Under the Skin

Jonathan Glazer's "Under the Skin" arrives with the weight of critical adoration and art-house credentials, yet ultimately delivers less than its reputation suggests. While technically accomplished, the film demonstrates that technical virtuosity alone cannot substitute for genuine creativity. Mica Levi's dissonant score creates a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, and the hidden camera techniques yield moments of documentary-like authenticity (but not in Werner Herzog's class). Scarlett Johansson commits fully to a physically demanding, nearly wordless performance. These elements deserve recognition. However, in its pursuit of profundity, "Under the Skin" merely repurposes themes and techniques that other filmmakers have executed with greater purpose and originality. The minimalist dialogue approach lacks the emotional resonance achieved by masters like Kim Ki-duk. Its abstract visual flourishes feel tame compared to truly experimental cinema. As a narrative about discovering humanity, it pales beside Yorgos Lanthimos' more philosophically rich "Poor Things." What's most disappointing is the film's self-serious posturing. Glazer seems to mistake obscurity for depth, slow pacing for contemplation. The alien-learns-about-humanity premise isn't inherently flawed, but "Under the Skin" offers no fresh perspective on this well-worn science fiction trope. In cinema, technical achievement should serve story and theme, not replace them. "Under the Skin" remains watchable but barely so, offering impressive craftsmanship in service of insights that never materialize. The film builds to a conclusion that feels neither earned nor illuminating - the cinematic equivalent of an elaborate frame surrounding an empty canvas.

What a beautifully intriguing film. I can tell it's not for everyone, but I certainly enjoyed it beginning to end. It's very visually interesting with well executed practical effects and eerie sound design. Scarlett Jo does an incredible job in her role, she manages to sell being something not quite human. There isn't a a neatly packaged narrative that wraps up nicely at the end, so if that's what you want then maybe skip this one. I'd say it feels very suspenseful, without there being a release/reveal. Parts of it feel like a dream that keeps repeating. A dark dream that's not quite a nightmare; you're more curious than afraid. I don't want to spoil more, just give it a chance if you're open to something different. Maybe approach it as art, rather than entertainment. Enjoy(:

Well hats off to Scarlett Johansson for agreeing to come filming in a wet and wintry Glasgow for this quite intriguing sci-fi drama. She drives around the city in her van, ostensibly on the prowl for horny young men looking for a quickie. Back at her's, though - and that's not always the same place - they find themselves in all together different sticky situation. There's no violence, or brutality - just a gentle, I suppose drowning, sensation. What is going on? Does she even know? Things begin to change after a trip to the forest that she encounters a gamekeeper who is more used to setting the pace rather than following. His attempt to rape her in the woods seems to act as a catalyst and... Now there is a conundrum here. Is her behaviour changing because of her human interaction, or is it the very nature of that interaction that is feeding her needs? Well that's a question that dogs this quite artistically filmed, large dialogue-free, mystery and maybe there just isn't an answer. It is fun to see a woman doing the predatory work here - her charms equally effective on even the chavviest of Glaswegians, and what I liked about the end is that I still didn't know. It's an odd film, this - enjoyable isn't quite the word, but it is certainly unusual.