I watched this on Film4 last week. I do like Scarlett Johanssen and I was pleased to see her in an unusual flick beyond the latex of the Marvel Studios.
And believe me, you can't get more unusual than Under the Skin. Its based loosely on a novel of the same name by Michel Faber from 2000, which I have yet to read.
The film is essentially about a 'female' alien wandering and driving around Scotland. She 'wears' the skin of a beautiful girl. She feeds on humans by luring men to bed with her. Said men all 'drown' in a deep black pool and are then ingested. The ingestion scene is quite startling. Think of a balloon popping in a sea of ink.
As the name implies there is much of skin here. Getting into skin, enjoying skin and emptying skin. Its like Species; gloopy and creepy but without all the government fuss.
All in all I found the film intriguing and at times shocking. Some of the imagery was quite stunning, surreal and taboo-breaking. The Scottish 'locals' who acted were excellent and really quite brave. Miss. Johanssen is serenely brilliant.
My only criticism was the ending, which I found gratuitously desolate and banal, offering little final insight into the otherwise fascinating alien and 'her' world.
However, on the strength of this flick I will be tracking down the original book too, always a good sign.
Anyone else seen this film or read the novel?
Sounds like it ought to be an episode of The X Files.
ReplyDeleteIve got a new phone and it can do the verification thing!
ReplyDeleteYay! Welcome back Kev! I agree, it sounds like Tooms a bit or was it called Squeeze?
ReplyDeleteI think it was both, there were two episodes with that character!
ReplyDeleteThose early X Files were wonderful: Gargoyles, Tooms etc. I loved them and stayed in specifically to see them. fabulous acting and storylines. I hear they are making a new film.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant film but the soundtrack was the most startling thing imho - never heard anything quite as creepy as that!!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Mike. the noises are amazing! the last great soundscape was Godzilla for me. I loved the radio static of the MOTU!
DeleteIts a new mini season they are making. Out in January.
ReplyDeleteOh Wow! Please tell me its the Mulder and Scully of old! I'll stay in!
ReplyDeleteYep, Duchovny and Anderson are back. The trailer says "The Truth is Still Out There"!
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