From Clayface and Scarecrow to Harley Quinn and Two-Face, these 12 DC villains have tragic origins shaped by trauma, rejection, loss and the choices that pushed them towards darkness

With Geetu Mohandas' Toxic grabbing attention for its gritty action-packed world, it once again proves that high-octane action, violence and crime dramas are no longer the domain of male filmmakers alone. From stylised revenge sagas to blood-soaked thrillers, these women directors have fearlessly helmed films that pack action, gore and intense storytelling.