Under the Skin (2013)

A mysterious young woman seduces lonely men in the evening hours in Scotland. However, events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.

Director:

Jonathan Glazer

Writers:

Walter Campbell, Jonathan Glazer

Stars:

Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 25 wins & 102 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scarlett Johansson	...	The Female
Jeremy McWilliams	...	The Bad Man
Lynsey Taylor Mackay	...	The Dead Woman
Dougie McConnell	...	Pick-Up Man
Kevin McAlinden	...	First Victim
D. Meade	...	Leering Man
Andrew Gorman	...	Second Victim
Joe Szula	...	Man at Club
Krystof Hádek	...	The Swimmer (as Krystof Hadek)
Roy Armstrong	...	Father at Beach
Alison Chand	...	Mother at Beach
Ben Mills	...	The Baby
Oscar Mills	...	The Baby
Lee Fanning	...	Motorcyclist #1
Paul Brannigan	...	Andrew

Storyline

An alien entity inhabits the earthly form of a young woman who combs the roads and streets of Scotland in search of the human prey she came to plunder. She seduces her isolated and forsaken male victims into an otherworldly dimension where they are stripped and consumed. However, existence in all its complexity begin to change the alien visitor. She begins to discover herself as human with tragic and terrifying consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | female nudity | desire | human prey | scotland | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic nudity, sexual content, some violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

Switzerland UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

Pod kožom

Filming Locations:

Tantallon Castle, Auldhame, East Lothian, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$13,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$133,154, 6 April 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,605,039, 3 August 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film4, British Film Institute (BFI), Silver Reel

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The men lured into the van by Scarlett Johansson's character were not actors. Jonathan Glazer had hidden cameras installed in the van and only informed the men afterwards that they were in a movie.

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Goofs

When The Female descends down the escalator at around the 10 minute mark the camera angle switches from behind her descending the escalator with her to a fixed camera in front of her as she approaches. At that switch, the persons in front of her on the escalator are different in than in the prior shot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Female Voice: [with a mechanical buzz over shadowy morphing orbs] T- D, S- Z- Th, B- T- V, H- T- D- K- G, S- Z- P- B, Ba-Ba- T- T, K- Kuh- Ch, Th- V- Th, Zzz- Sss- Bzz- Ch, B-B-Buh- V-V-Vuh, G-G-Guh D-D-Duh.
Female Voice: [now over a shiney white torus, slowly morphing] B-B-Buh- B-B-Buh, B-B-Beh, B-B-Beh, Bah, N-N-Nuh- N-N-Nuh, N-N-Nuh- No. N-N-Nuh, F- Feel- Field, Fill- Filled- Filts, Foil- Failed- Fell, Felds- Pill- Pills, Pall- Nall.
Female Voice: [now over a watery chestnut-brown eye] Foal- Foals, Fold- Fold, Pool- Pool, ...

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Crazy Credits

None of the characters are named in the closing credits: the cast-list is only a list of actors' names.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Venice Film Festival 2013 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Real Gone Kid
Performed by Deacon Blue
Written by Ricky Ross
Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd.
Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited

User Reviews

Intriguing and haunting but not as polarising as I expected.

Under The Skin divided critics in a way that suggested we have something truly new and special. Some claimed it abysmal, some claimed it a masterpiece. Instead, it's somewhere in the middle, but on the good side of the fence. While I can try and look past the Scarlett Johansson oversaturation that we've endured the past year or two, which has had some delights with Her, her casting here is quite interesting as the alien intends to be a desirable woman, though I do have doubts about the claims that scenes were improvised with strangers. Scotland isn't that cut off from culture. Unfortunately those scenes where they try and be authentic feel quite clunky and eventually repetitive. Instead it's best when it's cinematic rather than documentary- esque as its cinematography is quite exquisite when it's controlled. It has an intriguing atmosphere, one not as unsettling as it could be but it does have its moments. If only its plot had a bit more structure. It studies the nature of prejudices and the terror of rape in a way that's quite overt and would possibly be more powerful if they were more subtle but its metaphors are very thought-provoking. However, the ending is particularly distressing and has haunted me for days. Under The Skin is not as strong as Glazer's Sexy Beast but it's nice to see him behind the camera again as he has a strong vision, if one that feels a little lacking.

7/10