitted his face and physique.
In a behind-the-scenes YouTube video on the Paramount channel, Smith mentioned: “The prosthetics are quite involved in this film. A lot of the things we are doing are so technical. There are a lot of moving parts.”
In the identical video, Schoeman mentioned: “It’s very rare that you get a script that is completely driven by the makeup and the effects, by the prosthetics.”
The native service firm Blue Ice Africa was liable for the movie’s journey, crew, logistics, areas and the funds. This included regionally sourcing props like a booby-trapped home and a black-and-white traditional American cop automotive.
Blue Ice head of manufacturing Daniela Springer, says: “We know the right people. There are left-hand drive vehicles that can be wrapped as taxis or police cars. We built an ambulance for Novocaine.”
Adam Friedlander, Blue Ice founding associate, says: “We shot in the docks. We shot in Bellville. We shot in Woodstock and Observatory. We shot all over the place. All the street dressing that you see: it required a lot of work from our amazing art department. You’ve got to flip the side of the road, and American sidewalks and signage are different. Everything you see had to be created in that regard.”
Quaid (Hughie in The Boys) was nominated for a Critics Choice Super Award for Best Actor in an Action Movie. Amber Midthunder (Prey) co-stars as Sherry with Ray Nicholson (Smile 2) as financial institution robber Simon Greely. The solid contains South African Evan Hengst (Wyfie, Suidooster).