UNDER THE SKIN is one of those low budget films that does a lot with very few ingredients. Although I was put off by some of the obvious artifice of the thing - the ominous-sound music is WAY too overused and intense - at the same time I enjoyed the visual beauty of the experience, and the more offbeat scenes. Bizarrely, the film I can most liken it to is the Norman J. Warren-directed '70s gorehouse quickie PREY, in which a carnivorous alien showed up at the home of a couple of lesbians.
Scarlet Johansson turns out to be an excellent choice of lead and deserves kudos for appearing in a film like this (how many big Hollywood actresses can you see doing it?). There's always been something slightly alien and unsettling about her and she puts this quality to good use in the tale of sex, murder, and abduction in the mean Scottish streets. The use of a Hollywood actress was also a clever idea as Johansson no doubt felt like an outsider in her surroundings and put that quality to good use. Sure, the tale is a downbeat one (and the climax especially so) and not much really happens, but at least it's beautiful to look at. The copious use of sex and nudity is maturely handled, and the more offbeat elements are kept relatively subtle so that they're all the more effective. It's an intriguing film, even if not one of my favourites.
Scarlet Johansson turns out to be an excellent choice of lead and deserves kudos for appearing in a film like this (how many big Hollywood actresses can you see doing it?). There's always been something slightly alien and unsettling about her and she puts this quality to good use in the tale of sex, murder, and abduction in the mean Scottish streets. The use of a Hollywood actress was also a clever idea as Johansson no doubt felt like an outsider in her surroundings and put that quality to good use. Sure, the tale is a downbeat one (and the climax especially so) and not much really happens, but at least it's beautiful to look at. The copious use of sex and nudity is maturely handled, and the more offbeat elements are kept relatively subtle so that they're all the more effective. It's an intriguing film, even if not one of my favourites.