Under the Skin

[weirdfilms33]

I saw Under the Skin at the London Film Festival last October, and it comes out on general release this Friday. Of the five films I saw during the two weeks of the festival (I know, lightweight...) it was far and away the best of lot, maybe even one of the greatest examples of contemporary cinema - certainly one of the most audacious. The plot is somewhat loose, but it generally follows an alien in human form, played by Scarlett Johansson, who seductively preys on men in the Scottish highlands.

The film is deeply overpowering and atmospheric. Jonathan Glazer blends naturalistic scenes, shot with hidden cameras, of Johansson gliding through the streets of Glasgow, with more deliberate and elegant cinematography. Perfectly matching the unsettling images onscreen is a haunting, unearthly synth-driven soundtrack. And at the centre is Johansson's performance, her boldest and best, deeply unforgettable as the alien and unlike anything we've seen before from her.

Quite simply, the film astonished me, and I therefore hesitate to discuss it further for fear of giving something away. I've found that in recent weeks I've been urging my friends and relatives to see it with a persistence that borders on aggression!

I think this has to be the must-see film of 2014. An LA Weekly article recently proposed that in Jonathan Glazer 'We may finally have an heir to Kubrick'; after Under the Skin I am undoubtedly inclined to agree.

10/10

[RAZORBACK]

Went to see this yesterday and it was a pretty unique viewing experience. It's also one of those films where you really have to join the dots in order to have a complete understanding of what actually happened.

Visually it was at times quite stunning, the soundtrack was very effective and there are a number of individual scenes that are memorable (in a disturbing kind of way ) but the pace is pretty slow & it felt like it really dragged it's heels in the final thirty or so minutes.

I thought Johansson was solid in the central role but there was nothing particularly special about her performance, however it is good to see her appearing in less mainstream films like this one (& 'Her').

Although I wouldn't describe this as a 'must see' movie (there were a few walk outs at the screening I attended) I do think it falls under the category of 'should see' as it really is quite different to the norm.

Overall this gets a high 7/10 from me and it's certainly something I'd like to revisit in the future...

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I saw this a couple of days ago.

Its a pretty good film though not everyone will enjoy the obvious Film 4 style low budget production with the relentlessly monotonous screeching score as that other indie film Kill List, though here, it is a violin screech as opposed to Kill List's warbling noise. Where Kill List was a cross between a Brit version of Pulp Fiction and Wicker Man, this film came across as a fusion of Starman and The Man Who Fell to Earth, of which this film captures the vibe of the latter.

It is disturbing, very dark...literally, the lighting is absolutely minimal in this film to give that eerie effect. Its obviously very arty with a very very slight touch of surreal. And of course there is that relentless violin screeching soundtrack that plays the same notes all the way through the film with occasional building crescendos of ultimate screechiness. Its effective but in all honesty I do not find it all that innovative, its being done many times before since Hermann introduced the concept in Psycho. The "innovation" here is to use that sound effect as the whole score. Very lazy. I recall another couple of british films doing tthe same thing but their names escape me.

Anyway, forget the fact that Johanssen is an alien, this is really a serial killer movie that takes a fascinating turn (though not an unpredictable one). The slow stalking and subtle seduction techniques almost have me entranced to a point that if she were real, I would be a dead cert victim.

This is a very very cold film but It is captivating. I was intrigued with this ruthless entity's journey. But this isnt a graphic horror film and neither is it a film with lots of sex scenes. Its certainly not Species or Basic Instincts. Visually, nothing really scared or shocked me. But I was disturbed by several scenes...nothing graphic just the essence of it.

Well done to Scarlett Johanssen for doing this role in what would have otherwise been, I am quite sure, an obscure Brit indie movie. She plays the alien seductress with a cold and manipulative excellence with a touch of deliberate ambiguity. The role does not allow for a wide range of expressions or emotional responses so its certainly not a showcase to prove any extensive acting range she may or may not have but the role certainly capitalised on her strengths.

I enjoyed it but I wasn't floored by it as the majority critics seem to be. They are film connoisseurs and appreciate more of the technical bravado that I find too obvious and tediously show-offy. I am just the simple Joe blogg movie goer and my thoughts are of that perspective. It is directed with visual flair and eerie deftness by Glazer but at times its rather too forced and mechanical. The pacing is deliberately slow which is essential but its unevenly so, it would have benefited with a little tighter editing.

I'll give this 7.5/10

[RAZORBACK]

Seems this was pretty popular in it's first week of (key cities) release as Cineworld are now showing it in a few new venues (e.g Enfield & Stevenage) from Friday...

[RevKeith39]

Had really been looking forward to this, with pre-screen publicity. However, it did not quite deliver. All the elements were there; good acting, great camera work, fantastic atmospheric soundtrack... But ultimately, it didn't really get anywhere. It was eerie, surreal and occasionally disturbing [scene on beach with child was horrific; it's not necessary to throw gore at the screen to terrify] I liked the fact that the everyday shots became alien. I liked the use of location - Scotland in bad weather is otherworldly! It was sexy without being gratuitous [though I query the erect penis in a 15 rated film - very disconcerting!] And the shots of what happened to the victims were brilliant. It's just that it ran out of steam by the end [which went on too long]. A really good though flawed film.

7.5/10

[scootermcc]

Sorry I'm going against the flow here as I hated this, it was truly awful. I'm not even convinced that the males in the van didn't know that they were being filmed.

What was the point of the whole thing. Was the ending meant to be a surprise? Given that fact that all the reviews give away what Scarlett Johansson is it makes the ending a bit flat. I'm sure that the directors idea is for you have to piece it together yourself before the final reveal.

0/10

[The Sparrow]

Sorry I'm going against the flow here as I hated this, it was truly awful. I'm not even convinced that the males in the van didn't know that they were being filmed.

What was the point of the whole thing. Was the ending meant to be a surprise? Given that fact that all the reviews give away what Scarlett Johansson is it makes the ending a bit flat. I'm sure that the directors idea is for you have to piece it together yourself before the final reveal.

0/10

Luckily I had not a clue about Scarlett Johansson when I saw this film. I kept wondering if she was [spoiler]an alien[/spoiler] So it kept me wondering throughout. In fact I had to read up on the film when I got home just to make sure. I also had no idea that some of the men were real people. It really did help going into the film blind. I'm getting sick to death of Film 2014 and other shows, giving far too much away and totally ruining films nowadays.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Sorry I'm going against the flow here as I hated this, it was truly awful. I'm not even convinced that the males in the van didn't know that they were being filmed.

What was the point of the whole thing. Was the ending meant to be a surprise? Given that fact that all the reviews give away what Scarlett Johansson is it makes the ending a bit flat. I'm sure that the directors idea is for you have to piece it together yourself before the final reveal.

0/10

Luckily I had not a clue about Scarlett Johansson when I saw this film. I kept wondering if she was [spoiler]an alien[/spoiler] So it kept me wondering throughout. In fact I had to read up on the film when I got home just to make sure. I also had no idea that some of the men were real people. It really did help going into the film blind. I'm getting sick to death of Film 2014 and other shows, giving far too much away and totally ruining films nowadays.

Absolutely, good on you. I actually do not watch trailers at all. Even in the cinema, I wear headphones and listen to music during the trailers, I'm quite an extremist. I love watching Film 2014 and reading reviews but only after I've seen the film. I have benefited so much and enjoyed film a lot more, just like yourself in doing that.

[McG]

Absolutely the worst film I have ever seen and by a long shot!
This was shown by Fopp film club in Glasgow tonight as a free film even though the DVD was released today. Nothing would induce me to b*y this film and nothing would ever make me watch it again . . . even if I was pa*d to do it!
Marks 0/10

[scootermcc]

Absolutely the worst film I have ever seen and by a long shot!
This was shown by Fopp film club in Glasgow tonight as a free film even though the DVD was released today. Nothing would induce me to b*y this film and nothing would ever make me watch it again . . . even if I was pa*d to do it!
Marks 0/10

I should have warned you, I gave it 0/10 when I saw it at The GFT.