Under the Skin
UNDER THE SKIN (18)
D: Jonathan Glazer
Studio Canal/BFI/Film 4 (James Wilson & Nick
Wechsler)
UK/US/Switzerland 2013 (released 2014)
108 mins
Science Fiction/Horror
W: Walter Campbell & Jonathan Glazer [based on the
novel by Michel Faber]
DP: Daniel Landin
Ed: Paul Watts
Mus: Mica Levi
Scarlett Johansson (The Female), Jeremy
McWilliams (The Bad Man), Adam Pearson (The Deformed Man), Paul Brannigan (Andrew), Kryštof Hàdek (The Swimmer)
A featureless extra-terrestrial being, disguised as a
beautiful woman, roams Scotland's streets on the prowl for men, luring them to their doom in the form of an oily endless abyss which assimilates them.
Jonathan Glazer's arthouse science fiction-horror can best
be described as an experimental film, and though the visual style is both original and quite striking, the film is occasionally quite difficult to watch, dragging in places and the narrative
seems a little disjointed towards the end of the second act.
Some of the documentary-style approach, featuring Scarlet
Johansson driving the streets of Glasgow and picking up men who have no idea they're being filmed, is an interesting angle of filmmaking, and some of the surreal visuals make their mark, but
ultimately, the story doesn't really go anywhere, ending on a bleak note.
It won't be appreciated by everyone, but worth watching
for both Scarlet Johansson's performance and Scarlet Johansson's naked body. Mica Levi also deserves a mention for the fantastic music score which runs throughout.
Not to be confused with the 1997 film of the same name,
which is something different entirely.
7/10
