Under The Skin (2013)

Updated: Aug 3, 2021

GENERAL

The Breakdown: A strange being steals the body of a young woman in order to hunt.

Watch If: You're looking for some artsy, Kubrickian discomfort horror.

Not If: You want a real plot. Or complicated characters. Or Dialogue.

Similar To: 2001: A Space Odyssey

SECONDARY FACTS

Overall Rating: 3.6

Length: 1:48

Country: Sweden, UK [Scotland, England], USA

Language: English

Scare Factor: More Discomfort than Fear

Gore Factor: A few disturbing scenes, but not really any gore.

Noteworthy Aspects: The score is phenomenal.

Related Media: 2002 Novel by Michel Faber by the Same Name

REVIEW

THE QUICK AND DIRTY

If you like bizarre artsy films or those strange glimpses of insanity to which Kubrick is prone, this film is an amazing example of that. If not, however, don't waste your time: this film is for a niche audience, and if that's not you, I doubt you'll like this.

PREMISE: 3

The concept of an alien in a human suit is far from new, nor is it overly creative. But where this film excels is less in the what, and more in the how. I do need to clarify, however, that Under The Skin is a very niche horror film. If you like those moments of bizarre discomfort frequented by Kubrik's cutaway scenes, you'll probably like this one. If not, however, you will hate this movie.

ACTING:

Scarlett Johansson delivers a performance in this film that is exactly what it needed. She managed to convey everything she needs to, without taking away from the haunting atmosphere of Under The Skin. Her performance is (intentionally) rigid and flat, which manages to bolster the creeping discomfort that this film leans on so heavily.

VISUALS:

This film may as well be an ode to Stanley Kubrick. The visuals are bizarre and uncomfortable, often leaving the viewer wondering whether or not they are intended to be taken literally. The imagery itself is jarring and captivating, and more than a few times, I got the feeling that I had witnessed something I wasn't supposed to.

ATMOSPHERE:

Between the artistic visuals and the incredible use of sound, this film generates a sensation of discomfort that seems almost unearned by the actual subject matter and goings-on of the story itself.

DELIVERY:

Under The Skin is a deeply uncomfortable, somewhat artsy film that succeeds in leaps and bounds at being what it wants to be. A word of caution, though: if a Kubrick-esqe art-house with virtually no dialogue isn't your thing, then this movie isn't going to be fun for you.