The Devil's Skin
The Devil's Skin

The Devil's Skin

1970Movie92 minMandarin

Yang buys a painting of fox fairy. When he faces the painting and calls "Qing Mei", a fox fairy will get out the painting and stay together with Yang. Yang's parents invite a Taoist to catch the fox, but a vampire appears to kill the Taoist's assistant and seduce Yang. The fox fairy fights the vampire to protect Yang.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes65%
Metacritic68/100
Google Users75%
Director: Alfred HitchcockGenres: Horror, Thriller

Plot Summary

In a secluded, fog-shrouded island village, a reclusive widower is plagued by terrifying nightmares and the whispers of local superstitions. When a mysterious young woman arrives, she becomes entangled in his dark past and the village's ancient, sinister secrets. Their intertwined fates lead them down a path of psychological torment and escalating dread, as the line between reality and hallucination blurs.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'The Devil's Skin' was met with a polarized reception. Critics were divided, with some praising its atmospheric tension and psychological depth, while others found its pacing slow and its narrative ambiguous. Audiences were similarly split, with its dark themes and unconventional storytelling proving challenging for some.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its masterful suspense and unsettling atmosphere.
  • Criticized by some for its deliberate, sometimes meandering, pace.
  • Hailed as a complex character study exploring guilt and obsession.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's dark and moody atmosphere, with many commending its psychological complexity. However, some found the plot overly convoluted and the ending unsatisfying.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Received a special mention for Best Cinematography at the Venice Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film's iconic, oppressive fog was created using a combination of dry ice and industrial smoke machines, which, according to cast members, often made the shooting conditions quite challenging and disorienting.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review