Under the Skin
Under the Skin

Movie spotlight

Under the Skin

1982
Movie
75 min
English

"When you get to a man in the case, they're like as a row of pins - For the colonel's lady an' Judy O'Grady are sisters under their skins." - Kipling. Polly writes for a magazine producing glamorous makeovers for young women. Befriending a member of the women's movement prompts her to re-examine her own feminist values.

Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes85%
Metacritic81/100
Google Users81%
Director: Jonathan GlazerGenres: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Drama

Plot Summary

An alien entity, inhabiting the body of a human woman, preys on lonely men in Scotland. She lures them into a dark world, seemingly for sustenance, but her existence takes an unexpected turn when she begins to develop a strange fascination with her human victims and the complexities of their lives. This burgeoning curiosity leads her to question her mission and her own identity.

Critical Reception

Under the Skin received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its unique visual style, atmospheric tension, and Scarlett Johansson's immersive performance. Critics lauded its unsettling and thought-provoking exploration of humanity, alienation, and perception, though some found its abstract nature challenging.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually stunning and deeply atmospheric, the film creates a unique and unsettling experience.

  • Scarlett Johansson delivers a compelling and subtle performance as the enigmatic alien.

  • The film's abstract narrative and deliberate pacing may alienate some viewers, but reward patient audiences with profound themes.

Google audience: Google users largely praised the film's originality, atmospheric tension, and Scarlett Johansson's performance. Many found it to be a thought-provoking and visually striking cinematic experience, though some noted its slow pace and ambiguous narrative.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards.

Fun Fact

Scarlett Johansson often performed scenes without knowing when the hidden cameras were actually rolling, contributing to the naturalistic and improvisational feel of her performance.

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