Throughout the entirety of the 102-minute runtime of Ballad of a Small Player, Colin Farrell appears perpetually soaked. This isn’t an innuendo; rather, he is consistently covered in some form of moisture—whether it’s sweat, rain, or seawater—in nearly every scene of this recent Netflix release. Quite simply, Farrell seems to be eternally dripping.

The film, directed by Edward Berger—recently recognized with an Oscar nomination for his 2024 film Conclave—features a screenplay by Rowan Joffé, adapted from Lawrence Osborne’s 2014 novel of the same title. Farrell takes on the role of Lord Freddy Doyle, a gambling enthusiast who finds himself out of luck and deeply in debt, racing against time to either reclaim his fortune or devise an escape plan.

Doyle’s predicament is dire, as he faces mounting pressure with no relief in sight. This tension is both figurative and literal, with the film’s makeup team ensuring that Farrell’s character is visibly perspiring.

According to the film’s production notes, Heike Merker, the Oscar-nominated hair and makeup designer, shared that they aimed to accentuate Farrell’s damp appearance. “We wanted him to be the kind of person whose handshake would leave you with a wet palm,” she explained.

And indeed, Heike’s vision was realized. Watching Farrell in this film, one can’t help but imagine needing several paper towels after a hypothetical handshake with his character.

And it’s not only sweat. Lord Doyle gets rained on. He stomps along puddles on a cold, drizzly beach. He dives off a boat into the ocean. He kneels on the waterlogged floor of a fishing shed. He slobbers saliva as he gorges himself on a gourmet meal. He sinks, fully-clothed, to the bottom of a hotel swimming room. This man is not nearly moist. He’s positively sopping.

Of course, he’s still Colin Farrell, and Colin Farrell is always a beautiful man, even when he’s doing his best impression of a drowned rat. I can only imagine that being covered in water for the majority of a film shoot is not a pleasant experience, but Farrell pulls it off magnificently. Hopefully, someone was ready with a towel for him when Berger called “Cut.”