Under the Skin (2013)
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Joe Szula,
Kryštof Hádek, Paul Brannigan, Adam Pearson, Michael Moreland, Dave Acton,
Jessica Mance
Plot: A mysterious woman seduces lonely men in the evening
hours in Scotland. Events lead her to begin a process of self-discovery.
My Review and Thoughts:
Masterfully done. Directed brilliantly. A stunning visual
ecstasy of unrelenting imagery. A film woven around the mysterious orgy of
confusion and dark utter brilliance. This is a modern mind screw of a film. The
imagery is laced with the imaginative mind of the unknown. A story book telling
of the very recesses of the nightmarish world of the sub-conscience. This movie
is amazing. It's a modern-day masterpiece of perfection, done in the visceral
surreal setting of filmmaking. It has a true avant-garde stamp. It bleeds the
inner reality of an Ingmar Bergman film. It has the landscapes and the waves of
a pure visual reality that only Andrei Tarkovsky could visualize and yet
Jonathan Glazer has become the new master story teller and visual god.
This movie is brilliantly acted. Stunningly crafted and
amazingly performed by Scarlett Johansson. She owns her part and creates a
character like no other. This is her shining moment. She is utterly flooring,
beautiful, stunning and magically interesting beyond words as the character of Laura.
The sound effects, noise and haunting atmosphere bleeds deep
into your mind. This film brings out emotions beyond understanding. A visual
experience of perfection.
There is a true haunting reality to this film. True
darkness. There is so much to describe this film and yet so much confusion to UN-describe
it. That's the total package. The total beauty of this film is it so different,
so strange, and so mysterious, it's hard to put into words unless you have seen
it.
The one shot of the baby crying on the beach is emotionally
draining. Truly a statement and a horrifying reality that is very brutal in the
scenario of a non-human approach of caring. There are moments in this that are
utterly shocking and deprived of any human reality or any emotional concept.
The blank empty boxlike effect, creates its own persona.
The solid black room and liquid black unblemished floor
makes me think of the black Monolith in 2001's A Space Odyssey. A message and
an explored truth and ultimate gateway to the unknown.
This is definitely not for everyone but for those few that
understand this style of filmmaking and the ultimate unique sci-fi thriller
reality will be in film glory. Those who understand will look and appreciate
this bold, visually stunning, mind screw of a film. To me it's utterly
brilliant in all it's odd, weird, surreal approach.
I think the movie makes a statement on the idea of humanity
and on the idea of one species trying to figure out the human race. I think
it's a bold story and showcasing the darker recesses of human existence and
also the existence of, that which is unknown. In the end it might not be the
species that is unknown, it might be the human race that is truly not known.
For who is really the unknown? Is the species the unknown or is the human race?
One of the most original and fascinating experiences I have
seen in a very long time.